The ASUS Vivobook 16 generally costs less and offers more storage and RAM for smooth multitasking, with an AMD integrated GPU suitable for light gaming and less intensive tasks. It also has a larger 16-inch display, longer battery life for on-the-go use, and is slightly lighter, enhancing portability. However, the MSI Cyborg 15, while a bit more expensive with less storage and RAM, features a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics card for demanding 3D applications, machine learning, and gaming, paired with a higher refresh-rate screen. The Cyborg also has better heat management and is designed with a gaming appearance, making it a good fit for gaming enthusiasts. Choose the Vivobook 16 for general use and portability or the Cyborg 15 for high-performance computing and gaming. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook 16
Good overall build quality
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for gaming and AI
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 is only fair.
The MSI Cyborg 15 delivers a smoother gaming and 3D experience due to its higher screen refresh rate and superior dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU compared to the ASUS Vivobook 16's lower refresh rate and integrated Vega graphics. While the ASUS has decent capabilities, heavy gamers and professionals working with 3D applications would benefit from the MSI's enhancements in critical areas such as visual fluidity and graphics performance.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
295.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The MSI Cyborg 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the ASUS Vivobook 16 and the MSI Cyborg 15 have displays that offer adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks and media consumption, but they might not stand out for their panel quality. When it comes to engineering and design, while both have fair displays, they may lack in providing the wide color gamuts required for precision work with color-critical applications. For gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates of these laptops mean they're less ideal for fast-paced visuals, which could hinder the experience despite their acceptable resolution and panel types.
Cost
$669
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has a price of $669 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 16, with its AMD Ryzen CPU and ample RAM, delivers robust performance for everyday tasks and has a high-resolution screen which is good for productivity tasks, offset by less storage compared to the MSI Cyborg 15 which, with an Intel i7 CPU and dedicated Nvidia graphics, is more suited for heavier graphics tasks and has a high refresh rate display advantageous for gaming, though it has less RAM and a lower battery capacity.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 and ASUS Vivobook 16 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.3/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 16 to have good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 16 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, Yannick Khong | May 2023
"The ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a budget Windows laptop. It's available with various AMD Ryzen 5000 and 7000 U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. You can only get 8GB of RAM; however, there's an empty SO-DIMM slot if you want to upgrade it. It has an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. Ports include three USB-As, one USB-C, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports charging but no video output."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 16 or the MSI Cyborg 15
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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