The ASUS Vivobook S 15 generally has better performance suited for more intensive tasks, such as engineering or 3D rendering, due to a higher tier CPU and GPU, but it is also more expensive and slightly heavier, which makes it less portable compared to the MSI Modern 14. The latter is lighter, more portable, and more affordable, making it a good choice for everyday use and light productivity tasks. If you prioritize battery life and a larger screen, the ASUS might be preferable, while for those valuing price and portability, the MSI would be a solid option. Both laptops have sufficient RAM and storage for general usage. 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 S 15
Good for engineering and design
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for software development, and content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 has a better screen for general use.
If you prioritize everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Vivobook and Modern both offer screens that are sharp and bright enough for comfortable use. For engineering and design work, neither laptop's display covers professional color spaces extensively, limiting their effectiveness for color-critical applications. When it comes to gaming or 3D rendering, the slower refresh rates of these laptops mean motion won't be as smooth as it could be on displays designed for these purposes.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$908
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers higher processing power and larger screen size, which enhances multitasking and content visibility, but weighs more and has a moderate portability score; whereas the MSI Modern 14 focuses on greater portability with a lighter weight and compact size, while still providing adequate processing capabilities and RAM for general tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both fair for gaming and 3D due to their integrated graphics solutions: the Vega 8 for ASUS and the Vega 7 for MSI, neither of which matches the performance of dedicated gaming GPUs. Both laptops also have a maximum screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for general use but may not provide the smooth experience desired for fast-paced gaming where higher refresh rates are beneficial.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is equipped with a more powerful processor and better integrated graphics than the MSI Modern 14, providing stronger performance for engineering and design tasks. While both offer quality screens and sufficient memory, the ASUS model's higher storage capacity and better processing capabilities make it a better fit for more demanding software typically used in engineering and design, despite being slightly less portable than the MSI Modern 14.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 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
7.4/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook S 15 or the MSI Modern 14
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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