Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the MSI Bravo 15 depends on your preferences in terms of size, weight, display, and intended use. The Zenbook 13 is more portable due to a smaller screen and lighter weight, making it easier to carry around, and it offers an OLED screen which generally has better color contrast and is easier on the eyes. However, the MSI Bravo 15 has a larger screen for those who prefer a bigger display, and it features a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which may provide better performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. The Bravo also has a higher refresh rate display, beneficial for gaming. On the other hand, you'll be sacrificing portability for that performance. Both laptops have same storage capacity and memory, but the Zenbook operates on an older version of Windows. Your choice should be guided by whether you prioritize portability and screen quality or better performance for specific tasks and a larger display. 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 Zenbook 13
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is only fair.
The MSI Bravo 15 outperforms the ASUS Zenbook 13 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, compared to the Zenbook's integrated Vega 8 graphics and 60Hz screen. While both laptops have similar CPU and screen quality, the GPU and refresh rate are more critical for smooth and visually detailed gaming experiences.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 likely boasts a high-resolution, bright display which appeals to general use and engineering tasks where clarity and color accuracy are key, while its lower refresh rate deters gaming performance. Contrastingly, the MSI Bravo 15's display offers satisfactory resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but may not cover the professional color gamuts as extensively, slightly compromising engineering and design work. For both laptops, gaming and 3D rendering are hampered by poor refresh rates, which are essential for the smooth visuals required in fast-paced games and intricate 3D work.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 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
Excellent
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is rated highly for general use because it blends a powerful CPU, ample RAM, an OLED screen with exceptional color coverage, and significant portability with its lightweight design and long battery life. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15 offers a fair general use experience, bearing a capable CPU and the same amount of RAM but falls short with a lower-quality IPS screen, less color accuracy, and lower portability due to its heavier weight and shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Bravo 15 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its emphasis on sleekness and lighter weight, typically offers less powerful CPU and GPU than the MSI Bravo 15, which is critical for handling demanding engineering and design tasks that require substantial processing power and graphical computation. The MSI Bravo 15 usually has a higher quality screen and more RAM, which improves multitasking and overall performance in engineering software, but it might be bulkier and louder, making it less portable and noisier during heavy use.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Bravo 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
6.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 13 to be good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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.
Cost
$890
$862
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the MSI Bravo 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.