The ASUS Zenbook 13 is the more affordable option and offers good general performance, with a focus on portability due to its light weight and long battery life. It has a smaller screen, but it's an OLED which usually means better colors. In contrast, the MSI Summit E16 Flip is more expensive but comes with a more powerful processor, better graphics capabilities suitable for 3D work, engineering, and gaming. It also has a larger, high-resolution touchscreen display, which can be ideal for creative tasks. Keep in mind the MSI is heavier, which could make it less convenient to carry around. Both laptops are equipped with backlit keyboards and have a premium build, but if you're looking for better performance for intensive tasks and don't mind a higher price and less portability, the MSI Summit E16 Flip is the better choice. 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
Excellent portability
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is less suitable for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to its AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics and a 60 Hz screen refresh rate, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip offers a superior gaming and 3D experience with its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics and a higher 165 Hz screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip boasts a more powerful Intel CPU, double the RAM, and a dedicated Nvidia GPU compared to the ASUS Zenbook 13, which has an AMD CPU with integrated graphics and less RAM, making the MSI better suited for demanding engineering software. Additionally, the MSI has a larger, higher-resolution screen and build features like ray tracing and DLSS support which enhance visual computation, while the ASUS, being lighter and more compact, offers greater portability and an OLED screen for vivid colors, but less performance for intensive tasks.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E16 Flip for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Summit E16 Flip both have high-resolution panels with bright displays, ensuring sharp and clear visuals which are preferred for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. In engineering and design, both laptops excel due to their wide color gamuts, providing accurate colors that are essential for professionals who require precision in their work. However, for Gaming and 3D, their screens fall short as they lack high refresh rates needed for smooth motion, which is a key factor for an immersive experience in fast-paced games and 3D applications.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$890
$1,413
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,413.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its AMD processor, sufficient RAM, and high-quality OLED screen, offers good performance for everyday tasks while being highly portable and battery-efficient. The MSI Summit E16 Flip, on the other hand, with a more potent Intel CPU, double the RAM, and a superior Nvidia graphics card, caters to more demanding general-use applications and better screen resolution, albeit at the cost of increased size and weight.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.6/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and ASUS Zenbook 13 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
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip has 8 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Summit E16 Flip both have good 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 Zenbook 13 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip 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."
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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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