If you're focused on saving money and need a laptop that's easy to carry around, the Asus Zenbook 13 can be an excellent choice because it's more affordable and lightweight, making it great for everyday tasks and travel. However, if you require a machine that can handle demanding software for tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or high-end gaming, and you don't mind spending more for top-tier performance and a heavier device, the MSI Titan 18 HX might be the better option despite being less portable and likely having shorter battery life. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its emphasis on portability and battery life, is a great choice for users who prioritize a light and long-lasting machine for everyday tasks; however, its performance may be limited for intensive applications compared to the more powerful CPU and larger RAM of the MSI Titan 18 HX, which also boasts superior screen quality suitable for more demanding tasks but sacrifices portability due to its size and shorter battery life. While the Zenbook 13 is sleek and easy to carry around, with adequate storage, comfortable keyboard, and quiet operation, the Titan 18 HX delivers a higher performance level for those willing to manage more weight and frequent charging, making it an excellent option for users with advanced computing needs such as gaming or engineering software, also offering ample storage and solid keyboard and speaker quality without significant overheating issues.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
9.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, while adequate for less demanding games, has a GPU and screen refresh rate that are not designed for high-end gaming or intensive 3D tasks, leading to less fluid visuals and potentially lower detail. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, delivers smooth, detailed gaming and 3D experiences, enhanced by a robust CPU and high-quality screen, though it comes with a heftier price tag and reduced portability.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
9.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its capable CPU, sufficient RAM, and integrated GPU, is suitable for engineering tasks and offers a balance of performance and portability, but the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and high-end discrete GPU, delivers top-notch performance and screen quality for demanding engineering and design applications, at the expense of being less portable and potentially noisier under heavy loads. While both have good keyboards, the Titan's larger size might offer a more comfortable typing experience, and although speakers are less critical, they tend to be better in larger laptops like the MSI.
Content Creation
7.6/10
9.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
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
8.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
9.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its high-resolution display and impressive brightness, suits everyday tasks and provides clarity for detailed engineering work but lacks a high refresh rate which is crucial for smooth gameplay and 3D rendering. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers a wider color gamut, giving professionals in engineering and design the accuracy they need for their work, along with top-notch resolution and brightness ideal for general everyday use. However, its lower refresh rate, similar to the Zenbook, might disappoint gamers and those working with fast-moving 3D graphics.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
13.3in
SIZE
18.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$4,800
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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