If you're budget-conscious, the ASUS Zenbook 14 offers good value for everyday tasks and light work. However, for intensive tasks like 3D design, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Creator M14 delivers stronger performance, which justifies its higher price. The MSI also tends to have a better screen for creative work, but as a result, it might have a heavier build and shorter battery life compared to the Zenbook, which is more portable and has longer-lasting battery ideal for on-the-go 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 Zenbook 14
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
8.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 focuses on portability and battery life, offering a balance between solid CPU performance and screen quality that suits everyday tasks; whereas, the MSI Creator M14 emphasizes stronger CPU and RAM capabilities for more demanding applications, along with a superior screen, making it ideal for power users who also prioritize general use and don't mind a slight trade-off in portability.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a decent GPU that manages lighter gaming and 3D tasks, but it may struggle with demanding graphics and doesn't have a high screen refresh rate for smooth visuals. The MSI Creator M14 boasts a superior GPU and higher refresh rate screen, making it more suitable for immersive gaming experiences and intensive 3D work, despite its higher cost.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.4/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its capable CPU, sufficient RAM, and quality screen, supports everyday engineering tasks well, though limited by a less powerful GPU for high-end design work. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14 with its superior GPU and high-quality display excels in demanding engineering applications, but it trades off some portability and might be louder under load.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.0/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 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
7.2/10
7.8/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
8.3/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14's screen stands out due to its high resolution and brightness, making text and images sharp and easy to view even in well-lit conditions. Engineers and designers will appreciate the Zenbook's wide color gamut, displaying more accurate and vivid colors for tasks like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of both the Zenbook and MSI Creator M14 screens means less fluid motion and a less immersive experience compared to displays with higher refresh rates, while their resolutions and panel types do not compensate enough for this shortfall.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$300
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the MSI Creator M14
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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