Considering the ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio, the Zenbook is generally less expensive and offers good value if you're looking for a lightweight and portable laptop with an OLED screen for sharp visuals and color accuracy. However, if your priority is higher performance for activities like gaming, 3D applications, or intensive engineering software, the Stealth comes with an Nvidia RTX graphics card that significantly outperforms the integrated graphics on the Zenbook. The Stealth also features more storage and memory, a more powerful processor, and gaming-centric features like a high-refresh-rate screen. The trade-off for these capabilities is a higher price, less portability due to increased weight and size, and likely reduced battery life compared to the Zenbook. Remember, your choice should align with your primary usage scenarios and budget constraints. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Best in class speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its less powerful processor, less RAM, and smaller storage, may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly as the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which boasts a more powerful processor, double the RAM, and larger storage. While both have comparable screen sizes and quality, the Zenbook 14's OLED display is superior in color accuracy and brightness, and it's lighter for better portability, but the MSI Stealth 14 Studio's IPS display offers higher refresh rates, and it has a longer battery life, but at the expense of being heavier.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
The Asus Zenbook 14 comes with a moderate GPU and a typical screen refresh rate, making it adequate for casual gaming and basic 3D applications, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio includes a high-end GPU and a higher refresh rate display, offering smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D performance. The Zenbook's CPU and screen quality are satisfactory for general use, whereas the Stealth's are better suited to handle demanding tasks and provide a crisper visual experience.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.5/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, double the RAM, and a higher screen resolution, which provide smoother and more detailed visuals and faster performance for demanding tasks. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook 14 is considered good with a capable CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and an OLED screen that offers excellent color accuracy, but it doesn't match the raw performance and screen refresh rates of the MSI model.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen for software development.
If a laptop like the ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good screen quality for general use and engineering, it likely features a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and high brightness, essential for clarity and viewing comfort. For tasks in engineering and design, accurate color representation across different spectrums like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB is crucial, which the Zenbook 14 probably supports well. However, gaming and 3D applications prioritize fast refresh rates for smooth motion, which if deemed poor on both laptops, suggests these models may not have screens optimized for such fast-paced content.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$300
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and ASUS Zenbook 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
7.8/10
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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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How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
"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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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