If you prioritize affordability and portability for everyday use or work, the Asus Zenbook 14 offers a slim and lightweight design that's easier to carry around and kind to your wallet. On the other hand, if you need a laptop for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, the MSI Titan 18 HX has considerably more power to handle these applications effectively, but it's more expensive and bulkier, which makes it less convenient to move. Lastly, the Titan's larger size and powerful components may also result in shorter battery life compared to the more energy-efficient Zenbook. 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 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
7.2/10
8.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its balance of a capable CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen, offers an optimal blend for general use, with the added benefits of easy portability and longer battery life that everyday users appreciate. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX, while also providing a powerful CPU and more RAM that enhance performance, is less portable due to its size and weight and may not have the same battery longevity, but its larger screen can offer a more immersive experience for those who prioritize visual space over mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
9.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, while capable, has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate making it only fair for gaming and 3D applications; whereas, the MSI Titan 18 HX is equipped with a high-end GPU and a higher refresh rate display, providing excellent performance and smoother visuals in these demanding tasks. The CPU and screen quality are also better on the MSI, but it's the GPU and refresh rate that really set them apart for gaming and 3D use.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
9.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
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 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its robust CPU, ample RAM, and quality GPU, offers a balanced combination of performance and portability, making it suitable for engineering tasks on the go, while the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its superior screen quality and higher-end CPU and GPU, excels in more demanding engineering and design applications but is less portable. The Titan's larger size contributes to better heat management and reduced operating noise, with a more comfortable keyboard, but it's heavier and not as easy to carry as the slimmer, lighter Zenbook.
Content Creation
7.3/10
9.0/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
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 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
8.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 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
8.3/10
9.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS ZenBook 14 offers a high-resolution display with good brightness, making it easy on the eyes for daily tasks, while the MSI Titan 18 HX provides an even sharper and brighter image, enhancing the viewing experience. In engineering and design, both laptops have screens that cover a wide color gamut, but the MSI Titan has an edge with superior color accuracy and range, vital for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D purposes, despite their high resolutions and quality panels, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion and slower response times in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 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
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$4,800
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"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."
"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 14 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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