Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the MSI Modern 14 depends on what you value most. The ASUS Zenbook 14 is less expensive and offers a dedicated Nvidia MX450 graphics card for moderate performance demands, while the MSI Modern 14 is even more budget-friendly, provides more RAM and storage, and uses integrated graphics which are less powerful than dedicated options. The MSI Modern 14 has a newer Ryzen processor which could offer better performance than the Asus’s older Ryzen chip. Both have similar screen size and quality, but the MSI boasts a significantly higher contrast ratio, which may result in more vivid colors and deeper blacks. If battery life is crucial, both laptops provide similar hours of typical usage. Portability is comparable, with the MSI being slightly heavier. For connectivity, the Asus has more USB-C ports, whereas the MSI has a better balance of USB types and display outputs. Both are suitable for general use, and neither is ideal for intensive gaming. If you need more power for tasks like 3D work or engineering simulations, you might want more performance than either can offer. If you're mostly concerned with general productivity and cost, the MSI Modern 14 gives you more for less, but if you need better graphical performance for light gaming or graphics work and don't mind spending more, the ASUS Zenbook 14 could be the better choice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has no clear advantages over the MSI Modern 14.
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
6.4/10
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
The MSI Modern 14 outperforms the ASUS Zenbook 14 in general use mainly because it has double the RAM, which greatly benefits multitasking and overall speed, and a better integrated graphics unit, providing smoother visual performance. Additionally, the MSI Modern 14 offers a higher capacity storage and a slightly better screen in terms of brightness and contrast, enhancing the user experience for a range of daily tasks.
Software Development
6.4/10
7.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
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
6.7/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
If you primarily use your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, both the ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Modern 14 offer screens that will suffice due to their resolution and brightness. For engineering and design work, the ASUS stands out because it offers better color coverage, essential for precise color work. However, if you're into gaming or 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal because they lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth visuals, even though the ASUS has a slight edge with better resolution and panel technology.
The MSI Modern 14 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Modern 14, while not specialized gaming laptops, offer mid-range GPUs that can handle moderate gaming and 3D tasks decently; however, they don't have the high refresh rates preferred for fast-paced games. The CPUs and screen quality in both are adequate for everyday use and will support gaming to a degree, but won't match the performance or visuals of higher-end dedicated gaming machines.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.6/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Modern 14 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with an Nvidia MX450 GPU, may handle design software better, while the MSI Modern 14 has a superior screen for color-sensitive work, thanks to its higher brightness but lower color space coverage, which might be less than ideal for some engineering tasks. Both have adequate CPUs and RAM for engineering tasks, but the ASUS might have an edge in graphical processing; however, the MSI offers a better balance between screen quality and portability, with a slightly lighter build and similar port density.
Content Creation
6.8/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Modern 14 to be good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Modern 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$570
$570
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $570 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $570.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14 and the MSI Modern 14 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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the MSI Modern 14
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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