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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life and highly-detailed graphics for tasks like video editing or enjoying high-resolution movies, the ASUS Zenbook 14X with its OLED display would be a smart pick, although it's a bit less powerful for 3D applications or machine learning tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 packs a more robust graphics card suitable for gaming and intensive engineering software, but with a less impressive display in terms of color accuracy and resolution. The MSI also has a slightly better battery life and is designed with a gaming aesthetic, which could be a deciding factor if that's your preference. Consider the Zenbook if portability and screen quality are crucial, or the Cyborg if gaming and engineering work are the top priorities, but be aware of the Cyborg's additional weight and larger size. 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 14X
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.2
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a lower-end GPU and a relatively high screen refresh rate, making it fair for gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Cyborg 15 is equipped with a stronger GPU and an even higher screen refresh rate, enhancing its gaming and 3D capabilities. Additionally, while both laptops have quality screens, the MSI's focus on gaming with its faster GPU translates to better performance in these areas.
Screen Quality
8.3
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a higher resolution and brighter display that enhances the visual experience for general use and intricate work such as engineering and design, where finer detail is crucial. It also covers a wider range of colors, making it suitable for professionals who require color accuracy. However, the lower refresh rate on the Zenbook makes it less ideal for 3D applications and gaming, where smoother visuals are key to the experience. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while fair for everyday tasks and some technical work, lacks the superior color range and screen clarity provided by the Zenbook, and also falls short for gaming due to its poor refresh rate.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
6.7
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.3
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is equipped with a high-quality OLED screen, a capable CPU, and sufficient RAM that ensure smooth performance for everyday tasks, alongside its lightweight and thin design boosting portability; it also benefits from a decent battery life. Conversely, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers a larger but less color-accurate screen, a stronger CPU, and a more powerful GPU which can handle more demanding applications, but it is heavier and slightly less enduring on battery, making it less portable but more suitable for performance-intensive activities.
Engineering and Design
7.7
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is well-suited for engineering and design thanks to its high-quality OLED screen and a decent GPU that can handle less demanding design software, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is equipped with a more powerful GPU suited for more intensive tasks and a higher RAM capacity, which is crucial for complex engineering applications. While the Zenbook offers a more portable and aesthetically pleasing option with a superior screen and quieter operation, the Cyborg leans more towards raw performance with better heat management but at the cost of a bulkier build and potentially more noise.
Content Creation
7.6
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for content creation.
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
7.4
7.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Cyborg 15 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$777 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.25" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1260P | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 339 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 14X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | April 2022
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the MSI Cyborg 15
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.
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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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