For enhanced portability and vibrant display with high color accuracy, consider the ASUS Zenbook 14X due to its lighter weight and OLED screen; it's also less expensive. However, for peak performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, the MSI GP66 Leopard, featuring a much more powerful GPU, along with better cooling and a higher refresh rate screen, would be the better choice, albeit at a higher price and with reduced portability due to its added weight. 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
Very good portability
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair.
The MSI GP66 Leopard offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 144, compared to the Asus Zenbook 14X's Nvidia MX550 and 90 refresh rate, which are less suited for high-end gaming needs.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14X's superior resolution and panel type offer clear, vibrant visuals, making tasks like browsing and video streaming a pleasure, while its brightness ensures good visibility even in well-lit environments. For engineering and design, this laptop's wider color gamuts provide more accurate color representation, crucial for precise work in graphics and CAD applications. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate on both laptops may not deliver as fluid motion as models specifically geared toward gaming, where smoother transitions are essential.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is praised for general use due to its quality OLED screen, lightweight design, and longer battery life, which support portability and multimedia tasks; while the MSI GP66 Leopard is also favored for daily activities, it offers a high-performance CPU and GPU combination better suited for demanding software and games, at the expense of being heavier and having slightly less battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-resolution OLED screen, lightweight design, and solid CPU and GPU combo for design tasks, while the MSI GP66 Leopard caters to more demanding engineering software with its powerful CPU and top-tier GPU, making it ideal for intensive workloads but less portable due to its increased weight. Both laptops offer sufficient RAM for multitasking, but the Zenbook prioritizes screen quality and portability, whereas the Leopard focuses on maximum performance, possibly at the cost of higher operating noise and less portability.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GP66 Leopard to have very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X has 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 14X and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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