The ASUS Zenbook 14X typically costs more but offers better performance for intensive tasks like engineering, thanks to its more powerful hardware. It also has a high-resolution OLED screen that is well-suited to tasks where color accuracy and contrast are important. However, it is heavier and less portable than the MSI Modern 14, which may be a consideration if you need to carry your laptop frequently. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is less expensive and provides good value, especially for general use and light productivity tasks. It also has a decent build quality and is more portable due to its lighter weight, but its performance for more demanding applications is lower compared to the ASUS Zenbook 14X. 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
Good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Good battery life
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
6.6/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
8.3/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X boasts a high resolution and bright display, making it suitable for day-to-day tasks and offering clarity and comfort for long working hours, which explains its very good quality for general use and engineering tasks that require precise visuals. Its comprehensive color coverage enhances the experience for design professionals who rely on accurate color representation. However, due to a lower refresh rate which is crucial for smooth rendering, it falls short for gaming or 3D applications where fluid motion and quick image updates are essential.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a high-quality OLED display, more robust CPU, and a dedicated GPU, leading to better screen quality and performance suited for a variety of tasks, but with moderate battery life and slightly less portability compared to the MSI Modern 14. The MSI Modern 14, while featuring an IPS display with lower resolution and an integrated GPU, offers better battery life and heat management, making it a practical choice for extended general use on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X comes with a dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz which is better suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI Modern 14 which uses an integrated AMD Ryzen Vega 7 graphics and a standard 60Hz screen, but both machines, having mid-tier GPUs and CPUs and moderate screen quality, offer only fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Modern 14 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
7.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and MSI Modern 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 and ASUS Zenbook 14X both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$748
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the MSI Modern 14 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."
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 14X 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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