When deciding between the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, consider that the Zenbook offers a balance between cost and solid everyday performance, making it suitable for general use and light creative tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI comes at a higher price, but if your work involves complex 3D, machine learning, or gaming, the extra investment grants you notably improved performance. The larger size of the MSI may affect portability, and battery life could be shorter due to powerful hardware, while the Zenbook strikes a better balance between portability and battery life. 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 portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X, with its efficient CPU and ample RAM, offers a high-quality screen and strong battery life, making it suitable for everyday tasks and convenient to carry around, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio surpasses it with even more powerful processing, superior RAM, and a top-notch display for more demanding programs, albeit with some potential compromise to portability and battery duration due to its focus on performance. While both have good storage, keyboards, and speakers, the MSI may produce more noise and heat under heavy use due to its higher performance capabilities.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
8.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, making it less optimal for high-end gaming and 3D applications. The MSI model, with its superior GPU and higher refresh rate, delivers smoother visuals and better overall performance, necessary for demanding tasks despite having a relatively similar CPU and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
9.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X, with solid CPU, RAM, and GPU specifications, offers good screen quality for engineering tasks but might be more portable and quieter, making it suitable for on-the-go use and work in shared spaces. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio delivers superior performance with top-tier CPU, RAM, and GPU, along with an exceptional screen that professionals in engineering and design fields require, albeit at the cost of reduced portability and potentially higher operating noise.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
7.4/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vibrant and sharp display for tasks like browsing, watching movies, or document work, both the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with their high-resolution panels and bright screens, are excellent choices. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is vital, both laptops cover a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring that the colors you work with are true to life. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens might not refresh as quickly as dedicated gaming laptops, leading to less fluid visual experience during fast-paced action.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$777
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 Stealth 18 AI Studio 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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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