The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is significantly less expensive and more portable, ideal for general use and tasks that benefit from an OLED display with high color accuracy and a touchscreen. However, with modest performance hardware, it is not suited for intensive tasks. In contrast, the MSI Raider GE78, while pricier and heavier which affects portability, is equipped with top-tier components making it superior for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. Additionally, it has a larger screen with a faster refresh rate suitable for fast-motion visuals but lacks touchscreen functionality. Your choice should be guided by whether you prioritize everyday portability and cost savings or require a high-performing machine for specialized, demanding applications. 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 OLED
Very good portability
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Best in class for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
376.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED provides a good balance for general use with its OLED screen delivering excellent color reproduction and portability due to its lighter weight and smaller screen size, while the MSI Raider GE78 offers top-tier performance with its superior CPU and higher RAM, at the expense of being heavier and less portable, yet both have similar battery life and high-quality displays suitable for various tasks. The MSI also has a significantly larger amount of storage, which can be essential for users with high storage needs, and its thermal management and speaker quality are particularly notable, accommodating intensive usage scenarios like gaming or heavy multitasking without compromising on system stability and audio experience.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
9.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE78 offers superior gaming performance with a high-end Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics processing unit (GPU) and a screen refresh rate of 240, making it smooth and visually impressive for gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has an adequate GPU for lighter gaming, its refresh rate peaks at 120, which delivers less fluid motion than the MSI Raider, impacting gaming and 3D rendering experiences.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
9.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, with its OLED screen and Intel integrated graphics, is suitable for engineering and design, but the MSI Raider GE78, with a more powerful Intel i9 processor, Nvidia RTX GPU, and larger RAM, delivers superior performance for demanding tasks. While the Zenbook offers better portability and a high-quality OLED display, the Raider's emphasis on cutting-edge internals and screen size make it an excellent choice for intensive engineering and 3D work, despite being less portable and having a standard IPS panel.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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
7.5/10
8.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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
8.6/10
8.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
376.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE78 for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED offers a vibrant display with high resolution and excellent brightness, making text and images sharp and clear. In the realm of engineering and design, the Zenbook's wide color gamut ensures accurate color reproduction, crucial for precision work. However, its lower refresh rate is less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and faster screen updates are key for an optimal experience.
Portability
Very Good
Poor
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has very good portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$575
$4,386
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a price of $575 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
"While one of the more budget-friendly configurations of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED may make a compelling case as a top value pick, it’s difficult to be disappointed with the more expensive model we reviewed here. At its core, for all models, it’s a luxury-built laptop with extreme portability and a gorgeous OLED display. Our unit rocks with a snappy Core i9 processor for getting real work done, and the discrete GPU—even if it has a clear power ceiling—is a bonus for creative pros."
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED or the MSI Raider GE78
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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