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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choose the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 if you prioritize high-resolution touchscreens, better battery life, and more robust performance for tasks like 3D rendering or engineering software. It's lighter and has a higher build quality, but costs more. Go for the MSI Modern 14 if you're looking for a budget-friendly option with a good balance for general use and some lighter creative tasks. It is heavier with a shorter battery life and less powerful graphics, making it less suited for intensive gaming or heavy multimedia work. Both are portable and have a backlit keyboard, but the Zenbook's superior screen features could be decisive for image and video work. 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 Flip S13
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.4
6.6
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers superior CPU and GPU performance, greater RAM, and higher screen quality, with an impressive 4K resolution, which is important for engineering and design tasks. In comparison, the MSI Modern 14 has less powerful CPU and GPU capabilities, half the storage, and a lower resolution screen, factors that may not support demanding engineering software as effectively.
Content Creation
7.8
7.2
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is somewhat better.
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
7.6
7.1
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is somewhat better.
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
7.9
6.4
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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 Flip S13's screen stands out for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, alongside wide color gamuts which ensure that colors are vibrant and accurate, essential for detailed design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where a higher refresh rate is crucial to render smooth motion. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14, with its fair screen quality across the board, offers a balanced resolution and adequate brightness for everyday tasks and some level of professional work, but lacks the higher color accuracy and refresh rate needed for specialized engineering, design, and 3D applications.
Battery
10.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.0
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
10.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 excels in general use with a high-resolution touchscreen, a powerful Intel CPU, and a large amount of storage, paired with a longer battery life and impressive portability due to its lightweight design; however, it comes at a higher price point. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 offers similar RAM and a capable AMD processor suitable for general tasks, with a good portability score, but it has a lower screen resolution, less storage, and a shorter battery life which makes it more budget-friendly.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
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 Flip S13 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a higher screen resolution, which can display finer details necessary for gaming and 3D work, but its integrated Iris Xe graphics are only suitable for light to moderate gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 comes with a lower resolution screen that may not be as sharp, but it is equipped with AMD's Vega 7 graphics, which provide similar capabilities for gaming and 3D rendering as the ASUS but are still not ideal for the most demanding tasks.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.3'' x 0.51'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.01" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.31" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1165G7 | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jefferies | January 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
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 Flip S13 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.
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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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