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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the MSI Modern 14, consider your primary needs. The Zenbook Pro 15, with its advanced processor and dedicated graphics, is better suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, or engineering work. However, it's heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less portable. The Modern 14, on the other hand, is light and offers longer battery life, which is ideal for general use and on-the-go computing, but its integrated graphics and processor are less powerful, so it may struggle with demanding applications. The Zenbook Pro's higher cost reflects its performance and build quality, whereas the Modern 14 is more budget-friendly but with compromises in performance. 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 Pro 15
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent battery life
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.0
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is outfitted with a high-performing AMD Ryzen 7 processor and a dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics card, which ensures robust processing for engineering tasks and superior visualization capabilities for design work. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14, while also having a capable AMD Ryzen 5 processor, relies on integrated Vega graphics, which generally means it is less suited for high-end graphic tasks but offers better portability due to its lighter design.
Content Creation
7.7
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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.
Screen Quality
7.6
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
346.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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 Pro 15 offers a high-resolution display and bright panel, which enhances the viewing experience for everyday tasks and detailed design work, but its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for the fast-paced visuals demanded by gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Modern 14 provides acceptable resolution and brightness for daily activities and casual design work, but lacks the superior color accuracy needed for professional-grade engineering and design projects. Both laptops struggle with gaming and 3D content due to their poor refresh rates, not meeting the requirements for smooth, responsive visuals in those fast-moving environments.
Battery
12.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.0
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,109
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a price of $1,109 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
346.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
12.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, with a stronger CPU and a dedicated graphics card, offers better performance for more demanding tasks, paired with a high-quality OLED screen that enhances the visual experience, although its heavier build and shorter battery life make it less portable than the MSI Modern 14, which offers a balance of performance and lightweight design for enhanced portability, despite a less powerful CPU and integrated graphics, but a lower screen color coverage, and a shorter battery life that could require more frequent charging for day-to-day tasks.
Software Development
7.5
7.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,109 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.37" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | 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 | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 346 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a strong CPU, chassis, and display. One of the most popular 15.6-inch prosumer or multimedia laptops out there is the Dell XPS 15. Thus, comparisons between it and the Asus Zenbook Pro 15 are inevitable. Asus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that XPS users are still missing out on including 1080p OLED and an AMD Ryzen CPU which help separate the Zenbook Pro 15 from the XPS 15. It also integrates a numpad and a few more port options albeit at the cost of a larger chassis size."
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 Pro 15 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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