When choosing between the ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, consider what's more important for you: if saving money is a priority and you need a laptop for everyday tasks with occasional heavy workloads, the ASUS might be suitable. However, if you require top-tier performance for professional-grade engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning, and don't mind the extra expense and a less portable device, the MSI would be a better fit. Keep in mind the MSI is likely to have a shorter battery life due to its more powerful components. 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 portability
Excellent battery life
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 display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
346.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
12.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a balance of performance and portability with its capable CPU and sufficient RAM, making it a solid choice for everyday tasks, while its screen quality and battery life ensure a good user experience on the go. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with a more powerful CPU and larger RAM, excels in handling more demanding applications, which coupled with its superior screen quality, provides an enhanced experience for tasks like video editing or design, though it sacrifices some portability and battery life due to its focus on high performance.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
8.9/10
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
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 Pro 15 is only fair.
The Asus Zenbook Pro 15 may provide a decent experience for gaming and 3D applications as it has a capable GPU and a high-quality screen, but it may not handle the most demanding tasks as fluidly as the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which boasts a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, optimizing it for smoother and more immersive gameplay and professional 3D work. While both laptops have strong CPUs and display quality, the MSI's superior graphics and refresh capabilities make it a preferable choice for those prioritizing gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
9.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.8/10
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 Pro 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, with its capable processing and high-quality display, offers solid performance for engineering tasks, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with a more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and enhanced GPU, excels in handling more demanding engineering and 3D design applications. While both provide good screen quality and sufficient keyboard and speaker functionality, the MSI prioritizes top-tier performance over the ASUS's balance of performance and portability, which might be preferable for users frequently on the move.
Content Creation
7.7/10
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
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 Pro 15 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
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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
7.6/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
346.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the panels on both the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offer high resolution and brightness, making them clear and easy on the eyes for daily tasks. When it comes to engineering and design, these laptops also stand out with their wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals in these fields see accurate colors for precise work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates of these screens may not provide the smooth visuals that are favored for fast-paced and graphically intensive activities.
Battery
12.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,109
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a price of $1,109 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to have very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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 Pro 15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
"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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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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