A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a high-resolution OLED screen, which provides exceptional color and contrast, making it a great choice for creative professionals who need color accuracy for editing photos or videos. It's got a powerful processor and graphics card combination that can handle intensive engineering tasks and some gaming, though it may not match dedicated gaming laptops. Its battery life is suited for long working sessions, but this laptop is heavier, which impacts portability. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while a bit lighter and thus more portable, has a lower resolution screen with a faster refresh rate that may be preferred by gamers. Its processing power is slightly less than the ASUS but still capable of running most applications. However, its battery life is shorter, making it less ideal for long hours away from a power source. The MSI is more budget-friendly, so if cost is a major factor and your tasks are less demanding, it could be the better option. 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 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- The MSI Cyborg 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.3
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels in general use due to its higher RAM capacity, superior screen quality with OLED technology and higher resolution, providing crisp and vibrant displays, but it's heavier and less portable compared to the MSI Cyborg 15. The MSI Cyborg 15, while also good for general use with a solid CPU and ample storage, offers better portability and heat management, though it has lower RAM and a less impressive screen, which may not be as bright or color-accurate as the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.6
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is superior for engineering and design due to its higher-quality OLED screen, more RAM, and more powerful CPU and GPU, ensuring smooth handling of demanding tasks and rendering, but it is heavier and less portable than the MSI Cyborg 15, which has an IPS screen with lower resolution and less color accuracy, and less power in CPU, GPU, and RAM amount making it less suited for very intensive work, but it's lighter and easier to carry.
Content Creation
8.5
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 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
8.2
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 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
8.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels in screen quality for general use and engineering work due to its high-resolution display, bright and vibrant panel which showcases sharp details and vivid colors, making it easier on the eyes during prolonged usage. For engineering and design, its wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation which is crucial for professionals working with visual media. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, the ASUS falls short as it lacks a high refresh rate, which is key for smooth motion and responsiveness in fast-paced visuals that gamers and 3D applications typically require.
Build Quality
7.6
6.7
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.2
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X boasts a robust Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and an OLED display suitable for high-resolution visuals, but its refresh rate is lower, which may limit some fast-paced gaming experiences. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 includes a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, favoring gamers who need quick screen updates for competitive play, although its lower screen resolution and quality may be less appealing for detailed 3D work.
Battery
7.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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