When considering the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X versus the MSI Titan 18 HX, reflect on your needs. The ASUS offers a balance between performance and portability, making it suitable for everyday tasks and some specialized work, with the advantage of being more budget-friendly. On the other hand, the MSI Titan boasts top-tier performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive computational tasks with a larger display, but expect a heavier device with potentially shorter battery life and a higher price tag. If your work involves resource-intensive applications and you're less concerned about portability and cost, the MSI Titan could be a better fit. 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
Good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
9.4/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, while powerful, may have a less robust GPU and lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Titan 18 HX, making the latter superior for high-end gaming and 3D tasks that require the utmost graphical fidelity and smooth visuals. However, the Zenbook's CPU and screen quality are sufficient for most applications, offering a good balance for general use and some gaming or 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
9.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a balance of a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU which makes it suitable for engineering tasks, and its screen delivers clear and vivid visuals for design work. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with a more robust CPU and GPU, exceeds in performance for demanding engineering applications and complex designs, with a tradeoff in portability due to its larger size and weight.
Software Development
8.2/10
8.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both very good for software development, though the MSI Titan 18 HX 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
8.3/10
9.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Titan 18 HX likely has a screen with higher resolution and brightness, resulting in clearer and more vibrant display. In engineering and design, the Titan's superiority in screen quality is possibly due to wider color gamuts, necessary for precise color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where refresh rate is key, both laptops fall short, indicating they have lower refresh rates which can lead to less fluid visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$4,949
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
The MSI Titan 18 HX and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, with its capable CPU and ample RAM, provides a smooth experience for everyday tasks alongside a high-quality screen, while its slim design and decent battery life make it easy to carry and use on the go. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers similar performance benefits but at the expense of portability and battery life due to its larger size and focus on power over efficiency, which might not be as convenient for frequent travelers.
Content Creation
8.5/10
9.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Titan 18 HX to be excellent for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
"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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
132,195
Recommendations made
28,643
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.