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Updated March 21, 2024·
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) tends to be more budget-friendly and easier to carry around, suitable for everyday tasks and some professional applications, while the MSI Titan 18 HX is designed for high-end gaming and demanding software, offering top-notch performance and larger screen real estate at the cost of heavier weight and higher price. If long battery life and portability are priorities over raw power for gaming or demanding 3D work, the Framework is a solid choice; otherwise, if performance is a necessity regardless of budget and portability concerns, the MSI Titan stands out. 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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
- 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
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
8.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
490.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for general use, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
The Framework Laptop 16 is designed with portability and battery life in mind, making it ideal for users who value mobility and longer usage away from power sources while still providing a high-quality screen, capable CPU, and sufficient RAM for smooth operation. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers top-tier performance due to its powerful CPU and ample RAM, a high-quality screen for detailed visuals, and is better suited for users who prioritize maximum performance for demanding tasks over portability and battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.8
9.4
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Framework Laptop 16, while suitable for moderate gaming, has a less powerful GPU compared to the MSI Titan 18 HX, which offers top-tier graphics and smoother gameplay with its higher refresh rate screen. Additionally, the Titan's more robust CPU and higher quality display make it a superior choice for demanding gaming and 3D applications, although it may be less portable and more expensive.
Engineering and Design
8.1
9.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.0/10
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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good.
The Framework Laptop 16, with its focus on sustainability, delivers solid performance and a high-quality screen but is outshined by the MSI Titan 18 HX which boasts superior CPU, RAM, and GPU specs suited for the most demanding engineering and design tasks. While the Framework offers better portability and a unique modular design that might appeal to those on the go, if you primarily work from one location and require top-tier processing power and a larger, more vibrant display, the MSI Titan's heftier build and louder operating noise are trade-offs for its exceptional performance capabilities.
Content Creation
8.1
9.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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.
Software Development
8.0
8.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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
8.4
9.2
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Framework Laptop 16 offers a sharp, bright display with a high resolution, which makes it great for everyday tasks and enhances readability and image clarity for engineering and design work, yet its refresh rate is lower, making it less suitable for the fluid motion required in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Titan 18 HX provides an excellent combination of high resolution, brightness, and panel quality, which means stunning visuals for both everyday use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, benefiting from a wide color gamut ensuring accurate color reproduction. However, like the Framework Laptop, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is key for gaming and 3D tasks where smoother transitions and reduced motion blur are critical.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 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
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,699
$4,800
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has a price of $1,699 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Framework Laptop 16 (2023) | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,699 | $4,800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10.6'' x 0.71'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.04" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.63" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 85 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 490 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
MSI Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the MSI Titan 18 HX
About Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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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