Should You Choose an ASUS or MSI Gaming Laptop in 2023?

Gamers and power users upgrading their mobile setup this year have two excellent Taiwanese laptop makers to choose from – ASUS and MSI. Both companies have pushed innovation boundaries for over 30 years; ASUS began by developing computer components in the late 80s before launching complete laptops by the mid-90s while MSI grew from motherboards into full gaming systems by the early 2000s.

Today, both ASUS (with their elite Republic of Gamer/ROG brand) and MSI (through units like their Raider, Vector and Crosshair series) offer premium gaming portables spanning affordable entry-level models to ultra-powered flagship behemoths at the cutting edge.

But tech advancements in 2023 like rich 1440p displays trickling down to mainstream devices plus the growing efficiency of CPUs/GPUs mean the choice between these old rivals proves trickier than ever. Identifying whether ASUS or MSI best fits your needs and tastes as a modern mobile gamer takes some deeper analysis across various categories.

History and Background

ASUS

Founded in Taipei in 1989, ASUS began with just four Acer defectors who envisioned building quality computer components to rival popular American offerings of the era. The ASUS name itself draws inspiration from the mythical winged horse Pegasus – symbolizing the team‘s lofty goal of establishing enduring "innovation and technology."

Early successes like their 1992 motherboard allowing PC builders to work with the revolutionary Intel 486 processor gave ASUS confidence and industry capital to rapidly grow. By 2000, ASUS branched out internationally and soon cemented themselves as the world‘s largest motherboard manufacturer.

The 2000s saw ASUS expand into full computer systems with the "Republic of Gamers" (ROG) sub-brand aimed at PC gaming enthusiasts. Aggressive innovation to beat rivals ensued – 2005 welcomed their Lamborghini co-engineered luxury laptop and an overclockable gaming machine claimed the "world‘s fastest gaming laptop" mantle in 2007.

Today ASUS retains ~20% global market share for PCs – behind only HP and Lenovo according to noted analysts like IDC. The company reportedly shipped almost 21 million laptops and PC products in 2022. ASUS also continues pushing boundaries with recent release like their Zephyrus Duo dual-screen gaming dynamo.

Over three eventful decades, ASUS has emerged as a premier computing brand thanks an enduring reputation for quality plus relentless pursuit of bleeding edge innovation specifically for gamers and power users via ROG division products.

MSI

Whereas ASUS steadily grew from motherboard manufacturer into a leading consumer computer brand on the back of innovation, MSI‘s origins trace back to the mighty Taiwanese IT firm Mitac Group. A quartet of Mitac defectors with backgrounds in precision engineering aimed to leverage the abrupt termination of IBM‘s PC manufacturing wing in 1985 and supply vacuum left behind after Taiwan‘s government courted the tech giant away.

This team carved out the MSI brand which stands for Micro-Star International and quickly found Mitac clout useful for securing vital startup funds plus sourcing reliable manufacturing partners across Asia. Early successes came from supplying other companies components like graphics cards and barebones motherboards throughout the 90s.

MSI‘s first complete PC debuted in 1997 but laptops remained a small portion business until the 2000s when a High Tech Computer Corporation investment partnership allowed significant gaming laptop expansion. The iconic G Series for "Gamers" dropped soon after, catering to the growing enthusiasm for mobile gaming experienced at LAN parties and tournaments of the era.

While rival ASUS ships vastly more total units, MSI enjoys strong gaming laptop market share in North America especially – internal data claims over 25% penetration among gaming notebooks under $1,500. Review aggregators like LaptopMag awarded MSI the coveted "Best & Worst Laptop Brands" honor for two straight years as well.

Key recent wins like becoming the official gaming rig supplier for the US Department of Defense demonstrates MSI‘s manufacturing might and device security advancements. All while continual refinement of audio, haptics and peripherals for gaming shows an enduring commitment to user experiences.

Models and Lineup Comparison

Now that we‘ve covered some history, let‘s contrast core laptop model lineups between these two gaming juggernauts.

With high-performance processors and graphics from AMD, Intel and Nvidia common across both brands, understandably most shoppers examine the total package. Let‘s explore other key considerations:

Design and Appearance

MSI sticks closer to a consistent recipe of subdued black aluminum chassis speckled with gunmetal grey accents plus familiar black and red dragon "Gaming Series" branding. Slim bezels expanding screen acreage dominate recent designs. ROG laptops clearly embrace more striking and polarized aesthetics however.

Aggressively angular venting backed by noisy patterns and cyberpunk deco paired with RGB lighting proves either garish or alluring depending on taste. More premium all-metal builds add pleasing density though cheaper models rely more extensively on plastic materials. However innovative if divisive form factors like the convertible Duo series help ASUS stand apart too. Shoppers craving sobriety find greater appeal in MSI lines but craving flash leans ASUS.

Performance and Speed

Processors and graphics card capabilities understandably impact gaming laptop experiences greatly. Innovations like tweaked cooling, bespoke software and clever hybrid overclocking solutions all squeeze out incremental frame rate and benchmark gains. Both ASUS and MSI offer compelling tuning across various configurations.

However ASUS enjoys greater capacity for differentiation by incorporating components like liquid metal thermal pastes across even mid-range ROG models rather than just limited editions. Another ASUS innovation – their "Mux" switching to toggle integrated/discrete GPUs for batter efficiency or raw power also remains unique.

So while exceptional MSI laptops keep pace thanks to excellent OEM firmware, ASUS enjoys more paths for eeking out extra performance. Though some exceptions like the MSI Titan GT77 outfitted with exceptional 165 Watt RTX 3080 Ti graphics plus world-beating DDR5 RAM help it clinch records. But specialized ASUS options enjoy more overall frequently.

Display and Visuals

Panel technology advancements now enable buttery smooth 240Hz 1440p gaming experiences once confined just to elite desktop setups. And screen quality tangibly impacts gaming immersion. Happily both manufacturers now widely implement Mini LED backlighting, FreeSync variable refresh rates, and super-low response times even on mid-tier models for incredible fidelity and fluidity.

MSI does make bolder moves adopting next-gen display standards faster though – For example 1080p devices utilizing OLED panels for perfect blacks or Quantum Dot IPS variants appeared in more 2022 MSI catalog entries while ASUS included such options in far fewer models. So while baseline gaming visuals impress evenly, MSI caters to early display adopter enthusiasts better currently. Expect ASUS to catchup with OLED and QD options through 2023 however.

Which Brand Should You Buy From in 2023?

For most shoppers, choosing between ASUS and MSI gaming laptops boils down to budget plus performance need. Seeking the best experiences money can buy? ASUS flagships like the Zephyrus Duo 16 offer unrivaled capability though demanding equivalent or higher costs than MSI‘s finest too.

Alternatively, if you want competitive power for hundreds less look no further than MSI‘s Raider and Vector series thanks to excellent 11th and 12th Gen Intel silicon paired with RTX 3000 graphics across multiple capable configurations usually discounted by 10-15% below ASUS pricing. Only truly cash-unconstrained buyers require the maxed out ROG Duo and its dual display delight.

But if you yearn for modern conveniences like those gorgeous 1440p 240Hz or color-rich OLED screens MSI delivers those experiences more readily among mid-budget selections before ROG models scale down the same advancements. And entry-level MSI gaming rigs under $900 manage respectable 1080p gaming that budget ASUS options struggle matching currently.

Either brand secures you years of superb service though – both earn wide acclaim for overall reliability and longevity assuming proper care and maintenance. Plus with 12th Gen Intel, 4th Gen AMD and GeForce 4000 silicon on the horizon, future upgrade paths look enticing from both stables.

For most buyers seeking sub $1500 notebooks in 2023 – MSI provides better all-around "future-proofed" value especially once latest display technologies become personal priorities. But for uncompromising performance at any cost, premium ROG clout keeps ASUS as front runner options to dream about for dedicated fans with expansive budgets.

Ultimately you win big with either MSI or ASUS this year!. Happy gaming and be sure to share your experiences with your new machine once acquired! Please reach out directly also if any personal questions remain comparing laptops from these two computing giants.