XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 Comparison

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XMG Neo 15 M21

15.6 inches | January 2021

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ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021

17.3 inches | May 2021

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XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 Comparison Overview

XMG Neo 15 M21

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ASUS ROG Zephyrus S1...

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XMG Neo 15 M21

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ASUS ROG Zephyrus S1...

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In this review, we will be comparing Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021, two laptops from XMG and ASUS. XMG Neo 15 M21 was introduced to market in January 2021 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 was launched in May 2021. There is only 4 months difference between Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of XMG Neo 15 M21 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

XMG Neo 15 M21 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 11800H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
8GB Ram
359.8 x 243 x 26 mm (14.17 x 9.57 x 1.02 inches)
Weight: 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 Key Specs

Launched in May 2021
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 11800H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
394 x 264 x 19.9 mm (15.51 x 10.39 x 0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose XMG Neo 15 M21 over ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021

Weight	2.20 kg vs 2.60 kg	0.4 kg lighter
Contrast Rate	1200:1 vs 1073:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	188 ppi vs 170 ppi	More pixels per inch
Max Brightness	350 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
Max Total RAM	64 GB vs 48 GB	Higher RAM potential
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Faster RAM
Speaker Loudness	79 dB vs 74.2 dB	Generates higher sound levels
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0	Better HDMI connectivity
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Key Travel	2 mm vs 1.9 mm	Better typing feel

Reasons to choose ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 over XMG Neo 15 M21

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~79.3% vs ~76.8%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.5 mm vs 7.2 mm	1.7 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	17.3 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Noise Level	52 dB vs 55 dB	Less fan noise
sRGB Color Space	98.7% vs 98.5%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	94.2% vs 68.5%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Adobe RGB Profile	84.4% vs 69.2%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Response Time	3 ms vs 14 ms	Faster Response screen
GPU FLOPS	13.8 TFLOPS vs 13.1 TFLOPS	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	Better Sound capture
Number of Microphones	2 vs 1	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.2 vs v5	Easy login with fingerprint
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Larger Touchpad Area
Touchpad Size	13.0 x 8.5 cm vs 11.6 x 7.4 cm

Common Strengths of ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 and XMG Neo 15 M21

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 and XMG Neo 15 M21

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support

XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the XMG Neo 15 M21 and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	874 cm2 (135.6 inches2)	1040 cm2 (161.1 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~76.8%	~79.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~7.2 mm	~5.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.14 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.308 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black

Comparison of the XMG Neo 15 M21 and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 External Dimensions

Weight

Neo 15 M21 weighs 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs), whereas the ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

XMG Neo 15 M21 2.20 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.94 kg

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 2.60 kg

Avg: larger than 17.0" 2.77 kg

Thickness Comparison

XMG Neo 15 M21 26.00 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.13 mm

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 19.90 mm

Avg: larger than 17.0" 24.42 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the XMG Neo 15 M21 is 0.14 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 is 0.15 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 11800H	Intel Core i7 11800H Intel Core i9 11900H
Base Frequency	1.9-2.3 GHz	1.9-2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.6 GHz	4.6 GHz
Number of Cores	8	8
Number of Threads	16	16
L3 Cache	24 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 EU)	Intel UHD Graphics for 11th Gen (32 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1563	1563
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	8909	8909
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1504	1504
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	12182	12182

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the XMG Neo 15 M21 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core i7 11800H ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 16GB
Base Clock Frequency	900 MHz	900 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1425 MHz	1425 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	80 W	80 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS	10.94 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	192 bit
Memory Speed	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective	1750 MHz 14 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	3840	3840
TMUs	120	120
ROPs	48	48

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. XMG Neo 15 M21 has a FLOPS value of 13.1 TFLOPS whereas the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 ' has a FLOPS value of 13.8 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 48GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	3200 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR4	DDR4
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	48 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

The ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Neo 15 M21's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	XMG Neo 15 (M21)	ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 (2021)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	93 Wh	90 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	No	Yes
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	230 W	280 W
AC Adapter Weight	890 gramm	1023 gramm

Moreover, the Neo 15 M21 boasts a larger battery capacity of 93 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the ROG Zephyrus S17 2021's90 Wh.

Battery Comparison

XMG Neo 15 M21 93 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.07 Wh

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 90 Wh

Avg: larger than 17.0" 77.38 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the Neo 15 M21 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the ROG Zephyrus S17 2021's max. storage capacity of 3 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the XMG Neo 15 M21 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Neo 15 M21 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 has a larger17.3" display.The total usable screen area of the Neo 15 M21 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the ROG Zephyrus S17 2021's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Neo 15 M21 features a higher pixel density with 188 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

XMG Neo 15 M21 188 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 143 PPI

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 170 PPI

Avg: larger than 17.0" 142 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 offer the same refresh rate of 165 Hz.

Furthermore, the ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Neo 15 M21 offers a higher maximum brightness of 350 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

XMG Neo 15 M21 350 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 300 nits

Avg: larger than 17.0" 376 nits

XMG Neo 15 M21 vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 feature 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 have USB Type-C ports. Neo 15 M21 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 feature an HDMI port. Neo 15 M21 offers 1x HDMI 2.1, while ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 offers 1x HDMI 2.0.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Neo 15 M21 and ROG Zephyrus S17 2021 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes