When choosing between the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, consider that the Acer provides a larger screen which is ideal for multitasking and watching videos, and is generally more affordable. However, the MSI offers greater portability due to its smaller size and is often better for demanding tasks like video editing or running engineering software due to its higher performance hardware. The MSI might also have a superior battery life, suitable for working on-the-go. Decide on the Acer if budget and a large display are your priorities, or the MSI if you need a balance of power and portability for more intensive tasks. 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 Acer Aspire 5 17
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is good.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with its larger screen and likely more modest CPU and RAM compared to the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, offers a comfortable viewing experience and adequate performance for everyday tasks; however, the MSI, with its superior CPU and RAM, excels in handling more intensive applications while also providing better portability and battery life. Furthermore, the Prestige's emphasis on a high-quality keyboard and quieter operation, balanced with effective heat management, enhances the overall user experience, particularly for those who prioritize performance and mobility over screen size.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with its larger screen, may offer an immersive gaming experience, but its GPU may not support the highest game settings or deliver optimal frame rates for fast-paced action; the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, while more portable, also has GPU constraints, meaning both laptops can handle games but neither is tailored for high-end gaming performance. Customers interested in gaming should weigh the larger display of the Acer against the MSI's balance of portability and performance, understanding that both may only provide a satisfactory gaming experience rather than a premium one.
Engineering and Design
6.7/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo boasts a stronger CPU and better GPU, which alongside more RAM, ensures smoother multitasking and graphics processing for demanding engineering tasks, while also offering higher screen quality for detailed design work. The Acer Aspire 5 17, while larger and less portable, may not run intensive applications as fluidly, but its larger screen and comfortable keyboard can still appeal to those prioritizing cost over top-tier performance.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 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
7.2/10
7.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for software development, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
6.2/10
7.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 provides a balance between resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks but may not offer the vibrant colors and wider color gamut required for detailed engineering and design work, and the lower refresh rate affects the smoothness needed for Gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offers higher screen quality with better color accuracy and range, catering well to professionals in engineering and design who need precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D, while it maintains good resolution and panel quality, the lack of a high refresh rate means less fluid motion which is crucial for a more immersive experience.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has 8 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$700
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
"The Acer Aspire 5 17 laptop shows the expected strengths in the test. Besides the usual high build quality, the configuration convinces in most benchmarks and tests. The combination of CPU, GPU, and RAM is absolutely sufficient for the everyday office and browsing tasks of a laptop. It also renders the odd game passably if the requirements aren't too high. We liked the matte display in the test as well as the fairly manageable dimensions despite the screen size. It can also be used outdoors, even if it's certainly not a laptop designed for mobility."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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