Considering the Acer Aspire 5 17's lower price point, it's a cost-effective option for everyday computing needs, but with less powerful hardware compared to the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo. The MSI offers higher performance suitable for more intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, thanks to its better processor and graphics capabilities. It also features a higher resolution screen and potentially longer battery life, making it more suitable for creators and professionals. However, with increased portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size, the MSI comes at a higher cost. On the other hand, the Acer's larger size may not be as convenient for frequent travel, but it provides a bigger screen for easier viewing. 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 16 AI Evo.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo boasts a more powerful processor, quadruple the RAM, and a superior OLED screen with higher resolution and color accuracy compared to the Acer Aspire 5 17, making it very suitable for demanding tasks, while the Acer, with its competitive screen size and good build, offers a more budget-friendly option for everyday use. However, the MSI is also more portable and has a longer battery life, making it the better choice for those who require high performance on the go, despite potentially being more expensive.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is considered good for gaming and 3D because it has a powerful Intel Arc GPU and a vibrant OLED screen, although both laptops have the same screen refresh rate. The Acer Aspire 5 17 is only deemed fair for these tasks due to its less capable Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard IPS screen, which offers good color and viewing angles but not the same vivid quality as the OLED panel in the MSI.
Engineering and Design
6.7/10
8.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, advanced GPU, and superior OLED screen quality, which are vital for performance and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 5 17 is considered fair, likely because it has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, a basic GPU, and an IPS screen with lower resolution and color accuracy.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 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
8.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is good.
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
8.4/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 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.
For general use, where clarity and ease of viewing are key, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo's higher resolution and brighter screen outshine the Acer Aspire 5 17's decent display. Engineering and design professionals would appreciate the MSI's superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts, which are critical for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, both laptops fall short for 3D tasks and gaming, primarily because their screens don't offer the high refresh rates that enhance smooth visuals and gameplay.
Battery
7.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 16 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
$1,349
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
"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."
"The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the MSI Prestige 16 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
109,695
Recommendations made
23,768
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.