The Acer Swift X 16 is a more budget-friendly option and offers solid performance with an AMD Ryzen processor and RTX graphics, suitable for general use and casual gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo comes with a premium build, a higher-resolution OLED display, more memory which is beneficial for multitasking and demanding engineering applications, and an Intel processor with Intel graphics, which may not be as powerful for intensive 3D tasks or gaming. The MSI also tends to have a better screen for creative professionals who require high color accuracy. In terms of portability, the Acer Swift X is slightly heavier, but both have similar battery lives. If cost is a major factor and you need a laptop for everyday use with some gaming capabilities, the Acer Swift X 16 may suit you. If you're looking for a higher-resolution screen, more power for professional applications and multitasking, and don't mind spending a bit more, then the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is the way to go. 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 Swift X 16
Good for gaming and AI
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.2/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo offer screens that are bright and clear, with resolutions that make text and images sharp, though the Prestige may have a slight edge in color reproduction, enhancing the viewing experience. The excellent engineering and design performance of the Prestige's screen is due to its wider color gamuts, providing richer and more accurate colors, which is essential for professionals who need precise color matching in their workflows. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal as their screens lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion rendering, although both offer sufficient resolution and panel quality for moderate use in these areas.
Battery
8.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 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.
Cost
$1,250
$1,349
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift X 16 stands out for general use with a high screen refresh rate, ample RAM, and a strong CPU, offering smooth and responsive performance. However, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, although heavier on the wallet, delivers superior screen resolution and color accuracy, more memory, and a better battery life, making it an ideal choice for users who prioritize visual fidelity and longer unplugged usage.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is only fair.
The Acer Swift X 16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 and a 165Hz refresh rate IPS screen, which is conducive to smooth gaming and 3D tasks, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo features an Intel Arc GPU with an OLED display that has a higher resolution but a lower refresh rate of 60Hz, resulting in vivid screen quality but potentially less fluid motion in fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16 delivers solid performance for engineering and design tasks with its AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia GPU, also providing high screen quality with good color coverage; however, it is slightly heavier and has less RAM compared to the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, which offers a top-tier Intel CPU and Intel GPU, paired with an OLED display with exceptional color accuracy and contrast, making it excellent for color-intensive work while being more portable with a lighter design.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.0/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Acer Swift X 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.4/10
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo compare to other laptops
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
"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 Swift X 16 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
132,195
Recommendations made
28,643
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.