If you prioritize a lightweight and slim design for ease of carrying, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is a solid choice. However, if your focus is on robust performance for tasks like engineering software or more demanding applications, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo may offer better processing power. Keep in mind that with increased performance, you might see a decrease in battery life. The MSI is also well-suited for content creation with its superior screen color accuracy. The decision should be based on whether portability or power is your priority for your specific usage. 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 ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good for software development
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook S 13.
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
8.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo are both very good for general use, though the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a strong CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks, with a high-quality screen and impressive battery life in a lightweight and portable frame, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo also provides powerful processing capabilities and sufficient memory, balanced with solid screen quality and portability, yet it may slightly edge out in areas like storage capacity and professional aesthetics, making both laptops well-suited for general use where performance and mobility are a priority.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo boast high-resolution displays with vivid colors and ample brightness, making text clear and images crisp for daily activities like browsing and document editing. When it comes to engineering and design, the displays on these laptops cover a wide range of colors, essential for professionals who require true-to-life color reproduction for tasks such as photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals, while their resolutions and panel types are considered adequate but not optimal for gaming experiences.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 13 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
Best in Class
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$1,280
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo costs $1,280.
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 typically offers a more robust GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and effective 3D rendering, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, despite having a competent CPU and screen quality, may not deliver the same level of performance in intensive graphical tasks due to its less powerful graphics capabilities and lower refresh rate. Therefore, for gamers and professionals working with 3D graphics who prioritize visual performance and fluidity, the ASUS would be the preferable option.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its robust CPU, RAM, and GPU, excels in tasks that require intense computing power, making it a strong choice for engineering and design software which demands high performance; its screen quality complements detailed work. Though slightly less powerful, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo still handles engineering tasks well, and it might appeal more to those prioritizing a quieter machine, better portability, and comfort in typing and listening to audio during long work sessions.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo 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
8.3/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook S 13 to be very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo 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.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 13 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 ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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
103,695
Recommendations made
22,468
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.