If portability is a priority, you might prefer the ASUS Zenbook S 13 due to its lighter weight and it also provides longer battery life for on-the-go use. On the other hand, if cost is a major factor, the MSI Prestige 14 tends to be less expensive. The Zenbook has higher resolution and better color accuracy on its OLED screen, which is excellent for tasks involving visuals, but the Prestige offers a larger 14-inch display. For intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or engineering software, the Zenbook's superior processor and graphics should handle those demands more effectively, although it is more costly. Both laptops offer good general performance, but the Zenbook does edge out slightly in this department as well. 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 general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook S 13.
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 excels in general use with its stronger CPU, more RAM, and superior OLED screen quality, which provides vivid colors and high contrast, alongside its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it highly portable. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14, while also suitable for general use, offers less powerful processing capabilities, a standard IPS screen, and shorter battery life, but may be a more affordable option.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is superior for engineering and design due to its higher performing CPU, double the RAM for multitasking, and an OLED screen with high resolution and color accuracy, making it ideal for intricate visual work. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 14, while still capable, has a less powerful CPU, half the RAM, and an IPS screen with lower color coverage, but is lighter and less expensive, making it a more budget-friendly option for less intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
8.3/10
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
8.1/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering laptops for general use, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a high-resolution, bright display with a panel type that delivers vibrant colors and clear images, which is well-suited for everyday tasks like browsing, document editing, and video streaming. For engineering and design, its display covers a wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color reproduction which is vital for tasks such as photo editing, graphic design, or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 falls short with a lower refresh rate, which can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced games or 3D rendering, whereas the MSI Prestige 14 provides similar general and engineering performance but may not be as bright or as high-resolution.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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
14.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Prestige 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$1,040
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is better for gaming and 3D tasks due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor and high-quality OLED screen that enhances visual experiences, while the MSI Prestige 14 has a less powerful Intel i5 processor and a standard IPS screen that may not be as vibrant. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, which is important for smooth gameplay, but the GPU and screen quality differences give the ASUS a better handle on gaming and 3D applications.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Prestige 14 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 14 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."
"The MSI Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Prestige 14
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.