If cost is a significant factor and you prioritize a lightweight device with strong battery life for everyday tasks, the Apple MacBook Air could serve you well. However, if your work requires more powerful processing, such as for engineering software or creative applications, and if you're willing to invest more for enhanced performance, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo could be the better choice despite its higher price point. Keep in mind, though, the MSI's added performance may come with a slight dip in battery life compared to the MacBook Air. 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 Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air, while boasting solid screen quality, compromises gaming and 3D performance due to its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, coupled with the fact that many popular games are not compatible with macOS. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo offers a better GPU for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, although it may still offer only average performance if you're planning to run highly demanding games and software.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its efficient CPU and high-resolution screen, offers great performance and visual clarity for engineering and design tasks, while its reputation for a quality keyboard and lower operating noise enhances the user experience. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, on the other hand, provides a balance of powerful CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU, making it well-suited for demanding engineering software, and its portability and solid build quality appeal to professionals on the go.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Air boasts a sharp, bright display with vibrant colors, while the MSI Prestige offers similar attributes but steps up with a higher resolution, enhancing detail and workspace. In engineering and design, both laptops offer wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation, but the MSI may have a slight edge in professional settings with its superior Adobe RGB coverage. However, when it comes to 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which are less than ideal for the smooth rendering of fast-moving images that gaming and 3D modeling often require.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,280
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo costs $1,280.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its efficient CPU and long battery life, excels in portability and ease of use for everyday tasks but may fall short for power users due to average screen brightness and limited RAM. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, with its superior screen quality and higher RAM, provides a more robust experience for intensive applications while still maintaining good portability and battery longevity, though it can be pricier.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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
7.7/10
7.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both 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
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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