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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the MSI Prestige 16, consider that the MacBook Air is generally less expensive, lighter, and has a longer battery life, making it highly portable; it's suitable for general use with a high-quality screen and a fanless, silent operation. The MSI Prestige 16, although somewhat more expensive, offers more storage, a larger screen, higher performance particularly for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering and engineering software, and has more physical connectivity options. If portability and silent operation are key, go for the MacBook Air; if you need higher performance for intensive tasks and a larger display, the MSI Prestige 16 is the better option. 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 (2022)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5
8.2
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 stands out for engineering and design due to its larger screen, higher RAM and storage capacity, which assist in handling complex tasks and storing more projects, while the MacBook Air is appreciated for its silent operation and excellent portability but has less RAM and storage for demanding engineering software. Additionally, the Prestige's superior screen quality offers professionals more accurate color reproduction for design work, although the MacBook's Retina display is also highly regarded for its clarity and color fidelity.
Screen Quality
7.6
8.3
13.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the MacBook Air's sharp resolution and brightness make it easy on the eyes for daily tasks, while the MSI Prestige 16 offers similar benefits with a clear, bright display. For engineering and design, both the MacBook Air and MSI Prestige boast extensive color gamuts, ensuring that professionals can see accurate colors and subtle details in their work. However, for 3D applications, neither laptop excels due to mediocre refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth rendering and animation, making them less ideal for tasks that require high frame rates.
Battery
15.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 has 7.5 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
Excellent
Good
13.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$939
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $939 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.4
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is appreciated for its exceptional portability and silent operation, along with a high-quality screen and long battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize mobility and low noise. The MSI Prestige 16, with a more powerful processor, more RAM, and a larger screen, serves users better in terms of performance and multitasking, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.7
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI Prestige 16 excels in gaming and 3D work due to its dedicated Intel Iris Xe graphics card and high screen refresh rate suitable for gaming, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) has an integrated GPU that is less powerful for such tasks and a standard screen refresh rate not optimized for gaming. Additionally, the Windows operating system on the MSI Prestige 16 supports a wider range of popular games compared to macOS on the MacBook Air, which is not compatible with many titles.
Content Creation
7.9
8.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) 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
8.0
8.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Apple MacBook Air (2022) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$939 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air (2022)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"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."
MSI Prestige 16
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Dig into reviews and images
Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the MSI Prestige 16
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.
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