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Updated March 13, 2024·
If you prioritize a sleek design, excellent battery life, and an ecosystem that integrates well with other Apple devices, the MacBook Air may suit you well, especially if you're engaged in general use such as web browsing, office tasks, and media consumption. On the other hand, if you need more power for tasks like video editing or software development, and if you prefer a laptop that offers more ports for connectivity, the MSI Prestige might be a better fit, despite being pricier and potentially heavier, which could affect its portability. 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 15 (2023)
- Very good for software development
- 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 overall display quality
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8
8.2
15.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo for software development, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When choosing a laptop for general use, the screen's clarity, which hinges on the panel type, resolution, and brightness, is vital for comfortable viewing, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo both excel in these aspects. For engineering and design tasks, accurate color reproduction becomes crucial, so a display that covers a broad spectrum of the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color gamuts, as these laptops do, ensures that the work produced on-screen is precise and true to life. However, for 3D tasks or gaming, a high refresh rate is paramount to achieving fluid motion, and since both laptops lack in this area, they are less suitable for those specific demands.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 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
7.4
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.0
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
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 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a sleek design with high-quality screen and long battery life, making it ideal for users prioritizing portability and general use without frequent recharging. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige has a robust CPU and more RAM, which suits users who need extra power for more demanding applications, along with a balance of good screen quality and speaker performance for a comprehensive multimedia experience.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.8
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2880 x 1864
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 15 (2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Air 15 includes a GPU suitable for some 3D tasks but lacks the high refresh rates and extensive game compatibility that come with a Windows-based system like the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, which offers a better gaming experience with its advanced GPU and favorable refresh rate. While both have quality screens and competent CPUs, the Prestige's build is optimized for gaming, whereas the MacBook Air leans towards general productivity and content creation within the MacOS ecosystem.
Engineering and Design
7.6
8.0
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo to be very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 offers a high-quality screen and a robust CPU and GPU integration, which is vital for engineering and design software, while its build quality ensures a reliable keyboard and lower operating noise, enhancing the work experience. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, on the other hand, provides strong performance with good CPU and RAM capabilities for multitasking in engineering applications, and while slightly more portable, it may not match the MacBook Air's display clarity and speaker quality.
Content Creation
8.0
8.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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
8.1
7.9
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
13.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,299
$1,280
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo costs $1,280.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,280 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 11.8'' x 8.3'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 11.77" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 8.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 73 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 13" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 415 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
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 | |
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Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2023
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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.
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