Selecting between the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 14 depends on your priority. For more storage and memory at a lower price, the MSI Prestige 14 is the better option while offering quality performance for general and engineering use. It also has additional features like a number pad in the keyboard and facial recognition. However, if you need a laptop with a larger, higher-resolution screen, the MacBook Air provides superior display quality and a more extended battery life despite its higher price. It's also slightly more portable due to its light weight, ideal for on-the-go use, and it operates silently since it's fanless. Choose the MacBook for a premium build and macOS experience or the MSI if you value cost efficiency with considerable performance and Windows 11. 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
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 with the Apple M2 chip and high-resolution display offers strong performance and screen quality for engineering and design tasks, along with silent operation, but it has less RAM and storage compared to the MSI Prestige 14, which features an Intel i5 processor, more memory, and additional storage, making it robust for demanding work although its screen and graphics are not quite as advanced. Portability and keyboard quality are impressive on both, but if speaker quality and operating noise are a concern, the MacBook stands out with its silent, fanless design and best-rated speakers.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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
8.1/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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
7.8/10
6.9/10
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air's display is renowned for its vibrant colors and high resolution, which offer crisp and clear visuals suitable for everyday tasks, while its brightness ensures good visibility even in well-lit environments, making it ideal for general use and detailed engineering work. However, its standard refresh rate falls short for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 provides well-rounded screen attributes for general and engineering tasks, but like the MacBook Air, its lower refresh rate might not be up to par for the fast-paced action required in gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$1,040
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.2/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) features an Apple M2 GPU, which supports 3D applications but may not be optimal for popular Windows-based games since MacOS isn't compatible with many of them. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 14, with an Intel Iris Xe GPU, will run games and 3D applications decently but won't provide the high-end performance of a dedicated gaming laptop; both have comparable screen refresh rates but the MacBook Air's screen quality is superior.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the MSI Prestige 14
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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