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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 15 are closely matched in price, but they cater to different needs. The MacBook Air has an Apple M2 processor, which is efficient for general use and has a long battery life and lightweight design for great portability. Its screen is high-resolution and the laptop runs silently without fans. In contrast, the MSI Prestige has a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics, doubling the storage and RAM, which makes it better suited for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering workloads. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which impacts portability. The MacBook Air is ideal for users prioritizing a high-quality display, battery life, and macOS ecosystem, while the MSI Prestige is more suited for Windows users needing higher performance for professional applications. 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
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
- The MSI Prestige 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
Content Creation
8.0
7.5
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 15 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
7.2
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 15 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
6.8
15.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) likely offers a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it excellent for general use and detail-rich work in engineering and design, but it could fall short for 3D due to a standard refresh rate which is less ideal for fast-moving visuals. The MSI Prestige 15 probably has a solid display that can deliver for both day-to-day tasks and professional design work, thanks to good resolution and adequate color coverage, yet it may not provide the high refresh rate desirable for seamless gaming and 3D experiences. In essence, the MacBook Air excels in visual clarity and color for static images and design, while the Prestige does well across general and design tasks but neither are optimal for gaming or heavy 3D usage where high refresh rates are key.
Battery
15.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 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
Very Good
Good
15.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$1,044
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.5
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is equipped with an efficient CPU and high screen quality that supports a robust battery life and excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 offers a powerful CPU with dedicated graphics and more RAM, which is favorable for multitasking and more demanding applications but comes with a trade-off in battery life and a slightly heavier build. Both are good for general use, with the MacBook Air focusing on portability and battery life, and the MSI Prestige balancing higher performance capabilities with decent portability.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.3
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
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
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15, while having a capable GPU, may fall short for gaming due to its typical lower screen refresh rate and the fact that many popular games are not compatible with macOS. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15, with a similar level GPU and higher refresh rate screen, will offer a better experience for gaming and 3D applications, additionally helped by a wider range of compatible games on its Windows platform.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.2
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is equipped with an Apple M2 chip, including both CPU and GPU, along with a high-resolution screen, making it well-suited for engineering and design tasks that demand color accuracy and visual detail; however, it has less RAM than the MSI Prestige 15. The MSI Prestige 15, on the other hand, pairs an Intel i5 CPU with a dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and more RAM, providing superior multitasking and graphic-intensive performance but sacrifices some screen quality with a lower resolution display.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) | MSI Prestige 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,299 | $1,044 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.4'' x 9.4'' x 0.45'' | 14.1'' x 9.2'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 3.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.4" | 14.05" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 66.6 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 501 nits | 298 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 720p | |
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 | 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 | |
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Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
MSI Prestige 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | December 2022
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the MSI Prestige 15
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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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