Updated January 10, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you need a laptop primarily for gaming and you're okay with a heavier and bulkier system, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 with its AMD Ryzen CPU and AMD RX GPU is designed to provide a better gaming experience. It features a high-refresh-rate display which is preferable for fast-paced games, but this also results in shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15, with its Intel i5 CPU and Nvidia GTX GPU, is lighter and has a more premium build, making it more suitable for business and general use. It doesn’t excel in gaming as much as the ASUS but offers greater portability and a longer battery life for everyday tasks. 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 ASUS TUF Gaming A16
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.3/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 15 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, boasting an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and AMD RX 7600S GPU, along with a high refresh rate of 165Hz, is better equipped for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the MSI Prestige 15, which uses an Intel i5 CPU and Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU with a standard refresh rate of 60Hz. While both have IPS screens, the superior refresh rate and graphics capabilities of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 give it an edge for smooth visuals and fast-paced gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with its high-refresh-rate screen, stronger AMD Ryzen CPU and RX GPU, is well-suited for demanding engineering software and offers immersive visuals for design work, but it's heavier and thicker, affecting portability. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15, while lighter and slimmer which makes it more portable, has an energy-efficient Intel CPU and a decent Nvidia GTX GPU that can also handle engineering applications, albeit with a standard refresh rate screen that's not as optimal for fast-paced design tasks.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and MSI Prestige 15 offer suitable screen features with sufficient resolution and brightness, making everyday tasks like browsing, video streaming, and document editing pleasant. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops have displays that cover a wide range of colors, which is crucial for accuracy in graphic design and color-critical work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short as they don't support high refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid visuals and potential lag during fast-paced action.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$930
$1,044
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $930 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and greater battery capacity, advantageous for users needing extra performance and longer usage times; while its larger screen with a higher refresh rate enriches visual experiences, it is heavier and thus less portable than the MSI Prestige 15. The MSI Prestige 15, on the other hand, is lighter and more compact, offering better portability and a high-quality keyboard, but it has a smaller screen size, less battery longevity, and a less capable GPU, making it less suitable for graphics-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and MSI Prestige 15 are both 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
7.3/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and MSI Prestige 15 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the MSI Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
"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 ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the MSI Prestige 15
Perfectrec constantly monitors the prices from 1 retailers and sends you a weekly update.
Only the products you care about. No spam.
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
167,295
Recommendations made
36,248
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.