The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, being significantly less expensive, offers good performance for gaming with its AMD Ryzen CPU and Radeon GPU; however, its weight and size might make it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16, although more costly, has a higher resolution display and a more powerful Intel CPU, which could benefit professional applications and multitasking with its larger memory capacity. The Prestige also tends to be lighter and slimmer, making it more portable. When choosing, consider the balance between cost and performance for gaming or professional use, as well as the importance of portability for your needs. 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
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with its AMD processor, ample RAM, and high refresh rate display, offers reliability for everyday tasks but weighs more and has a lower resolution screen compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which boasts a higher resolution display for better screen quality, a more powerful Intel processor, double the storage, and lighter construction, enhancing its portability and performance for a variety of general use situations. Additionally, the MSI Prestige 16 has a superior battery life and a higher color gamut coverage, factors that contribute to it being very good for general use.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.7/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
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 16 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 comes equipped with an AMD RX 7600S graphics card, while the MSI Prestige 16 utilizes Intel Iris Xe graphics integrated into the i7-13700H processor; however, the dedicated GPU in the ASUS TUF may lead to better performance in more demanding gaming and 3D tasks compared to the MSI Prestige's integrated graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is suitable for engineering and design due to its respectable processor, sufficient RAM and graphics unit, and good screen quality but falls short compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which boasts a more powerful processor, double the RAM, a higher resolution display, and superior screen color accuracy, making it very good for these tasks.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
7.3/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
7.5/10
8.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a display with decent resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, where color accuracy is important but has a lower refresh rate that's not ideal for 3D applications and gaming. The MSI Prestige 16 steps up with superior color coverage critical for precision in engineering and design, as well as providing a crisp and bright image for general use, but like the ASUS, it falls short for gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate. Ultimately, both laptops are geared more towards productivity and content creation rather than high-performance gaming or 3D rendering.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$838
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
"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 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 ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the MSI Prestige 16
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
100,695
Recommendations made
21,818
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.