Deciding between the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and the MSI Prestige 16 involves weighing their attributes against your needs. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a substantial screen size, which is great for immersive viewing and multi-tasking, but this also means it's heavier, affecting portability. It features an AMD Ryzen processor and an Nvidia graphics card, making it suitable for graphics-intensive tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 comes with an Intel processor and integrated graphics, offering a high-resolution display for sharp visuals and a lighter build for easier travel. It also has a longer battery life, suiting on-the-go use, but the ASUS offers better performance for demanding applications. The MSI Prestige has a higher refresh rate display which could be better for smooth visuals. The ASUS may lead in creative tasks due to its dedicated graphics, yet the MSI, being less expensive and including Windows 11 Pro, could be a more cost-effective choice for business and general use. 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 Zenbook Pro 17
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Prestige 16.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2/10
8.3/10
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, both ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and MSI Prestige 16 offer high-quality displays with sharp resolution and ample brightness, ensuring vivid and clear visuals. Regarding engineering and design, both laptops present displays with a broad color gamut, reproducing accurate colors crucial for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may not provide as smooth motion as required by fast-paced visuals, which might impact the gaming and 3D rendering experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has 9 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
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,500
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a price of $1,500 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 offers robust general-use capabilities with a high-performing AMD Ryzen CPU and ample RAM, complemented by a quality IPS screen suitable for a variety of tasks, though it's less portable due to its larger size and has decent battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16, while also providing strong performance with its Intel CPU and equivalent RAM, boasts higher portability with its lighter weight and compact design, and a superior screen with greater resolution and pixel density, making it an excellent choice for detailed visual work, but offers slightly less battery longevity.
Gaming and AI
6.9/10
6.7/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and MSI Prestige 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, making it suitable for gaming and 3D applications, but with potential limitations in fast-paced games due to the screen's refresh rate. The MSI Prestige 16, while not specified with a discrete gaming GPU in the given data, boasts a higher screen refresh rate and better resolution which could be advantageous in delivering smoother visuals particularly in 3D design contexts.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
5.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The MSI Prestige 16 boasts a higher resolution screen and the latest Intel i7 processor, which can be better for detailed engineering and design tasks; however, it may not support as high-performance graphics as the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, which is equipped with a robust AMD Ryzen 9 processor and an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, offering significant graphical power needed in engineering. While both have ample RAM and high screen quality, the Zenbook's larger screen and discrete GPU may benefit design applications that rely on visual detail and graphical performance, but the Prestige's more compact and lightweight design offers enhanced portability and a quieter operating noise which can be more appealing for mobile professionals.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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
7.9/10
8.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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 Zenbook Pro 17 and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
"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 Zenbook Pro 17 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
131,595
Recommendations made
28,513
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.