The Gigabyte A5 is often somewhat less expensive and may be better suited if you're looking for a laptop with a gaming appearance, hardware ray tracing, and DLSS support, which is good for gaming and graphic-intensive tasks. However, it is heavier and thicker, has a shorter battery life, and the screen offers lower brightness and resolution. The MSI Prestige 16 is often somewhat more expensive, offers better general, 3D/machine learning, and engineering performance, and it comes with a higher resolution and brighter display. It is also lighter and thinner, making it more portable, and has a longer battery life, but it does not support hardware ray tracing or DLSS, which may be a drawback for gaming. 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 Gigabyte A5
Good for gaming and AI
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
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
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 Gigabyte A5 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 excels in general use over the Gigabyte A5 due to its more powerful CPU, larger amount of RAM, and higher-resolution screen with better color accuracy; these features contribute to faster, smoother performance and better multitasking in various applications, as well as a more vivid and detailed visual experience. Additionally, the Prestige 16 offers greater portability with its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it more suitable for users who need to work on the go.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
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 Gigabyte A5 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 exceeds the Gigabyte A5 in engineering and design use by offering doubled RAM for handling complex tasks more smoothly, a more powerful latest-generation CPU, and a superior GPU that aids in rendering workloads, along with a higher-resolution screen that improves visual detail important for design precision. Although the Gigabyte A5 is suitable with a competent CPU and a dedicated GPU, its lower resolution screen and lesser RAM make it less ideal for intensive engineering software and detailed design processes compared to the MSI Prestige 16.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
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 Gigabyte A5 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
7.0/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 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
7.2/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When choosing between the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Prestige 16 for general use, consider that while both offer satisfying visuals, the MSI Prestige 16's higher resolution and brightness may provide clearer and more vibrant images. For engineering and design, the MSI Prestige 16 again stands out with superior color accuracy, benefiting from a wider range of colors covered in its color gamut, which is crucial for detailed and color-critical work. However, for gaming and 3D applications that rely heavily on smooth motion, the Gigabyte A5 may not meet the mark due to its lower refresh rate, which is less suited for high-speed visuals compared to other models designed specifically for these purposes.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$830
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Gigabyte A5 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
"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 Gigabyte A5 or the MSI Prestige 16
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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