When choosing between the Gigabyte A5 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, consider the following: If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option and prefer gaming, the Gigabyte A5 with its RTX 3060 graphics card can handle demanding games well. It also has a higher refresh rate screen, which is better for fast-paced games but has a standard resolution display. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is pricier but provides higher performance for professional work with a sharper OLED screen that's better for design and video editing, although it has a lower refresh rate. The Prestige 16 AI Evo is more portable and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use. However, it relies on Intel Arc graphics, which are less proven for gaming compared to Nvidia's offerings. 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 AI Evo
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 battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo boasts superior RAM and a more powerful CPU compared to the Gigabyte A5, leading to better performance for general use, alongside a higher-resolution OLED screen, enhancing visual clarity and quality. Although the Gigabyte A5 is less expensive and offers a decent level of performance for everyday tasks, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo's lightweight design, outstanding battery life, and additional features like a higher-quality keyboard and speakers, position it as a premium choice for users seeking very good general use capabilities.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is rated higher for engineering and design because it doubles the RAM of the Gigabyte A5 and has a more powerful processor, which are crucial for demanding tasks, and offers a higher-resolution OLED screen for sharper and more vibrant visuals. While the Gigabyte A5's decent performance components like the AMD Ryzen 5 and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU are suitable for engineering and design, its IPS screen and resolution fall short compared to the MSI, despite being more portable due to its lighter weight and additional ports for connectivity.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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
8.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a sharp, bright display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the MSI Prestige with its high-resolution panel delivers excellent visual clarity and brightness. For engineering and design tasks, the Prestige's wider color gamut support ensures more accurate color reproduction, crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and working with 3D applications, both laptops may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which could result in less fluid motion and responsiveness in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$830
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,399.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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 AI Evo 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 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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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