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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is a lower midrange option with a lower price, suitable for general use. It has a longer battery life, touchscreen, and a solid balance for performance in general tasks. The MSI Prestige 16, carrying a heftier price tag, offers more storage, double the memory, and significantly better performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks. As a more recent release, it has a higher refresh rate screen but lacks a touchscreen. Both have 16-inch displays and similar portability scores, but the longer battery life of the Lenovo might be appealing for on-the-go usage. Choose the Flex 5 for budget-friendly general use or the Prestige for performance-intensive work. 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16
- 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
8.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 offers a much better general use experience than the Lenovo Flex 5 16, with double the RAM for multitasking, a larger and faster CPU for improved performance, and higher-quality speakers for better audio, at the tradeoff of shorter battery life. While the Flex 5 compensates with its 2-in-1 flexibility, longer battery life, and slightly lower weight, which enhances portability, it falls behind in performance and speaker quality.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 is considered very good for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and better GPU compared to the Lenovo Flex 5 16, which translates into superior performance. Furthermore, the MSI Prestige 16 surpasses the Lenovo in screen quality with higher display refresh rate and color space coverage, crucial for detailed design work, although the Lenovo might be preferred for its 2-in-1 versatility and slightly better portability.
Content Creation
7.6
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.5
8.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.3
8.3
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo Flex 5 16's decent resolution and brightness make it suitable, but the MSI Prestige 16 stands out with a sharper image and better brightness, enhancing visibility and clarity. In engineering and design tasks, both laptops deliver with good color representation, yet the MSI Prestige 16 likely has a wider color gamut, offering more precise color accuracy crucial for detailed work. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D tasks due to lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and response compared to laptops optimized for such purposes.
Battery
11.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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.
Cost
$779
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI Prestige 16 offers a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing gaming and 3D experiences, and it includes a more powerful CPU, which contributes to better overall performance for these tasks compared to the Lenovo Flex 5 16. While both laptops have similar GPUs and screen quality, the MSI Prestige's superior refresh rate and CPU make it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The MSI Prestige 16 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
MSI Prestige 16
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Dig into reviews and images
Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the MSI Prestige 16
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
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