If you prioritize a high-performing laptop for engineering tasks or 3D rendering and machine learning, the MSI Prestige 16 with more RAM and a higher max refresh rate display may serve you better. However, it's more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, which offers strong general performance and is more affordable. Both laptops have high-quality keyboards, but the MSI Prestige 16 might have slight advantages in webcam and speaker quality. The IdeaPad Pro 5i has a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which is better for gaming and hardware ray tracing, whereas the MSI Prestige only has integrated Intel graphics. The MSI Prestige 16 also offers a longer battery life and slightly better portability. Both are premium business laptops without a gaming appearance, and have backlit keyboards with white lighting and USB-C charging. 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 IdeaPad Pro 5i
Good for gaming and AI
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
409.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 stands out for general use due to its larger storage, double the RAM of the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, and higher screen quality scores that suggest better color reproduction and brightness, all contributing to a smoother and more responsive user experience. While both have a similar CPU and display resolution, the Prestige also has a slightly better battery life, which, combined with similar portability scores, makes it more suited for extended use away from power outlets.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.7/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a 120Hz screen refresh rate, both conducive for smooth gaming and rendering 3D graphics. Contrarily, the MSI Prestige 16, while also featuring a capable Intel i7-13700H processor and a higher 165Hz screen refresh rate, relies on the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which may underperform in comparison to the Lenovo's dedicated GPU for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.7/10
8.3/10
9.0/10
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 IdeaPad Pro 5i 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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
409.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i offers a high resolution and brightness, which makes it suitable for general use, providing clear and vivid images, but its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming where smooth motion is key. MSI Prestige 16 also has a high resolution and is well lit, its superior color accuracy enhances tasks like engineering and design where precise colors are crucial. However, both laptops have screens with refresh rates that are not optimal for 3D applications where faster refresh rates can greatly improve the fluidity and responsiveness of visuals.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has 6 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
$950
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a price of $950 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
The MSI Prestige 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is equipped with a strong Nvidia RTX GPU catering to high-demand engineering and design applications, but has less RAM and storage compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which boasts greater memory capacity and a higher screen color accuracy, enhancing detailed design work. While both have high-quality CPUs and displays suitable for complex tasks, the MSI's superior RAM and screen may edge out the Lenovo's better GPU for some users, though the Lenovo might still be the preferred option for tasks highly dependent on graphics processing.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and MSI Prestige 16 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
"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 IdeaPad Pro 5i 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.
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
132,195
Recommendations made
28,643
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.