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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i offers superior performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and other intensive engineering tasks due to its powerful processor and high-end graphics card. It also has a higher quality keyboard and better speaker quality but is heavier and less portable. The MSI Prestige 16 is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for general use and portability. The Prestige also comes with Windows 11 Pro, which could be beneficial for certain professional applications. If high performance in demanding applications is a priority and the higher cost is acceptable, the Lenovo Legion 9i is the better option. However, for everyday tasks and easier mobility, the MSI Prestige 16 provides a more cost-effective solution with sufficient capabilities. 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 Legion 9i
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Best in class overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2
6.7
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i outshines the MSI Prestige 16 in gaming and 3D work mainly due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, which is superior to the MSI Prestige 16's integrated Iris Xe graphics. Both laptops share the same screen refresh rate, but the Legion's GPU provides a substantial boost in rendering speeds and graphical fidelity, essential for high-end gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
9.6
8.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 16 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in engineering and design use due to its top-tier CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and high-quality Mini LED screen, essential for demanding software and visual precision, but it's less portable and has a heavier build. The MSI Prestige 16, while also capable with a strong CPU and sufficient RAM for many engineering tasks, has a less powerful integrated GPU and a standard IPS screen, which makes it lighter and more portable, but less suited for the most intensive graphics tasks.
Screen Quality
9.7
8.3
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the Lenovo Legion 9i for general use and engineering, its high resolution and brightness, along with strong color gamuts representation, ensure vivid and accurate visuals for everyday tasks and detail-oriented design work. The MSI Prestige 16, while offering similar benefits for general use and design with quality resolution, brightness, and color range, may not surpass the Lenovo in these aspects. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D because their screens have lower refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and an immersive experience in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
3.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 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
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.4
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Prestige 16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in general use with a high-performance CPU, considerable memory, and a superior Mini LED screen, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, affecting portability. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 also has a strong CPU and ample memory for general tasks, with its lighter weight and longer battery life offering better portability, but it might not provide the same level of display quality as the Legion 9i.
Content Creation
8.7
8.3
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Prestige 16 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
8.3
8.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Prestige 16 are both very good for software development.
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.
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How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 82 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 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 | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
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 Legion 9i 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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