The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is typically costlier and comes with an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, making it well-suited for intensive tasks like gaming or engineering software. However, it's not as portable due to its higher weight. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, while usually cheaper, provides an OLED display and a more lightweight design, better for general use and travel. It also offers more memory out of the box, yet it carries an Intel Arc graphics which may not be as powerful as the Lenovo's Nvidia for high-end graphics needs. The MSI's Intel Core Ultra processor is adequate for most tasks, but the Lenovo’s processor might handle heavy workloads more efficiently. Choose the Lenovo for performance-demanding applications and gaming, and the MSI if you prefer portability and a sharper screen for everyday tasks. 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 Slim 5i
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Good portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
343.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo's superior screen quality, with a high-resolution OLED display, and double the RAM of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is why it's rated better for general use. However, despite the Lenovo having a more robust graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, these attributes are more gaming-oriented, while the MSI's lighter weight and longer battery life are more aligned with typical general use needs.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
6.7/10
8.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very 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.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.6/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i are both very good for content creation, though the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is somewhat better.
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
7.8/10
8.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 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.
Screen Quality
8.0/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
343.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you mainly use your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing, watching videos, or working with documents, both the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo offer screens with sharp images and ample brightness. For engineering and design where precise color representation is crucial, the MSI stands out with its wider color gamut coverage, essential for professionals requiring color accuracy for their work. However, for gaming or 3D applications that rely on smooth motion and quick image changes, neither laptop is ideal due to their screens' lower refresh rates.
Battery
7.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has 7 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
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,055
$1,349
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has a price of $1,055 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a high-refresh-rate IPS screen, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks that require strong graphics performance and a fluid display. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo features a higher-resolution OLED screen and more RAM, which offers superior image quality and multitasking capabilities for intricate engineering and design work.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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 Legion Slim 5i and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
"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 Lenovo Legion Slim 5i or the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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
130,995
Recommendations made
28,383
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.