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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 14, 2024·
If you're looking for value and you're mainly using your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working with documents, or watching videos, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 may serve you well and save you money. However, if you require superior performance for more demanding applications such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is designed for those intensive tasks, though at a higher cost. The MSI may also offer a more premium build and potentially better screen quality, but consider that it could be heavier and may not have as long battery life as the Lenovo, which could be important if portability and being unplugged for extended periods matter to you. 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 ThinkPad Z13
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3
8.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen suited for engineering tasks, while its renowned keyboard is a bonus for those who type a lot. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo also boasts strong performance with a dedicated GPU for design work, and while it has similar portability, it may have an edge in audio output for multimedia applications.
Screen Quality
7.0
8.2
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
379.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 likely features a high-resolution display with good brightness levels, making it clear and vibrant for everyday tasks and detail-oriented work in engineering, but its lower refresh rate could hinder the smoothness needed for 3D applications and gaming. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo probably boasts similar screen attributes but with superior color accuracy, which enhances visual work in engineering and design; however, like the ThinkPad, its refresh rate may not be optimal for the high-speed rendering needed in gaming. Neither laptop is designed with gaming-focused screens, hence their poor performance in 3D environments, despite their exceptional qualities for professional and general use.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has 8 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
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
13.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,280
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo costs $1,280.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
8.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
379.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers reliable performance for everyday tasks with a strong CPU and enough RAM, a high-quality screen, and good battery life, all in a package that's easy to carry around. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo boasts an equally robust CPU and ample RAM for smooth multitasking, while also providing a superior screen and even longer battery life, but with a slight edge in portability, which may appeal to users on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.8
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, while built for reliability and business tasks, has an integrated GPU that limits its gaming and 3D capabilities and offers a standard refresh rate screen that is not optimized for high-speed gaming visuals. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, although featuring a more potent GPU and a better refresh rate suitable for smoother gameplay, still falls short of dedicated gaming laptops but offers a decent compromise for lightweight gaming and 3D applications within its sleek and portable design.
Content Creation
7.8
8.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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
7.7
7.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both 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 ThinkPad Z13 and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 | MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,280 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 11.8'' x 8.3'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.78 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.59" | 11.77" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 8.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6850U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51.5 Wh | 73 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 13" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 379 nits | 415 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.1/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | September 2022
"In the premium ultraportable space, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 competes with the best of the best, and still manages to shine. The design is an impressive departure from the bland bare-metal laptop that's become so popular in recent years, and the AMD-powered system has performance that's just as impressive. It's a stark alternative to the Intel-based majority, and it stands up well enough to the impressive Apple M2 processor."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 or the MSI Prestige 13 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.
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