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Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Prestige 16
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What we think

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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·

If your primary concern is portability and a lighter device, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" may be the better option as it has a smaller screen and weighs less than the MSI Prestige 16. However, if you require more power and storage for tasks such as video editing or programming, the MSI Prestige 16 offers a more robust processor, twice the memory, and double the storage capacity. It also has a higher resolution display with more color accuracy, beneficial for creative work. The tradeoff, in this case, is a heavier and slightly larger laptop with these increased capabilities. The Surface is also equipped with a touch screen which the MSI lacks, and while the MSI has a newer release date, the Surface's lower weight might appeal more to those who travel frequently or value a lighter carry. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
  • Excellent portability
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

Key differences

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General Use

7.4
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
8.4
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.

Gaming and AI

6.1
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
6.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 16 is somewhat better.

Engineering and Design

7.1
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.

Content Creation

7.4
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.

Software Development

7.2
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
8.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.

Screen Quality

7.2
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
8.3
13.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.

Portability

Excellent
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
Good
13.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Cost

$1,200
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
$1,611
Product image
Product image

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities

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Battery

7.5 Hours
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
7.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 has 7.5 hours of battery life.

Build Quality

7.8
Surface Laptop 5 13"
Prestige 16
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and MSI Prestige 16 both have good build quality.

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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"MSI Prestige 16
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"MSI Prestige 16

GENERAL

Price
$1,200
$1,611
Release Date
October 1, 2022January 1, 2023
Overall Dimensions
12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57''14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66''
Weight
2.86 lbs4.2 lbs
Width
12.1"14.09"
Depth
8.8"10.18"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i7-1255UIntel i7-13700H
RAM
16 GB32 GB
DDR Memory Version
55
RAM Slots
00
Storage
512 GB1024 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
7.5 Hours7.5 Hours
Battery Capacity
47.4 Wh82 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
13.5"16"
Display Technology
IPSIPS
Resolution
2256 x 15042560 x 1600
Refresh Rate
60Hz165Hz
Display Brightness
400 nits400 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
7.8/107.4/10
Portability Score
9/107.7/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
NoNo
Premium Business Laptop
NoNo
Fan Noise Score
7.5/107/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
7/107.5/10
Speaker Quality Score
8.8/108.8/10
Webcam
720p1080p
Fingerprint Reader
NoYes
Backlit Keyboard
YesYes
Number Pad
NoYes

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
12
USB-C ports
12
USB-C Charging
YesYes
Display Outputs
13
Thunderbolt Version
44

Shopping

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"

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Dig into reviews and images

CNET

Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."

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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the MSI Prestige 16

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.

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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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.

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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.

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