A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, consider your priorities. If you value a more compact and lightweight design for easy portability, the Surface Laptop 5 is the better choice. It's slightly less expensive, yet offers a high-resolution screen, good battery life, and sufficient performance for general use. On the other hand, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks such as 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, though it costs a little more, provides a larger, higher resolution OLED screen, double the memory and storage, more powerful processing capabilities including dedicated graphics, and an overall higher performance ceiling. However, the MSI is slightly heavier, impacting portability. Choose the Surface for everyday tasks and portability, or the Prestige for intensive work and better display at the expense of some portability and higher cost. 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 AI Evo
- 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
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.6
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo outshines the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, primarily due to its more robust CPU and double the amount of RAM which allows better multitasking and speed, coupled with a higher resolution OLED screen which provides crisper visuals and a wider color range. Although the Surface Laptop 5 offers competitive portability and a high-quality build, the Prestige 16 AI Evo offers greater overall performance, with a significantly longer battery life and better screen quality, despite being slightly less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks because it comes with a dedicated Intel Arc GPU which performs better than the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics found in the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but the dedicated GPU in the MSI provides superior graphical performance, making it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is superior for engineering and design as it offers a higher capacity SSD, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU and CPU than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13". Additionally, the MSI has an OLED display with higher resolution, providing better screen quality, yet it is less portable and potentially noisier due to its higher-performance components.
Content Creation
7.4
8.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
8.4
13.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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.
For general use, a screen's clarity and ease on the eyes are key, so both laptops with their high resolutions and brightness offer pleasing visuals, but the MSI's larger screen may provide a more expansive view. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo stands out for engineering and design work with its superior color accuracy and wider color gamut coverage, which are critical for professionals needing precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can't provide the smooth visuals that gaming or fast-paced 3D rendering demands.
Battery
7.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Excellent
Good
13.5in
SIZE
16.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,200
$1,399
$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 AI Evo costs $1,399.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Build Quality
7.8
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" | MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | December 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.86 lbs | 3.31 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.1" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.8" | 10.02" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 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 | 7.5 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 47.4 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.5" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2256 x 1504 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
See more
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 AI Evo
See more
Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Mark Anthony Ramirez | December 2023
"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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" or the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" vs. ASUS Vivobook 16X
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" vs. Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" vs. Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo vs. MSI Pulse GL66
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo vs. ASUS TUF Gaming F15
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo vs. Dell XPS 13
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
97,695
Recommendations made
21,168
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.
Featured in
