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Updated March 13, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is a more budget-friendly and portable option, suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and streaming media. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, while typically more expensive, delivers higher performance for more intensive applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. Its stronger performance, however, often comes with reduced battery life and a heavier build, making it less ideal for those prioritizing portability and all-day use without charging. Choose based on your primary needs: basic functionality and portability, or advanced capabilities for specialized tasks at a 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 Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.0
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
401.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a balance in portability and battery life but is limited by its modest CPU and RAM, which may affect performance during demanding tasks, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo boasts a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a superior screen quality which enhances performance and user experience for intensive applications, albeit potentially at the cost of increased operating noise and heat. While both provide good keyboards and storage options, the MSI's edge in CPU and RAM makes it more suitable for more demanding general use scenarios, but the tradeoff might be less battery life compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, while offering reasonable CPU capabilities and screen quality for general use, are limited by their GPU and screen refresh rate, which are crucial for high-end gaming and smooth 3D rendering. Therefore, both these laptops provide only modest gaming and 3D performance, making them better suited for everyday productivity than for demanding graphical tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.5
7.8
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior dedicated GPU compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2, making it better suited for demanding engineering applications and design work that require high levels of processing and graphical power. While both have quality screens, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable and has a quieter operating noise, but it sacrifices the higher performance necessary for more intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.1
8.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.0
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for software development, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is somewhat better.
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
6.9
7.8
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
401.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Surface Laptop Go 2 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offer sufficient resolution and brightness, making content clear and enjoyable to view without the need for advanced features. Engineering and design professionals will find the accurate color representation on these laptops to be adequate for most tasks due to their decent coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. However, gamers and 3D designers might find the refresh rate on both models lacking for smooth, fast-paced visuals, despite acceptable resolution and panel type.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$774
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a price of $774 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 | MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$774 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 12.3'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.48 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 12.3" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 7.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 401 nits | 415 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 or the MSI Prestige 14 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.
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