When selecting between the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, consider that the Surface Laptop Go 3 is more budget-friendly and offers good portability with a smaller, lighter design; it's ideal for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing. However, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, while more expensive, provides superior performance suited for demanding applications such as 3D modeling, machine learning, and video editing, along with a larger screen that may enhance productivity. Battery life will also tend to be better on the Prestige due to higher capacity, making it a tradeoff between cost and high-end features. 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 3
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
7.2/10
8.0/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 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 3 is good.
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offers a more powerful CPU and additional RAM, which translates into smoother multitasking and better performance for demanding applications, along with a higher-quality screen that provides crisper visuals; these factors make it very good for general use despite being less affordable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. However, the Surface Laptop Go 3's strengths lie in its greater portability and battery life, making it a solid choice for on-the-go users who prioritize ease of transport and less frequent charging for fair general use.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.8/10
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 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a graphics card that can handle casual gaming and 3D tasks but doesn't offer the high refresh rates that demanding games require; its screen quality and processor are adequate for everyday activities. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, with a more robust graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, delivers a better experience for gaming and 3D applications but comes with a higher price tag and potentially shorter battery life due to its more powerful components.
Engineering and Design
6.8/10
7.8/10
6.4/10
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 3 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offers a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, crucial for demanding engineering and design tasks that require fast processing and the ability to handle complex graphics. Additionally, the Prestige 14's superior screen quality enhances the visual precision needed for detailed work, although the Surface Laptop Go 3 excels in portability and is quieter in operation, which may be conducive to use in quieter environments or on-the-go.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.4/10
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 3 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
7.1/10
7.7/10
6.4/10
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 3 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
6.8/10
7.8/10
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offer displays with adequate resolution, panel type, and brightness, providing clear and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks such as web browsing and video streaming. When it comes to engineering and design, their screens also cover a broad range of colors, meeting the precision required for professional creative work where accurate color representation is crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as their screens do not offer high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth motion and a competitive edge in fast-paced gaming scenarios.
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 3 has excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$788
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
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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