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 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is a more portable choice with a higher portability score and lower weight, making it easier to carry around. It is also slightly less expensive and offers a touchscreen, which the MSI Prestige 14 does not. However, the Prestige 14 has double the storage, more RAM for better multitasking, and a larger screen with a higher resolution, which could be better for productivity and entertainment. Both have similar battery life and are equipped with Intel i5 processors and Iris Xe graphics, but the Prestige provides slightly better performance for general use, 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks. If portability and cost are your main concerns, the Surface Laptop Go 3 may be the better option, but if you need more power and screen real estate for demanding tasks, consider the Prestige 14. 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
- Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
6.9
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Prestige 14 both offer screens with good resolution and brightness, making them suitable for general use where clarity and visibility are key. For engineering and design tasks, they provide accurate color representation thanks to their decent coverage of professional color gamuts, ensuring that designs appear precise and true to life. However, for gaming and 3D applications, these laptops fall short as their screens have lower refresh rates, which means less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experiences in fast-paced visual environments.
Cost
$788
$1,040
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.5
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the MSI Prestige 14 are equipped with integrated Iris Xe graphics and 60Hz screen refresh rates, which are satisfactory for less demanding games and 3D applications, but not ideal for high-end gaming or professional 3D work. The Prestige 14 has a slightly larger and higher resolution display, which might offer a better visual experience despite the same refresh rate as the Surface Laptop Go 3.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.1
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 14 to be good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 14 surpasses the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 in engineering and design primarily because it has a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, which are critical for performance in resource-intensive tasks, and its screen offers a higher resolution, providing better display clarity for detailed work. The Surface Laptop Go 3 is lighter and smaller, making it more portable, but it falls behind in performance and screen quality, which are pivotal for engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for content creation.
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
7.3
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 to have excellent portability, while the MSI Prestige 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Prestige 14 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 Go 3 and the MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | MSI Prestige 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$788 | $1,040 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 2.84 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 53.8 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 337 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 720p | |
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 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"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."
MSI Prestige 14
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Tech Radar
Collin Probst | September 2022
"The MSI Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the MSI Prestige 14
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 Go 3 vs. ASUS Vivobook 16
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. Dell Latitude 5430
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 vs. Acer Swift Go 14
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 vs. MSI Prestige 15
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 vs. Lenovo Yoga 6
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 vs. Acer Predator Helios Neo 16
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
124,995
Recommendations made
27,083
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
