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·
If you prioritize a high-end display with better resolution and a touchscreen for tasks that benefit from a stylus or hands-on interaction, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stands out. It also has a more powerful graphics card that's better suited for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. However, it's heavier and costs more, which could be significant if budget and portability are concerns. The MSI Prestige 14, on the other hand, is lighter and less expensive while offering a standard display without touchscreen functionality. It won't handle intensive engineering or gaming as well, but it's more portable and budget-friendly. Both have similar battery life and general use performance. 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 Studio
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
- Very good portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.0
6.9
14.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio, with its vibrant display and higher resolution, offers crisp and clear visuals that greatly benefit general use and detail-oriented tasks required in engineering and design by providing accurate colors and brightness. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, which rely on smoother motion that comes with higher refresh rates. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 provides good color reproduction and sufficient brightness for everyday tasks and professional work, but like the Surface, its refresh rate isn't high enough to offer the best experience for fast-paced gaming and seamless 3D modeling.
Portability
Good
Very Good
14.4in
SIZE
14.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 has very good portability, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,040
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio stands out for its efficient CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, with the bonus of a robust build that lends to portability without sacrificing battery life. The MSI Prestige 14, while similar in RAM and storage, offers a less powerful CPU but maintains its edge in portability with light weight and decent battery life, along with a good balance of heat management and low operating noise.
Gaming and AI
6.6
6.2
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU and has a higher screen refresh rate which is beneficial for smoother gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Prestige 14 uses an integrated Intel GPU and has a standard refresh rate, indicating less graphical performance for gaming and 3D tasks. However, both devices have similar CPUs and high-quality IPS screens, making them competent but not optimal for more demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3
7.1
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is suitable for engineering and design work due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, and high-resolution touchscreen which offers a vibrant display that is ideal for creative tasks. In comparison, the MSI Prestige 14, while lighter and thus more portable, uses an integrated GPU and lower-tier processor, which may be less optimal for demanding engineering tasks but still provides a decent screen quality and efficiency for design work.
Content Creation
7.4
7.5
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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
7.3
7.3
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 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 Studio 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and the MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio | MSI Prestige 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $1,040 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2021 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4 lbs | 2.84 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.98" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11370H | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 53.8 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 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 | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | October 2021
"There’s no doubt that the Surface Laptop Studio is groundbreaking. We’ve come to expect such things from the Surface lineup, so it’s always nice to see a product that exceeds our expectations. The pull-forward laptop-screen concept has been tried before, but never in a device that’s so stylish and packed with innovative features like a haptic touchpad and robust digital stylus support."
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 Studio 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 Studio vs. Gigabyte Aorus 17
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio vs. Gigabyte Aorus 15
VS
Compare Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio vs. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
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
