MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo review: portable but not powerful

The MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo follows quickly on from the Prestige 13 AI Evo. I think there’s only been six months between the two models with the newer version benefitting from the latest Intel technology. In almost all other regards, the two models are identical.

The laptop is small and lightweight making it perfect for working in any and every location. The size and weight means you can quickly and easily throw it into a bag or even a large handbag before travelling to a new destination.

Competition in this form factor include the Dell XPS 13 and Apple MacBook Air 13, both of which are more affordable and better performing. The Prestige might be saved by a gorgeous 2.8K display but at just under £1,500 I’m not too sure many people will be sold. As a result I’m not convinced we’ll see this laptop appearing in our best laptops or best AI laptops guides.

Key specifications

Design, build and display

• Compact and lightweight
• 2.8K resolution display
• Flimsy display panel

As soon as you open the box, the first thing that hits you in the face is how unbelievably light the laptop is. At only 990 grams it’s a full 250 grams lighter than the MacBook Air. Maybe that ‘Air’ title should be transferred to the Prestige. At this weight, I had absolutely no problem picking it up with one hand.

Unfortunately, the loss of weight results in problems with the rigidity of the display panel. Picking it up by the display is a definite no-no and if you’re not careful when transporting the laptop, you’ll have problems with screen damage. Thankfully, these build quality issues are not present on the keyboard panel.

The ergonomics of the laptop are well implemented with keys that are raised higher than standard and a hinge which forces the keyboard to tilt when the laptop is opened. I loved typing on the keyboard and even though it’s slightly louder than I’m used to, it certainly wasn’t offputting. The only issues with the keyboard were the tiny arrow keys and the awkward implementation of some of the key positions.

The trackpad is mechanical rather than haptic which is a little disappointing. As a result, the top third of the pad is unclickable. Other than that, functionality is as you would expect although a little grippier than I would have liked.

The 2.8k resolution display is the best thing, in my opinion, about this laptop. It looks fantastic. The display is crisp and sharp, and offers a high level of clarity. Photos and videos look great on it. The offering is only improved further by the matte finish which meant I had no problem with working in bright rooms. Unfortunately, it’s only 60Hz so if you want to kick back and do some gaming then you’ll be bitterly disappointed.

The final thing to say about the Prestige 13 AI+ Evo is that it has a wide range of ports, including HDMI 2.1, which is increasingly rare on this size of laptop. Two USB-C ports and one USB-A is more than enough to connect peripherals, especially if you have a docking station. You’ll also find a Micro SD port which is ideal for creatives using that format.

Design score 4/5

Features

• MSI AI Engine
• Wireless functionality

2.8K display

The 13.3-inch display boasts a 2.8K (2880 x 1800) resolution which looks fantastic. It’s also OLED which is far superior to an LCD panel that MSI could have opted for. You’ll also find that it’s DisplayHD 500 Certified which guarantees a wide colour gamut.

MSI AI Engine

By detecting user scenarios, the laptop can automatically adjust hardware settings to achieve the best performance. This feature works across meetings, gaming, work, and entertainment. In particular, I love the image enhancement that is possible to make me look even better in meetings!

Wireless functionality

As well as the connectivity mentioned in the design section, this laptop supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 framework making it significantly faster than previous generations. More specifically, this laptop is capable of a maximum data rate of nearly 5.8 Gbps. This results in quick downloads and fast streaming.

Features score 3.5/5

Benchmark scores

We test every one of our laptops using the same benchmarking software suite to give you a thorough overview of its suitability for creatives of all disciplines and levels. This includes:

• Geekbench: Tests the CPU for single-core and multi-core power, and the GPU for the system's potential for gaming, image processing, or video editing.
• Cinebench: Tests the CPU and GPU's ability to run Cinema 4D and Redshift.
• UL Procyon: Uses UL Solutions' Procyon software suite to test the system's ability for AI image generation in Stable Diffusion.
• Topaz Video AI: We use Topaz Video AI to test the system's ability to upscale video and convert video to slow-motion.
• PugetBench for Creators: We use the PugetBench for Creators benchmarking suite to test the system's ability to run several key tasks in Photoshop and DaVinci Resolve Studio, as well as its performance when encoding/transcoding video.
• ON1 Resize AI: Tests the system's ability to resize 5 photos to 200% in a batch process.

Performance

• Single-core performance better than multi-core
• Remains quiet and cool most of the time
• Fantastic battery life

This Prestige laptop includes Intel's next-generation Core Ultra 200V Series mobile processor, codenamed Lunar Lake. They focus on power efficiency and AI performance and are perfectly suited to small devices. As a result, it doesn’t have the highest level of performance. Let’s dive into more detail.

Our Geekbench and Cinebench tests show this laptop performs reasonably at single-core tasks such as running a single application, light gaming, basic photo editing, and tasks that don't benefit from parallel processing. Multi-core processing is where it struggles though and as a result, it can’t be relied upon for any involved creative workflows such as heavy video editing or 3D visualisation.

Its AI capabilities are superior to the MSI Creator A16 when it comes to image generation but not as efficient during On1 resizing and Topaz benchmarks. The mixed bag just goes to show that if you need a laptop with serious AI smarts then you’re best off getting a machine with much more processing power.

I was pleased to see that the laptop remained incredibly quiet during almost all tasks. The lack of fan noise made it feel very much like a tablet. It also didn’t get warm either underneath or through the keyboard. Maybe this is a testament to the fact that this laptop can’t work too hard but either way, it’s certainly a positive.

As for battery power, the laptop really comes into its own. You’ll manage around two days of light use or a single day while performing more intense tasks. Until the battery begins to run down in six or nine months, you’ll rarely have to take your charger with you when working out and about.

Performance score 3.5/5

Price

• MSRP £1499
• Expensive for the performance

I was surprised to see the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo set at an MSRP of £1,499. Given the release of the MacBook Air M4 at a starting price of £999 I’m not sure why anyone would pay an extra £500 for the MSI. Unless the price comes down I wouldn’t be surprised if this is not a widely adopted laptop.

Value score 3/5

Who is it for?

Its price point should mean the Prestige 13 AI+ Evo is suitable for mid-range designers and editors but that simply doesn’t match up in performance. We’d therefore have to say it’s for lightweight creative workflows and those focused on productivity. But I’m not sure who would want to pay £1,499 to do that. The laptop performs admirably when you don’t throw too much at it but as soon as things get serious it begins to struggle.

Buy it if...

• You want a lightweight and portable 13-inch laptop
• You need a quiet laptop that doesn’t disturb others
• You like the idea of a matte 2.8K display

Don't buy it if...

• You’re a professional video editor or 3D visualiser
• You need a solid indestructible chassis

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