MSI Prestige 15 review
The MSI MSI Prestige 15 ranks as the #666 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 67. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #261-ranked performance among 683 laptops. Consider the MSI Claw 8 AI+ or Lenovo V17 Gen 2, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The MSI Prestige 15 is an excellent portable laptop for content creators, boasting a solid metal build, two Type-C ports with Thunderbolt three support, and a decent battery life. However, its performance is hindered by the 35-watt 1650 Max-Q GPU, which struggles with demanding tasks like gaming. Despite this, it still manages to deliver light gaming experiences with lower settings and should be sufficient for creative-specific tasks like video editing. While it's an impressive device, its limitations might make it feel underwhelming at times. The price point of $1400 in the US or $2300 in Australia is steep considering the compromises on performance. Ultimately, whether or not the MSI Prestige 15 is worth it depends on your specific needs and expectations. If you're a content creator who can tolerate some limitations, this laptop might be for you. Otherwise, you may want to explore other options.
Build
The MSI Prestige 15 boasts a solid metal build that exudes quality and durability. The laptop's slim profile and light weight make it easy to carry around, despite packing in a range of features. Two Type-C ports with Thunderbolt three support add convenience, while the micro SD card slot provides easy storage expansion. A decent keyboard and spacious touchpad round out the package, making this a great portable option for content creators on-the-go. Overall, the build quality is impressive, and the laptop's design makes it perfect for those who value portability without sacrificing performance or features. Give MSI Cyborg 15 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled build.
Display
The MSI Prestige 15's display is a mixed bag. The optional 4K panel offers better color gamut and accuracy, making it suitable for pro-level or video editing work. However, the standard 1080p screen feels average. Despite this, the laptop still delivers decent visuals, with vibrant colors and good brightness levels. Overall, the display's performance is on par with other portable laptops in its class, but may not impress those seeking top-notch visuals. Get your hands on MSI Cyborg 15 if you're looking for better display.
Performance
The MSI Prestige 15 delivered impressive performance, especially in CPU-intensive workloads. In Cinebench, the i7-1071u processor outperformed the i7-9750H, showcasing its capabilities. However, under heavy combined CPU and GPU load, the power brick struggled to keep up, resulting in temperatures soaring and performance taking a hit. Under-volting the processor helped alleviate this issue. The 35W NVIDIA GeForce MX250 Max-Q provided sufficient power for light gaming and creative tasks like video editing, but was limiting for more demanding applications. Overall, the laptop's performance was strong in content creation-focused workloads, but faltered under heavy loads. Consider discovering the power of MSI Thin 15, featuring the latest advancements in performance.
Battery and Charging
The MSI Prestige 15 boasts excellent battery life, making it suitable for content creators who need a reliable laptop on the go. The power brick is compact and portable-friendly, but may struggle to deliver full performance when both CPU and GPU are under heavy load. Under-volting helps alleviate this issue, but temperatures still rise with heavy use. Charging is efficient, and the laptop's metal build keeps it cool despite the heat buildup.
Connectivity
The MSI Prestige 15 boasts two Type-C ports with Thunderbolt three support, making it ideal for creative professionals who require high-speed data transfer and charging capabilities. The inclusion of a micro SD card slot is also a welcome feature, offering convenient storage expansion options. Overall, the Prestige 15's connectivity options make it well-suited for content creators and users who need to stay connected on-the-go. For a superior connectivity, MSI Summit E15 could be the right choice.
Features
The MSI Prestige 15 boasts a solid metal build with two Type-C ports featuring Thunderbolt three support. It also has a microSD card slot, making it suitable for content creators. The laptop's battery life is decent, and the optional 4K panel offers better color gamut and accuracy. Two memory slots are user-upgradeable, and there are two RAM slots available. The keyboard and touchpad receive praise for their functionality and design. A better alternative might be MSI Cyborg 15, featuring a next-level features.
Support and Maintenance
The MSI Prestige 15's power brick is its greatest weakness, struggling under heavy combined CPU and GPU loads. However, the laptop shines in CPU-only workloads, with the i7-1071u impressing compared to an i7-9750H. Maintenance-wise, it has two RAM slots and a user-upgradeable SSD, making upgrades a breeze.
Pros
1. The i7 1071RU was quite impressive compared to an i7 9750H
2. The laptop is good for content creators with a solid metal build
3. It has two type-C ports with Thunderbolt three support and micro SD card slot
4. Battery life is decent
5. The optional 4K panel should be much better if you're planning on doing pro-level video editing
6. Good for light gaming with lower settings
7. Solid metal build, decent battery life, and good port selection make it a good portable laptop
Cons
1. When under heavy combined CPU and GPU load the power brick didn't seem to be adequate
2. The laptop gets hot with fans in auto mode
3. CPU only workloads can get loud
4. The power and thermal limits of the machine weren't actually being reached but it did get hot
5. GPU performance is limited by the 35 watt 1650 Max Q
6. The keyboard presses felt a little shallow
7. The laptop gets hot with fans in auto mode, even when not fully loaded
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