MSI Prestige 16 EVO (A13M): 2023's Best Value 16” Thin & Light Laptop With i7

One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023

The MSI Prestige 16 Evo is a powerful laptop featuring the latest i7-13700H processor, a high refresh rate display, and advanced security features. With its impressive hardware and affordability, it stands out as one of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023.

For $1300, you can buy some incredible laptops in 2023. With that budget, the MSI Prestige 16 EVO A13M is not the most powerful or exciting 16" laptop you can purchase, but it stands out as one of the best-performing thin and light "Evo" options for business and productivity while still offering excellent port selection, fast connectivity, and security features.

Despite lacking dedicated graphics, its updated Intel Core i7-13700H processor and speedy LPDDR5-4800 32GB RAM combination make it an exceptionally fast laptop. Though the 16 Evo isn't the best choice for video editing, 3D rendering, or gaming, its highly efficient and impressively powerful CPU allows it to achieve some of the best laptop CPU benchmarks results that we've tested, which is remarkable for a laptop this thin.

In fact, the Prestige 16 Evo can even rival or outperform many larger, heavier, and more power-hungry laptops equipped with the previous gen i7-12700H or even the i9-12900H, while still managing to keep its size and thermals in check. This translates to an extremely quiet and efficient 16" laptop that will allow you to enjoy over 8 hours of battery life unplugged. In addition, for Costco members, it's worth noting that MSI frequently offers significant discounts on the Prestige 16 Evo A13M, making it an even more compelling choice for those seeking a competitively priced thin and light laptop with powerful hardware.

The Prestige 16 Evo A13M showcases a sleek and professional aesthetic. Available only in Urban Silver, the laptop's design is characterized by its understated and subtle appeal, making it an excellent choice for business or academic users. While the design may appear relatively bland compared to more visually striking options, it offers a safe and timeless style that blends seamlessly into professional environments. Additionally, with its slim profile measuring 0.66 inches (16.8mm) and weighing just 4.18 pounds (1.8kg), the laptop offers excellent portability for a 16" device without compromising on performance.

As for port selection, the Prestige 16 EVO A13M has two Type-C ports that support USB, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 4 functionalities, two Type-A USB3.2 Gen2 ports, a Micro SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. While the choice of a Micro SD card reader over a full-size one might have been driven by space constraints in the laptop's slim profile, it would have been highly appreciated by content creators to have a full-size SD card reader.

The Prestige 16 Evo A13M relies on its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. As we'll see in our benchmarks, the 13th Gen processor does not seem to offer any improvement over the 12 Gen models we previously reviewed. While it may not match the performance of dedicated Nvidia options, the Intel Iris Xe graphics can handle light rendering tasks and even some casual gaming.

With its 82-watt-hour battery, MSI claims a run time of up to 13 hours for the Prestige 16 Evo A13M. However, it's important to note that these claims are made under specific controlled settings. In real-world scenarios with typical usage patterns, we found that users can achieve a more realistic battery life of around 7–8 hours with a mix of productivity tasks, web browsing, and display brightness set to 50%. The laptop uses a 100W USB-C power adapter, meaning you can use most 3rd party options, even some lower-wattage ones, to power the laptop if you need.

The Prestige 16 EVO A13M goes beyond standard security features, by incorporating a Discrete Trusted Platform Module (dTPM) 2.0, which enhances data security by encrypting sensitive information, such as passwords and encryption keys. This feature ensures that users can securely store and access their confidential data, making the laptop an ideal choice for professionals who deal with sensitive information.

Similar to many of MSI's other business laptops, the Prestige 16 Evo offers Tobii Aware, which uses sensors and software to determine which set of eyes should, or should not be looking at your screen. This feature utilizes eye-tracking technology to detect when the user looks away from the screen, automatically blurring the content to prevent unauthorized viewing. When the user looks back at the screen, it refocuses and becomes visible again, ensuring that only the intended user can access the information.

Similarly, it can detect when another person is looking at the screen and provides subtle visual clues to alert the user. You can also enable its auto-lock feature, which automatically locks the computer when the correct user is not present. While Tobii Aware might not be as necessary for some users, the physical Webcam Lock Switch is another notable security feature. This allows you to physically disconnect the webcam, rendering it completely inaccessible and unrecognized by the operating system and giving you the confidence that the webcam cannot record you unknowingly.

One of the closest competitors to the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M is the Acer Swift Go 16, priced at $1140. Like the MSI laptop, it features the Intel Core i7-13700H processor and offers a 1TB Gen 4 SSD. However, it does come with a slightly lower 16GB LPDDR5 RAM configuration. Where the Acer Swift Go 16 sets itself apart is in its display. It boasts a more impressive 16" OLED panel with a resolution of 3200 x 2000 with a slightly slower refresh rate of 120Hz. Considering that most users will never likely be able to take full advantage of MSI's faster 165Hz display, a sharper display will probably be preferred.

Although the Acer Swift Go 16 offers a superior display, it falls short in RAM compared to the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M. While both laptops provide similar IO options, the MSI laptop excels in RAM capacity, which can be a significant factor for multitasking and demanding applications. A higher configuration of the Acer with 32 GB of RAM is expected also to be released, though we do not have any information at this time.

Other notable competitors in the 16" thin and light laptop category with the i7-13700H processor include:

While many of these options offer sharper displays, they further underscore the excellent value proposition offered by the MSI Prestige 16 EVO A13M, especially when it goes on sale. While the competitors mentioned above boast their own strengths, the MSI laptop stands out with its compelling combination of specifications, security features, and price.

The Intel Core i7-13700H, found in the MSI Prestige 16 Evo, has 14 cores with a maximum turbo frequency of 5.0 GHz. Compared to previous generation models like the MSI Prestige 14, equipped with the Intel Core i7-1260P and its 12 cores with a maximum turbo frequency of 4.7 GHz, the i7-13700H represents a notable improvement.

The additional cores and higher clock speed of the i7-13700H can be expected to contribute to a 25% performance boost, enabling faster multitasking, smoother application performance, and enhanced overall productivity.

Laptop

Processor

GPU

RAM

MSI Prestige 16 EVO

Intel i7-13700H

Intel Iris Xe

32GB

MSI Crosshair 15 R6E

Intel i7-12700H

NVIDIA RTX 3070

16GB

MSI Summit E13 Flip EVO

Intel i7-1280P

Intel Iris Xe

16GB

MSI Prestige 14

Intel i7-1260P

NVIDIA RTX 3050

16GB

MSI Modern 14

Intel i5-1235u

Intel Iris Xe

8GB

Razer Blade 17

Intel i9-12900H

NVIDIA RTX 3070TI

16GB

When comparing the PCMark10 scores, we get a good idea of the MSI Prestige 16 Evo's performance for everyday tasks. At 11069, it achieves the highest Essentials score, highlighting its capability for web browsing, video conferencing, and app startup. In the Productivity category, which focuses on spreadsheets and documents, the Prestige 16 EVO achieves a very respectable score of 7320. In the Digital category, it falls further behind, scoring 7538. While the laptop will be speedy enough for most photo editing, the lack of a dedicated GPU hurts its score as it will struggle with more complex video renders.

Looking at its Cinebench R23 scores, the Prestige 16 Evo stands out as it delivers exceptional performance in both the multi-core and single-core categories, surpassing the other benchmarked units by a significant margin. It achieves an impressive multi-core score of 16055, demonstrating its prowess in handling demanding tasks that require intensive CPU processing power. Even in the single-core category, it achieves a score of 1869, which again, is the highest score we've achieved to date. Even more impressive, the Prestige 16 EVO manages to maintain its high level of performance even when running these tests on battery. While there is still a slight drop in scores compared to when it is plugged in, the laptop continues to deliver solid results.

While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo maintains its strong CPU score advantage, showcasing the capabilities of its Intel i7-13700H processor, its overall score significantly trails behind due to the absence of a dedicated GPU. The Prestige 16 Evo#s overall score is similar to that of the MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo, which also relies on the same Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.

Although the Prestige 16 Evo won't play the latest AAA games, it can still handle less demanding or more casual games quite well. Our testing found that running Overwatch 2 at its lowest settings with 1080p resolution consistently gave us 90+ FPS, which is still very playable.

One positive aspect of the Prestige 16 Evo's GPU performance is its relatively low noise levels. Unlike laptops with dedicated GPUs that tend to generate more heat and subsequently produce more fan noise, the lack of a dedicated GPU in the Prestige 16 Evo resulted in a quieter gaming experience. This can be a welcome change for those who prefer a more silent gaming environment.

However, it's important to mention that the laptop did experience noticeable heat buildup during extended gaming sessions to the point where it became very warm to the touch. This is more common when relying solely on integrated graphics, as the CPU handles both processing and graphical tasks, leading to increased heat generation. We recommend that you only use this on a flat and well-ventilated surface to avoid overheating.

Suppose you find yourself needing more GPU power than the Intel IrisXe can provide. In that case, MSI offers an alternative version called the MSI Prestige 16 Studio, which shares the same thin and light chassis as the Evo but includes Nvidia RTX 4050 or RTX 4060 GPUs for enhanced performance. Although slightly heavier at 4.68 pounds, the Prestige 16 Studio delivers added graphics power, providing significantly better performance for intensive rendering or gaming.

Sadly, unlike the MSI Prestige Evo, the 16 Studio may not provide the best value proposition when compared to other options on the market. For a significantly higher price of $1900, nearly twice the cost of the 16 Evo, there are several better 16-inch choices with comparable specs if portability and thickness are not as much of a priority. For example, the Asus ROG Strix G16 (2023) offers excellent value with an RTX 4060 GPU and a more powerful Intel i7 13650H processor. It weighs 5.5 pounds, making it slightly heavier than the MSI Prestige 16 Studio, but it provides better thermals and includes the typical RGB lighting effects found in gaming laptops.

On the other hand, for $1459.99, the MSI Creator M16 is a suitable option for budget-conscious users who prioritize affordability over a high refresh rate display. To cut costs, it offers a more basic, and rather cheap-looking design, a 2560x1600 60Hz display, a slightly weaker i7-13620H processor, a smaller 53Whr battery, and less I/O connectivity. However, it remains relatively compact and surprisingly lightweight, measuring 14.13" x 10.20" x 0.94" and weighing just 4.98 pounds. Again, if you're drawn to Prestige 16 Studio because of its design and security features, you'll have to decide if it's worth the $400+ premium.

While there are several excellent laptops to choose from for less than $1300, the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M stands out as a compelling option in the category of thin and light business laptops. It strikes a remarkable balance between performance, portability, display size, quality, and security features. With frequent discounts, it becomes even more competitive and offers an impressive package of specifications at an attractive price point.

While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike. With its competitive pricing and strong hardware specifications, it is a standout option in the thin and light laptop segment.

Paul is a seasoned tech writer with a focus on reviewing camera, audio recording, and smart home products. Since 2016, he has shared his love for practical yet innovative tech through his work, drawing on his experience as a professional videographer to provide a unique perspective on the latest gadgets.