MSI Prestige 16 Studio review: A mini-LED laptop for less

Price When Reviewed

$2,000

Best Prices Today: MSI Prestige 16 Studio

$1,998.99

$1999.99

The MSI Prestige 16 Studio is one other entry within the widespread 16-inch, 16:10 laptop computer class geared both towards content material creators or players. With a high-resolution, miniLED panel, the Prestige 16 Studio is positioned towards the previous, however a low-wattage RTX 4060 GPU and the dearth of RGB lighting are the one deterrence to players trying to make use of this moderately priced, extremely succesful laptop computer.

Priced at $2,000, our Prestige 16 Studio take a look at system boasts a loaded element lineup with an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and RTX 4060 graphics alongside an ample RAM and SSD capability. The roomy miniLED show with its QHD+ decision affords ample workspace, and the 165Hz refresh charge delivers clean visuals for each video editors and players. Competing 16-inch fashions such because the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra or Asus VivoBook Pro 16X OLED provide OLED show and superior construct high quality, nevertheless, whereas a extra gaming-focused mannequin such because the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 delivers a full-wattage RTX GPU and sooner body charges.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops obtainable proper now.

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Specifications

Our MSI Prestige 16 Studio take a look at system is $100 off at MSI and selling for $1,999.99. It options the next specs.

• CPU: Intel Core i7-13700H
• Memory: 32GB
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 @ 55 watts
• Storage: 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• Display: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 165Hz miniLED 
• Webcam: 1080p with kill change
• Connectivity: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.0, microSD card slot, combo audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: 1080p IR webcam and fingerprint reader
• Battery capability: 82 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.1 x 10.2 x 0.66 inches
• Measured weight: 4.7 kilos
• Price: $2,000

MSI sells two configurations of the Prestige 16 Studio. The entry-level mannequin prices $1,899.99 (at the moment on sale for $1,799.99 at MSI) and encompasses a Core i7-13700H processor, 32GB of RAM, RTX 4050 graphics and a 1TB SSD. Our take a look at mannequin prices $100 extra and upgrades the GPU to a RTX 4060 and doubles the SSD capability to 2TB. Both fashions characteristic a 16-inch miniLED panel with a 16:10 side ratio, 2560×1600 decision and a 165Hz refresh charge. 

One be aware on the RTX 4060 GPU: it’s set to run at 55 watts, which is a fraction of the graphic processor’s most TGP of 140 watts. The comparatively thin-and-light enclosure of the Prestige 16 Studio is the doubtless trigger for dialing again the wattage of the GPU as an effort to maintain thermals in test. Our take a look at system’s cooling followers regularly spun throughout intensive graphics masses. It’s one of many noisier laptops I’ve examined this 12 months. And I felt the cooling followers might have finished much more as a result of the system rapidly acquired sizzling when engaged in media modifying and gaming.

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Subdued, silver design

The Prestige 16 Studio options an unspoken design. It’s a plain slab of silver aluminum with black keys and minimal branding. Its look has not one of the flash of a gaming laptop computer. There’s no sculpted vents or aggressive angles, though the again corners are tapered considerably. Despite its all-metal enclosure, there’s some flex to the Prestige 16 Studio’s keyboard deck and lid. It doesn’t really feel as stable as different massive aluminum laptops such because the Dell XPS 17 or HP Envy 16.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

The one (solely?) profit of getting a barely much less inflexible chassis is a lighter journey weight. The Prestige 16 Studio weighs 4.7 kilos, which is lighter than the typical 16-inch 16:10 laptop computer. By comparability, the HP Envy 16 weighs 5 kilos and the Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 is a full pound heavier at 5.7 kilos. Still, it’s not the lightest 16-inch 16:10 laptop computer we’ve examined. The Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra weighs solely 4 kilos and the Asus VivoBook Pro 16X OLED weighs 4.3 kilos.

When you open the Prestige 16 Studio, the underside fringe of the show lifts the again fringe of the keyboard deck up a bit. This not solely helps with airflow but additionally creates a slight angle to make typing a bit extra snug. The keys provide shallow journey with a gentle really feel — however with sufficient snappiness to offer the requisite tactile suggestions to permit for fast contact typing.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

MSI squeezes in a slim quantity pad of questionable worth. One key’s shortened to accommodate the numpad, however it’s a giant one — the best Shift key. That’s a key I take advantage of with nice regularity, and it took me a while to get accustomed to hitting the shortened Shift key with my proper pinky finger. I’d want to have the keyboard centered under the show. Since this RTX-based system is overkill for many quantity crunchers, I doubt many would-be Prestige 16 Studio house owners would make a lot use of the numpad.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

The keyboard affords three-level backlighting so you possibly can dial within the LEDs to your precise specs primarily based on the ambient mild, from a dim again workplace to a pitch black airplane cabin on a redeye flight. Gamers in search of a midrange gaming laptop computer can be upset to study that the backlights are white with no choice to customise the look of the Prestige 16 Studio with RGB lighting.

The touchpad is roomy and centered on the keyboard deck and never under the keyboard minus the numpad. I used to be initially apprehensive that my proper palm resting on the touchpad would by chance transfer the cursor, however my fears had been unfounded. The touchpad has wonderful palm rejection, and the cursor stayed put as I typed.

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Big-screen miniLED

With a tall 16:10 side ratio and effective QHD+ decision, the 16-inch show supplies a big workspace. It actually feels roomy. It’s additionally a miniLED panel that’s extraordinarily brilliant. In SDR mode, it reached a peak brightness of 460 nits, and it hit 700 nits in HDR mode. Images and textual content appeared crisp, and colours appeared correct. Black ranges appeared good however not fairly to the inky diploma you’d get with an OLED panel. And with the 165Hz refresh charge, movies and video games confirmed clean motion. 

IDG / Matthew Elliott

The webcam above the show has a 1080p sensor, however its picture was so grainy I used to be satisfied it was a 720p digital camera. On the optimistic, the Prestige 16 Studio has a kill change on its left edge that cuts the facility to the digital camera so you possibly can defend your privateness while you aren’t utilizing the webcam. The digital camera affords IR functionality so you should use facial recognition for simple, safe logins. And should you’d want to make use of your finger for such issues, there’s a fingerprint reader to the best of the touchpad.

With its large and brilliant show, the Prestige 16 Studio might maintain some attraction as an leisure laptop computer, however sadly its weak stereo audio system much less its attraction on this regard. The two downward firing audio system get loud sufficient to fill a small room, however you start to lose readability at round 75 p.c of most quantity. And even at lower than full quantity, they sound tinny with no bass response and muddied excessive and mid tones.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

The Prestige 16 Studio affords each USB Type-A and Type-C ports, however the two USB-C ports lack Thunderbolt 4 assist. They are USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with a 20Gbps switch pace — half that of Thunderbolt 4. In a nod for content material creators, the laptop computer affords a microSD card slot.

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Performance

Our MSI Prestige 16 Studio  take a look at system encompasses a Core i7-13700H CPU and GeForce RTX 4060 graphics together with a beneficiant 32GB of RAM and a spacious 2TB SSD. The Core i7 processor is a member of Intel’s high-performance, 45-watt H collection. It options Intel’s hybrid structure with efficiency and effectivity cores; it has six efficiency cores, eight effectivity cores, and a complete of 20 processing threads. The RTX 4060 is a midrange GPU in Nvidia’s newest GeForce 40 collection. As talked about earlier, it’s set to run at 55 watts to maintain thermals in test contained in the Prestige 16 Studio’s skinny enclosure. By comparability, the gaming-focused Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 options an RTX 4060 GPU operating at its most of 140 watts.

The Prestige 16 Studio acquired off to a gentle begin in testing. On PCMark 10, it posted a rating within the mid-7,000s that was proper according to different laptops with the identical CPU. Basic workplace apps and multitasking are simply dealt with by the Prestige 16 Studio.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

Our HandBrake benchmark exams how a laptop computer is ready to deal with crushing CPU masses over a prolonged interval—on this case, transcoding a 30GB MKV file to a format appropriate for Android tablets utilizing HandBrake, the free video encoding utility. The Prestige 16 Studio turned in a disappointing HandBrake end result, taking longer to finish the transcoding activity than all however the Dell XPS 17.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

Next up is Cinebench, one other CPU-intensive take a look at however one which renders a posh 2D scene over a brief time period. The Prestige 16 Studio did a bit higher on Cinebench than it did on HandBrake however was nonetheless a big quantity behind two competing laptops from Acer and MSI with the identical CPU.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Graphics efficiency

On our graphics and gaming exams, you’ll be capable of see the efficiency the Prestige 16 Studio offers up through the use of a lower-wattage RTX 4060 GPU. On 3DMark’s Time Spy take a look at, the Prestige 16 Studio trailed the Acer and MSI laptops that characteristic full-throttle RTX 4060 graphics. It was in a position to high the Dell XPS 15, however its RTX 4070 GPU runs at solely 40 watts.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

On our real-world sport benchmarks, the Prestige 16 Studio posted a playable framerate on Shadow of the Tomb Raider however not on the extra demanding Metro Exodus take a look at. It bested the Dell XPS 15 and its low-wattage RTX 4070 GPU however trailed the gaming laptops full-wattage GPUs on each of our gaming exams.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

IDG / Matthew Elliott

To take a look at a laptop computer’s battery life, we loop a 4K video utilizing Windows 11’s Movies & TV app, with the laptop computer set to Airplane mode and earbuds plugged in. We set the display screen brightness at a comparatively brilliant 250 nits to 260 nits, which is an efficient brightness for watching a film in an workplace with the lights on. The Prestige 16 Studio lasted greater than 8 hours, which is common for its dimension and element lineup primarily based on a high-powered Intel H-series CPU and never the extra environment friendly U-series chip.

IDG / Matthew Elliott

MSI Prestige 16 Studio: Should you purchase it?

The MSI Prestige 16 Studio is a good choose for content material creators in search of a low-cost, large-screen laptop computer. Its miniLED panel is impressively brilliant for creating and modifying HDR content material, and the 16-inch 16:10 dimension affords a big canvas on which to work. You’ll want to simply accept a less-than-stellar construct high quality, nevertheless, and be okay with slower knowledge transfers with the dearth of Thunderbolt 4 assist. And you’ll need to preserve a pair of headphones helpful as a result of A. the audio system are fairly horrible and B. the laptop computer will get loud underneath load.