The MSI Prestige 14 stands out for its ultrabook form factor without sacrificing discrete graphics performance. Input-output options are reasonable, but a full-size HDMI, upgrading to a full-size SD card reader, and maybe adding a second full-size USB-A, would go a long way to making the Prestige 14 an even more business/content creator-focused device. While many laptops suffer from a significant performance drop when unplugged, the Prestige 14 doesn't slow down. This isn't the most exciting laptop to use or look at, but for its size, it's hard to compete with.

Key Features
  • Latest 12th Gen i7 processor & RTX 3050
  • Five-degree hinge design provides better cooling and more ergonomic typing angle
  • Up to 8 hours battery life
  • Ultrabook form-factor
Specifications
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-1260P
  • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050
  • Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD
  • Battery: 3 cell (52Whr)
  • Display (Size, Resolution): 14" FHD, 60hz IPS level 100% sRGB
  • Camera: IR HD Type [30fps/720p]
  • Speakers: 2W x2
  • Memory: 16GB LPDDR4X-4267
  • Ports: 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1xUSB 3.2 Type-A, Micro SD Card Reader, Combo Audio Jack
  • Network: Killer WiFi 6E AX1675 (2x2), BT 5.2
  • Dimensions: 12.56" x 8.62" x 0.63"
  • Weight: 2.84 lbs
  • Form: Ultrabook
  • Price: 1399
  • Brand: MSI
  • Model: Prestige 14 A12UC-006
  • Power: 65W Adaptor
Pros
  • Impressive performance for its size
  • Dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050
  • Lightweight
  • Performance does not drop when on battery
  • Fast IO
  • Fast/Secure Windows login
  • Fast connectivity
Cons
  • Very bland design
  • Micro SD-Card Reader (not Full-Size)
  • Display is dim outdoors
  • Gets very hot and loud with heavy tasks
  • No full-size HDMI
Buy This Product
MSI Prestige 14

The late-2022 version of the MSI Prestige 14 is nearly identical to its predecessor except for its newer 12th-Gen Intel i7 processor and more powerful graphics in the form of an optional GeForce RTX 3050. Together, this makes the Prestige 14 a much more capable thin-and-light laptop that can better handle more demanding tasks like video editing, and 3D modeling—and it even has decent gaming performance.

MSI Prestige 14 - Front Macro View

Port selection and outdoor screen brightness on the 2022 model are still a little underwhelming, especially when it comes to using the laptop on the go. However, the overall performance you get in this portable 14" device is very impressive... even when unplugged.

MSI Prestige 14 At a Glance

The MSI Prestige 14 weighs under three pounds but can last for about 6-8 hours on a single charge. It has a relatively large trackpad as well as added security features like fingerprint and Windows Hello login.

MSI Prestige 14 - Trackpad & Fingerprint Reader

The Prestige 14 can be configured with an Intel i5 12th Gen 1240P up to an Intel i7-1280P. It's available in a cheaper NVIDIA GTX 1650 variant for about $100 less than the RTX 3050, though I would highly recommend spending the extra cash if considering this laptop.

MSI Prestige 14 - RTX 3050 Graphics

The A12UC-006US model we are reviewing is one of the higher specced options you can buy, equipped with the Intel i7-1260P, NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU, 16GB LPDDR4X-4267 memory, and a 512GB NVMe SSD. This currently retails for $1,499.99, but can usually be found for $1299 on sale.

MSI Prestige 14 - Specs

At this price point, there are a lot of pure gaming laptops with similar if not better hardware, though, in the ultrabook/business-laptop category, the Prestige is one of the few choices with the latest 12th-gen Intel processors and a semi-decent discrete GPU.

Compared to the Prestige 15

For $100 more though, you could get the larger Prestige 15 which has the same CPU, RAM, and NVMe, but can be upgraded to the RTX 3050 Ti GPU. There are two IPS display options, 15.6" FHD (1920x1080), or 15.6" UHD (3840x2160). Unlike the smaller 14, the Prestige 15 is available in Carbon Gray or Urban Silver.

Aside from the larger 15.6" display and more powerful GPU, the Prestige 15 also fits a second Type-A USB3.2 Gen2 as well as a full-size HDMI port, something I found myself missing on the smaller 14. The 15 also has a larger 4-cell (82Whr) battery vs the 3-cell (52Whr) found in the Prestige 14. MSI claims up to 16 hours of battery life with the Prestige 15 and up to 8 hours on the Prestige 14.

While I wouldn't be too surprised if the Prestige 15 was able to last for 3-4 hours longer than its smaller model, I'm skeptical of it being twice as long.

Other Options to Consider

If it's in your budget, and you're willing to sacrifice some portability, MSI has updated their Stealth 15M with similar hardware but a beefier RTX 3060 GPU. With its larger and faster 15.6" 1920 x 1080 IPS 144Hz display and better thermals thanks to Cooler Boost 5, the Stealth 15M is a much better choice for more intensive workloads and of course gaming.

The Stealth 15 still retains its more subdued "stealth" styling, so it can easily double as a business or desktop-replacement laptop. In the under three pounds weight class, there surprisingly isn't anything that comes close to the Prestige 14. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 ​​​​is slightly heavier at 3.6 pounds, but for about $1300 you get an AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS 8-Core, 14.0" 144Hz Full HD, RTX 3060, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The G14 does have a more "gamer" look to it, but if that isn't an issue, it should also be worth considering.

Prestige 14 Design

The Prestige 14 measures 12.56 x 8.62 x 0.63 inches. Information on their site wildly varies on the stated weight of the laptop, so I used my own scale to determine that it weighs 1281g (2.82lbs), which is very impressive for its hardware and size.

MSI Prestige 14 - Back View

Older generations of the Prestige 14 were available in Rose Pink and Pure White, however, it appears that the Carbon Gray color I have is currently the only choice for the 2022 model. Unlike many of MSI's gaming and 2-in-1 laptops like the Summit E13 Flip Evo I recently reviewed, the Prestige 14 is rather bland and isn't nearly as exciting to look at.

MSI Prestige 14 - One Hand Closing

It certainly doesn't look or feel cheap, but nothing about it screams premium or high-tech either. While its build quality with an aluminum chassis is good, and definitely a step up from the plastic design found on the cheaper MSI Modern 14, it really lacks any memorable design choices that make this lineup stand out.

The Prestige 14 can open its screen 180 degrees and lay completely flat.

MSI Prestige 14 - 180 Degree Viewing Angle

It has a special five-degree hinge design which does a great job of helping with airflow and better speaker performance. Propping the laptop at an angle also makes typing and using the mouse pad more ergonomic in my experience.

MSI Prestige 14 - Left IO

Especially in Carbon Gray, the Prestige 14 looks very similar to a lot of other business/productivity laptops, such as the Dell Vostro 7510. Granted, if you want a laptop that blends in at the office, this certainly will. All that to say this isn't a laptop that will turn heads, nor is it one that will convince you to buy it for its design.

MSI Prestige 14 - Screen Glare from Overhead Lights

I really wish MSI still offered its other colors as the Pure White brought some fresh life into the series. I'd be willing to bet that MSI dropped these other two colors as they were not seen as "professional" and thus made the entire lineup less appealing to business consumers.

IO, Connectivity, and Display

For wireless connectivity, you have the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Input/Output options on the Prestige 14 are good, with two Thunderbolt 4 ports on its left, and one USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, MicroSD Card Reader, and combo audio jack on its right.

MSI Prestige 14 - Right IO

The two Thunderbolt 4 ports provide speedy data transfer, but also need to be relied on for video connectivity and power. USB-C hubs and adapters are a necessary evil for today's modern thin and light devices, however, MSI has proven that they can still fit a full-size HDMI and charging port on their other portable devices. When using this on the go, I was in a pinch as I wanted to connect to a TV to use as a monitor at a hotel, but had forgotten to bring any kind of USB-C to HDMI dongle.

The Micro-SD card is fine for reading data off smaller devices like GoPros and audio recorders, and the slot can also be used as a more permanent storage expansion solution. I would have really appreciated a full-size SD card reader though, as most of my devices including my cameras use them. As someone who frequently copies over SD card files multiple times a day, this was yet another dongle I needed to make sure I packed. While thin and light devices are great, there are often sacrifices made to get them to be that small.

The Prestige 14 has thin plastic bezels around its 16x9 display. With its more recent laptops, MSI (as well as other brands) have opted to use the newer 16:10 "Golden Ratio" displays, which add significantly more screen real estate without needing a much larger chassis.

MSI Prestige 14 - Color Grading in Davinci Resolve

With web browsing and video playback, it isn't too noticeable, however, when it came to video and photo editing, it would have been great to have.

MSI Prestige 14 - Bottom Screen Bezel

The display is overall underwhelming. It isn't very bright and therefore a struggle to use outdoors. I frequently found myself trying to increase the brightness only to realize it was already at its max.

MSI Prestige 14 - Max Outdoor Screen Brightness

Even in a mostly shaded spot, it was difficult to see what I was doing on screen. Indoors it's mostly fine, however, I noticed that bright overhead lights or lamps can also be problematic and cause you to either change your viewing angle or seating position.

MSI Prestige 14 - Outdoor Screen Brightness

Performance

The Intel i7-1260P of the Prestige 14 is a 28-watt, 12-core (four performance and eight efficient), 16-thread CPU. Combined with its 60-watt RTX 3050 4GB, and you can get very impressive results.

Benchmarked Devices

MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarked PCs

In most of my tests, its CPU performance is about on par with the MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo, which features the higher-clocked 28-watt i7-1280P.

What's most impressive, is that the MSI Prestige 14 is able to provide similar performance even when it's unplugged. As you can see from the benchmarks, except for the MacBook Pro and a few others, there is normally a significant drop in performance when running these tests on battery. This is one of the biggest advantages of the Prestige 14.

MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - Cinebench R23 - 1
MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - Cinebench R23 - 2

With more CPU or GPU-intensive tasks, the Prestige 14's fans are quick to turn on and stay on until the process is over. Unlike MSI's larger gaming laptops which have CoolerBoost technology to help dissipate heat, the smaller chassis of the Prestige 14 can get noticeably hot in certain areas. This is most noticeable at the center of the keyboard deck, the rear where it meets the bottom of the display, as well as both of its sides by its ports. After longer video rendering or gaming sessions, the laptop can get uncomfortable to the touch, but it was only at the rear that it felt unbearable.

Although it slightly trails in its Essential PCMark10 score behind the MSI Summit E13 Evo, its more powerful RTX3050 allows it to take a sizable lead, placing it relatively close to the MSI Crosshair 15 R6E.

MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - PCMark10 - 1
MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - PCMark10 - 2

The Puget Davinci Resolve benchmark is a relatively new tool for assessing how well a device can handle 4k video editing in Davinci Resolve.

MSI Prestige 14 - Color Grading in Davinci Resolve

The Prestige 14 did a great job scrubbing through 4k24fps and 4k120fps 10-bit 4:2:0 Sony a7siii footage on the timeline. Color grading and adding some more basic effects resulted in minimal stuttering. More complex Fusion compositions are still taxing on the system, but for less demanding edits, this system is very capable.

MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - Puget Davinci Resolve

While the MSI Prestige 14 isn't necessarily intended for gaming, its RTX 3050 gives it a respectable graphics performance. On medium settings, the Prestige 14 achieves 50-60FPS in Overwatch 2. The game did experience some noticeable stuttering though, and it never maintained a consistent 60fps. I suspect once the game is better optimized, it will more easily hit a consistent 60+FPS.

MSI Prestige 14 - Playing Overwatch 2

I ran TimeSpy unplugged and was surprised to get nearly the same exact score which is extremely impressive.

MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - Timespy - 1
MSI Prestige 14 - Benchmarks - Timespy - 2

Even though you can buy gaming laptops with the same RTX 3050, those larger laptops are likely to have much better cooling, allowing the laptop to sustain those heavier GPU loads with minimal thermal throttling. Likewise, gaming laptops also usually have faster processors like the Intel 12750H which not only can help you achieve higher framerates, but overall better performance too.

A Business Ultrabook (for the Gamer?)

The MSI Prestige 14 stands out for its ultrabook form factor without sacrificing discrete graphics performance. Input-output options are reasonable, but a full-size HDMI, upgrading to a full-size SD card reader, and maybe adding a second full-size USB-A, would go a long way to making the Prestige 14 an even more business/content creator-focused device.

MSI Prestige 14 - Finger Print Reader

While many laptops suffer from a significant performance drop when unplugged, the Prestige 14 doesn't slow down. This isn't the most exciting laptop to use or look at, but for its size, it's hard to compete with.