A new comparison between two sub-1kg laptops shows the Asus ZenBook A14 outperforming the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ in CPU and graphics benchmarks. The ZenBook A14 uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite chip, while the Prestige 13 AI+ runs on Intel's Core Ultra 9 386H. For users not limited by the ARM platform, the ZenBook A14 offers better performance and longer battery life.
ZenBook A14 leads in CPU and graphics tests
The MSI Prestige 13 AI+ A3MG and Asus ZenBook A14 UX3704NA are both lightweight laptops under one kilogram. The Prestige 13 AI+ features an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor with Intel Graphics 4 Xe3 Panther Lake iGPU. The ZenBook A14 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite X2E-88-100 with Adreno X2-90 graphics.
Spec comparison
| Spec | MSI Prestige 13 AI+ | Asus ZenBook A14 |
|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R15 multi sustained load | 1637 points | 2812 points |
| 3DMark Performance rating | 36.5 pt | 61.9 pt |
| 3DMark 11 1280×720 Performance GPU | 6951 Points | 11821 Points |
| 3DMark 1920×1080 Fire Strike Graphics | 6705 Points | 9974 Points |
| Battery life (Wi-Fi test) | 12 hours | 16 hours |
In Cinebench R15 multi sustained load, the ZenBook A14 scored 2812 points, far ahead of the Prestige 13 AI+'s 1637 points. 3DMark results also favor the Snapdragon system, with the ZenBook A14 achieving a Performance rating of 61.9 pt versus 36.5 pt for the MSI. The Snapdragon X2 Elite GPU is about 70% ahead in 3DMark scores compared to the Intel iGPU.
Battery life tests show the ZenBook A14 lasting 16 hours in Wi-Fi browsing, compared to 12 hours for the Prestige 13 AI+. However, the ZenBook A14 has a larger 70 Wh battery versus the MSI's 54 Wh pack. The ZenBook A14 is recommended for anyone not concerned about ARM platform limitations, according to Notebookcheck.
The comparison highlights the performance gap between Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite in ultraportable laptops. While the MSI Prestige 13 AI+ is a capable machine, the ZenBook A14 delivers superior CPU and GPU performance along with longer battery life.
Source: NotebookCheck
