MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 Comparison

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MSI Prestige A16 AI+

16 inches | September 2024

Speed 6

Size 5

Display 6.5

Gaming 3.5

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MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

15.6 inches | January 2021

Speed 3

Size 8.5

Display 3.5

Gaming 2

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MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 Comparison Overview

MSI Prestige A16 AI+

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MSI Prestige 15 A11X...

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MSI Prestige A16 AI+

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MSI Prestige 15 A11X...

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In this review, we will be comparing Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021, two laptops by MSI. MSI Prestige A16 AI+ was introduced to market in September 2024 and MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 was launched in January 2021. As you can see, Prestige 15 A11X 2021 is 3 years older than Prestige A16 AI+. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 are members of MSI's Prestige series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

MSI Prestige Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
MSI Prestige A16 AI+	September 2024	16.0"	358 x 258.55 x 16.9-17.35 mm	1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)
MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo C1M	January 2024	14.0"	313.4 x 246.5 x 18.95 mm	1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)
MSI Prestige 16 Evo	January 2023	16.0"	358 x 258.55 x 16.85 mm	1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)
MSI Prestige 14 Evo 12th Gen	March 2022	14.0"	319 x 219 x 15.9 mm	1.29 kg (2.84 lbs)
MSI Prestige 15 12th Gen	March 2022	15.6"	356.8 x 233.7 x 18.9 mm	1.69 kg (3.73 lbs)
MSI Prestige 14 2021 11th Gen	January 2021	14.0"	319 x 219 x 15.9 mm	1.29 kg (2.84 lbs)
MSI Prestige 15 2021 11th Gen	January 2021	15.6"	357 x 234 x 17 mm	1.69 kg (3.73 lbs)
MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021	January 2021	15.6"	356.8 x 233.7 x 16.9-18.9 mm	1.65 kg (3.64 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Prestige A16 AI+ and MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Prestige A16 AI+ Key Specs

Launched in September 2024
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365
GPU: Radeon 880M
8GB Ram
358 x 258.55 x 16.9-17.35 mm (14.09 x 10.18 x 0.67-0.68 inches)
Weight: 1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)

MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: GeForce MX450 2GB
8GB Ram
356.8 x 233.7 x 16.9-18.9 mm (14.05 x 9.2 x 0.67-0.74 inches)
Weight: 1.65 kg (3.64 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose MSI Prestige A16 AI+ over MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

Display Size	16 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	165 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	189 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 12 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	4.5 TFLOPS vs 2.822 TFLOPS	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs DDR4	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.2	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Better HDMI connectivity
HDMI Version	2.1 vs 2.0	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 over MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Weight	1.65 kg vs 1.90 kg	0.25 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~80.5% vs ~80.2%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.7 mm vs 6.7 mm	1 mm thinner bezels
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Dedicated GPU unit
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	More RAM Options

Common Strengths of MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 and MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
RAM Type	LPDDR5X vs DDR4	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 and MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support

MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ and the MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)	1.65 kg (3.64 lbs)
Surface Area	926 cm2 (143.4 inches2)	834 cm2 (129.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~80.2%	~80.5%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.7 mm	~5.7 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.12 kg/inch	0.11 kg/inch
	0.264 lbs/inch	0.242 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver	Silver, Gray

Comparison of the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ and the MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 External Dimensions

Weight

Prestige A16 AI+ weighs 1.9 kg (4.19 lbs), whereas the Prestige 15 A11X 2021 weighs 1.65 kg (3.64 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Thickness Comparison

MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ is 0.12 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 is 0.11 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen AI 9 365	Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5 1155G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7 Intel Core i7 1185G7
Base Frequency	2.0 GHz	0.9-2.4 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz	4.2 GHz
Number of Cores	10 (4P + 6E)	4
Number of Threads	20	8
L3 Cache	24 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	AMD Radeon 880M	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
CPU Fabrication Process	4 nm	10 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ and MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen AI 9 365

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	AMD Radeon 880M	GeForce MX450 2GB GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q 4GB GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB
Base Clock Frequency	800 MHz	1395 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	2900 MHz	1575 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	31 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	4.5 TFLOPS	2.822 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	2 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5X	GDDR6
Memory Speed	7.5 Gbps	~8-10 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	768	896
TMUs	48	56
ROPs	32	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. MSI Prestige A16 AI+ has a FLOPS value of 4.5 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 ' has a FLOPS value of 2.822 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	7500 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5X	DDR4
Upgradable	No	Yes

Both laptops, the Prestige A16 AI+ and the Prestige 15 A11X 2021, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	MSI Prestige A16 AI+	MSI Prestige 15 A11X (2021)
CPU	AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 (NPU - 50 TOPS)	Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU	AMD Radeon 880M	GeForce MX450 2GB
Memory	8 GB	8 GB ; 2 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~6 GB (0.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 2 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 2 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

MSI Prestige A16 AI+|MSI Prestige 15 A11X (2021)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	82 Wh	52 Wh 82 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left
Charge Power	100 W	90 W

Moreover, the Prestige A16 AI+ boasts a larger battery capacity of 82 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Prestige 15 A11X 2021's52 Wh.

Battery Comparison

MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

STORAGE
The Prestige 15 A11X 2021 offers a larger max storage capacity of 2 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Prestige A16 AI+'s storage capacity of 1 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ and MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Prestige A16 AI+ has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, Prestige 15 A11X 2021 has a smaller 15.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Prestige A16 AI+ is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the Prestige 15 A11X 2021's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Prestige A16 AI+ features a higher pixel density with 189 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

MSI Prestige A16 AI+

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Refresh Rate
The Prestige A16 AI+ offers a higher refresh rate of 165 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

MSI Prestige A16 AI+ vs MSI Prestige 15 A11X 2021 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Prestige A16 AI+ features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Prestige 15 A11X 2021 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 feature 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 feature an HDMI port. Prestige A16 AI+ offers 1x HDMI 2.1, while Prestige 15 A11X 2021 offers 1x HDMI 2.0.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Prestige A16 AI+ and Prestige 15 A11X 2021 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.4	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Optional
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes