MSI Prestige 16 C3MTG is one of the best XPS 16 alternatives in the market right now

Laptops with Intel Panther Lake are now slowly trickling into the market from major manufacturers. While the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 are arguably the most well known, alternatives like the Asus ExpertBook Ultra or MSI Prestige 16 are now available each with features not found on the Dell XPS lineup. For our money, however, the new Prestige 16 is looking like the best bet for those in the market for Panther Lake but otherwise uninterested in the XPS.

The refreshed 16-inch MSI Prestige offers several advantages over the XPS 16. Most notably, it comes in thinner and lighter with longer battery life and more integrated ports to be a strong alternative for travelers. We particularly like that its hinges can open almost the full 180 degrees whereas the lid on the XPS 16 is limited to ~140 degrees only. While a small detail, the wider angle can definitely help with reducing glare if working in brighter environments.

On the other hand, there are still several reasons for choosing the XPS over the Prestige. Core temperatures on the Dell run much cooler by up to 20 C depending on the scenario which can be attributed to the thicker design and larger cooling solution of the Dell. The model also offers more versatile USB-C charging, a higher resolution 5 MP webcam, and a higher resolution OLED touchscreen. The XPS 16 can even outlast the Prestige despite the smaller battery if configuring with IPS instead of OLED.

The comparison table below highlights some key differences between the MSI and Dell models. More details and benchmarks can be found on our full review of the Prestige 16 AI C3MTG.