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Updated March 21, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and the MSI Creator M14, consider that the MacBook Pro offers a sleek design and a highly optimized operating system that integrates well with other Apple devices, making it ideal for general use and for those already invested in the Apple ecosystem. However, the MSI Creator is aimed at creative professionals and may offer better performance for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and 3D modeling due to its dedicated graphics card. It might be less portable due to potentially higher weight and size. If battery life is crucial, the MacBook Pro typically excels in this area, offering longer usage between charges. Remember, the MSI might have a slight edge in customizability and connectivity with a variety of peripherals due to its broader range of ports. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.3
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13, while adept at many tasks, is limited in 3D and gaming capabilities due to its less powerful integrated graphics and standard refresh rate screen, also considering many popular games aren't compatible with macOS. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 offers a dedicated GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, which enhances performance in gaming and 3D applications, making it a better fit for users with those needs.
Engineering and Design
7.3
8.4
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 provides a reliable CPU and high-quality screen, appealing for engineering and design work where accuracy and visual clarity are key, but the MSI Creator M14 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combo, along with more RAM, making it better suited for more demanding engineering tasks and graphics-intensive applications. While the MacBook Pro shines in portability and has a well-regarded keyboard and speaker quality, the Creator M14’s superior performance hardware gives it an edge for complex projects, even if it means a slight compromise on portability and potentially more operating noise.
Screen Quality
7.6
7.5
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Creator M14 has a better screen for software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13's screen is highly regarded for general use due to its sharp resolution and brightness, making it easy on the eyes for daily tasks, and its color accuracy is crucial for engineering and design work. The MSI Creator M14 also offers a high-quality display for general and design purposes but falls short for 3D and gaming because it lacks a high refresh rate which is essential for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios. Both laptops may be less suitable for gaming or 3D modeling where a quick screen refresh can be as critical as color fidelity or resolution.
Battery
20.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Creator M14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
8.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 enjoys a reputation for a robust CPU and high-quality screen, making it suitable for everyday tasks, while its excellent battery life and light weight ensure great portability, although it comes with a premium price tag. The MSI Creator M14, on the other hand, offers comparable screen quality and performance with ample RAM for multitasking, better suited for content creation tasks, but may have a tradeoff with slightly less portability and battery life, often at a more accessible price point.
Content Creation
7.8
8.0
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.8
7.8
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,249 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.36" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 20 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58.2 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
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About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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CEO and Laptops Editor
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