The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) offers a highly portable design with a strong build quality and notably silent operation due to its fanless design, as well as impressive battery life, which makes it ideal for users needing to work on the go without frequent charging. Its performance suits general activities and lighter creative tasks. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 sports a larger screen with more storage, significantly more RAM, and a processor geared towards more intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering applications. However, with increased capability comes a slight compromise in portability and battery life, alongside a noisier fan, which could be a factor for users sensitive to noise or those requiring a discreet working environment. The choice hinges on whether your priority is mobility and silent operation or higher performance for demanding software. 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 (2022)
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 Prestige 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is praised for its exceptional portability and outstanding battery life, making it well-suited for those frequently on the go, yet its performance is limited by a less powerful CPU and less RAM compared to the MSI Prestige 16, which offers very good general use with its more robust CPU, ample RAM, and larger, high-quality screen but has a shorter battery life and is somewhat less portable due to its larger size and weight. The MacBook leans towards those valuing long battery life and portability, while the MSI Prestige caters to users needing more power and screen space for complex tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 stands out for engineering and design use with its higher RAM and advanced Intel CPU which better supports such demanding tasks, while the Apple MacBook Pro, with its M2 chip, is acknowledged for its reliable performance, though less powerful than the MSI's offering. Additionally, the MSI has a larger, high-refresh rate screen that may be more appealing to designers for its fluid visuals, whereas the MacBook Pro offers excellent portability and a fanless design for silent operation which are favorable for mobile use and working in quiet environments.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and the MSI Prestige 16 both offer high resolution displays with excellent brightness and image clarity, which are crucial for everyday tasks such as browsing, watching videos, and document editing. In engineering and design, where color accuracy and broader color gamuts are essential, both laptops provide displays that cover a wide range of colors, aiding professionals in tasks that require precise color representation. However, when it comes to 3D applications, both laptops fall short as their screens do not have high refresh rates, which are important for smooth visuals and a more immersive experience in 3D environments and games.
Battery
20.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 has 7.5 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
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
The MSI Prestige 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13, with its adequate GPU and standard screen refresh rate, provides reasonable support for 3D applications, but may fall short for advanced gaming needs. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 caters better to gaming and 3D with its more capable GPU and higher screen refresh rate, although many popular games may not be compatible with the former's operating system.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.8/10
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
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 (2022) and the MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the MSI Prestige 16
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.
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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