If you prioritize a laptop with a longer battery life and a higher quality display for tasks like video editing, and prefer macOS, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is the better choice. On the other hand, if you need a laptop with greater performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software, and are comfortable with Windows, the MSI Stealth GS66 would serve you better, especially with its more powerful graphics processing. The MSI is also more suitable for intensive gaming. Keep in mind, though, that the MSI is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Apple MacBook. 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 Stealth GS66
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is only fair.
The MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with an Apple M2 integrated GPU is built for fanless operation, indicating it is less suited for heat-intensive tasks like gaming or 3D rendering, and its maximum screen refresh rate of 60Hz is lower compared to typical gaming laptops, impacting smooth gameplay.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS66 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.1/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a high-resolution Retina display that offers vibrant colors and excellent brightness, making it ideal for general use and ensuring that detailed engineering and design work is displayed with precision due to its wide color gamut. The MSI Stealth GS66, while also having a good resolution and brightness, may not match the MacBook Pro in color accuracy, impacting the finesse required for some engineering and design tasks. However, for 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, both laptops may fall short as they typically prioritize resolution and color depth over the smoother visuals provided by higher refresh rates.
Battery
20.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$1,799
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,799.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) offers a balance of performance with its Apple M2 chip and optimal battery life for general use, in a compact form factor that enhances portability, while the MSI Stealth GS66, with its powerful Intel i7-12700H and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, delivers exceptional performance and a larger screen, but this comes at the cost of less battery life and greater weight, making it less portable. Both laptops boast high-quality screens and RAM capacity suited for various tasks, with the MacBook Pro excelling in silent operation and battery endurance and the Stealth GS66 offering increased storage and a superior keyboard for a more gaming-focused and intensive usage experience.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.7/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for content creation.
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
7.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and MSI Stealth GS66 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 (2022) and the MSI Stealth GS66 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 Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the MSI Stealth GS66
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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