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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its M1 Pro chip and high-resolution Mini LED screen is ideal for professional use involving photo and video editing, thanks to its superior color accuracy and brightness. Its portability is reasonable and it has a long battery life, though it is heavier and more expensive. Conversely, the MSI Bravo 15, being lighter on the wallet and geared towards gaming with its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, offers a high refresh rate display and hardware suitable for gaming and possibly some engineering applications. However, it falls short on build quality, speaker performance, and has a shorter battery life, which may impact its capability to handle long work sessions without charging. 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 14 (2021)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.1
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 excels in general use largely because of its higher quality CPU, more RAM, superior screen quality including higher resolution and color accuracy, lightweight design for better portability, and longer battery life compared to the MSI Bravo 15. While both laptops have similar storage capacity and capable keyboards, the MacBook's better speaker quality and heat management contribute to its effectiveness for general use, even though the MSI Bravo 15 offers advantages such as a dedicated number pad and stronger gaming capabilities owing to its discrete graphics card.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.2
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines the MSI Bravo 15 for engineering and design due to a superior processor (Apple M1 Pro), more RAM for multitasking, and a much higher screen quality for precise visual work, reflected in its near total coverage of the DCI-P3 colorspace. The Bravo 15, with its dedicated AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, still offers commendable performance for design software and simulations, but has half the RAM and a screen less adequate for color-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.4
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Bravo 15 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
8.3
6.8
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
9.2
6.9
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 likely boasts a high-resolution, bright display with excellent color accuracy, covering wide color gamuts, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks where visual fidelity is key. The MSI Bravo 15 probably offers a decent display with suitable brightness and resolution for everyday tasks, but its overall screen capabilities might not match the MacBook for color-sensitive work. For 3D applications where fast refresh rates are crucial, neither of these laptops excel as they appear more focused on resolution and color performance than on the high refresh rates favored in gaming and animation.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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
Fair
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
6.7
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$862
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
7.2
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Bravo 15 to be good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a high-quality Mini LED display, a powerful Apple M1 Pro GPU, and a screen refresh rate that suits 3D applications, while the MSI Bravo 15 features a higher refresh rate, ideal for gaming, and an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU known for performance in both gaming and 3D applications. However, be aware that the MacOS on the MacBook may not support many popular games, giving the MSI Bravo 15 with Windows an advantage for gaming compatibility.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) | MSI Bravo 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,905 | $862 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | 267 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
MSI Bravo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Bravo 15
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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