If you prioritize high performance for creative work like video editing, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 is ideal due to its powerful M1 Pro chip and excellent screen for color accuracy. It has a premium build and high scores in keyboard quality, but it's more expensive and less suited for gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, with its RTX 4060 GPU, is better for gaming and engineering tasks requiring dedicated graphics but has a lower build quality and screen performance for colors and brightness. It's more affordable but also has a shorter battery life and less portable design. Consider your primary use case and budget when choosing between them. 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 Cyborg 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.3/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is considered very good for general use because it has a powerful Apple M1 Pro CPU, ample RAM, a high-quality Mini LED screen, and remarkable portability accompanied by excellent battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while having a capable Intel CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GPU suitable for a variety of tasks, offers a lower screen quality experience and its larger size, heavier weight, and shorter battery life make it less portable and less suited for customers needing long-lasting mobility.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021), with its superior Apple M1 Pro processor and integrated GPU, is very adept at handling engineering and design tasks, complemented by its high screen quality with Mini LED technology and expansive color space coverage, which is crucial for precise visual work. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15 pairs a capable Intel i7 processor with a discrete Nvidia RTX GPU, which could benefit certain engineering applications, but its screen quality, with a standard IPS panel and lower color space coverage, is less suitable for design work that requires color accuracy.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
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 Cyborg 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
8.3/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
6.8/10
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
234.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-resolution display with excellent color accuracy, which appeals to engineering and design professionals who need precise color representation, but its standard refresh rate isn't optimal for 3D applications where smoother motion is a priority. The MSI Cyborg 15, while having a fair screen quality, provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks but doesn't meet the higher standards required by professionals for color-sensitive work, nor does it offer the high refresh rates desired for gaming and 3D rendering. Ultimately, the MacBook Pro is better suited for users needing top-notch display for creative tasks, while the Cyborg 15 is acceptable for more casual use and basic tasks.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 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
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 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
$1,100
$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 Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 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 well-suited for 3D applications thanks to its high-performance Apple M1 Pro GPU and a high-resolution Mini LED screen with a smooth refresh rate, although it's less compatible with many popular games which don't run on macOS.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Cyborg 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.
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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