If you prioritize a sleek design, superior build quality, a sharp and color-accurate display, and better battery life, then the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) would be a strong choice, especially for creative professionals or those deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. However, it comes at a premium cost. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers decent performance for casual gaming and everyday tasks, the MSI GF63 Thin can serve well, with the sacrifice of some build quality, display superiority, and battery life. It's lighter and thus more portable but may fall short for demanding engineering applications or intensive creative work. 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 GF63 Thin
The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
6.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) provides robust general-use performance with a powerful Apple M1 Pro CPU, ample 16 GB RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen, coupled with excellent portability and a long battery life. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin, with its Intel CPU and lower-tier graphics, less RAM, and standard IPS screen, does not reach the same heights in performance or screen quality, and its heavier weight plus shorter battery life make it less ideal for on-the-go usage.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is good for 3D applications due to its higher-quality GPU and screen with a higher refresh rate, which are both very important for such tasks, while the screen quality is also superior, enhancing the visual experience.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its powerful Apple M1 Pro CPU, more RAM and advanced GPU outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin, making it well-suited for engineering and design, where processing power and graphics performance are crucial. Additionally, the MacBook's superior screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy provides greater detail and vibrant visuals compared to the MSI's more modest display, which is essential for design precision.
Content Creation
8.4/10
6.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
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 GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
6.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
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 GF63 Thin 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
9.2/10
6.1/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro 14's screen stands out in general use and engineering due to its high-resolution, bright display with vibrant color accuracy, providing excellent sharpness and clarity for both productivity tasks and precision work like CAD or photo editing. For engineering and design, it excels with its wide color gamut, portraying a broad spectrum of colors essential for visual accuracy. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's screen may fall short because of its standard refresh rate, which can't match the smoother visuals that higher refresh rates provide, crucial for fast-paced 3D graphics.
Battery
13.5 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin 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
$599
$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 GF63 Thin costs $599.
"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."
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI GF63 Thin
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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