If you prioritize high performance for tasks like video editing or graphic design, and don't mind a heavier device with a higher price, the MacBook Pro 14 could be an excellent choice. However, if you prefer something lighter and more affordable for everyday tasks or business applications, with good battery life, then the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo may be a better fit. Keep in mind that the MacBook's ecosystem works seamlessly with other Apple products, whereas the MSI offers flexibility with a range of software available on Windows. 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 software development
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in general use and engineering tasks due to its high-resolution Retina display, which offers excellent brightness and impressive color fidelity, covering wide color gamuts important for professional design work. However, its standard refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications where higher refresh rates can be critical for smoother visuals. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, with a very good display, provides sharp images and strong color accuracy for both general tasks and engineering or design work, but like the MacBook, it has limitations for gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has 8 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,280
$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 Prestige 13 AI Evo costs $1,280.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen, combined with excellent battery life, making it a strong choice for a variety of general use cases, while also being easily portable. The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo also features efficient processing power, sufficient RAM, and a quality display, with its lighter design and high battery life, but might not offer the same level of build quality or speaker performance as the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's superior GPU and high-quality screen make it well-suited for 3D tasks, despite its limitations in gaming due to incompatibility with many popular games. Conversely, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, while offering a decent GPU for gaming, might not provide the same level of performance or screen refresh rate for the most demanding games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is favored for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU, high RAM capacity, advanced GPU, and superior screen quality, which are crucial for complex tasks and visual precision. Conversely, the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo, while still capable with a competent CPU and ample RAM, offers greater portability, along with a good keyboard and quieter operation, which might appeal to users who prioritize mobility and comfort without requiring the highest-end graphics performance.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo are both very 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
8.3/10
7.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
13.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Prestige 13 AI Evo
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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