The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is superior for performance in intensive tasks like 3D, machine learning, and engineering, with a robust build and high-quality display, but at a considerably higher cost. It also has a longer battery life and a backlit keyboard with white lighting for better visibility in low-light conditions. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 has a dedicated Nvidia graphics card which is beneficial for certain engineering applications and gaming, and it is more affordable. The Prestige includes a fingerprint reader for extra security, but it offers lower overall performance, build quality, and battery life compared to the MacBook Pro. Choose the MacBook Pro for top performance and screen quality if budget allows, or the MSI for dedicated graphics and cost savings with moderate performance. 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 Prestige 15
The MSI Prestige 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the MSI Prestige 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines with its higher screen quality, top-notch keyboard, and speakers, combined with excellent battery life and heat management, making it very well-suited for general use, despite a slightly lower portability due to its weight. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15 offers good screen quality and sufficient performance for general tasks, benefits from greater portability with its slightly lighter build, and comes with a good keyboard and speakers but falls short in battery life and heat management.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is preferred for engineering and design due to its superior CPU and GPU (both part of the Apple M1 Pro chip), greater battery capacity, and Mini LED screen with higher resolution and color accuracy, which are very important for demanding tasks and visual work. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15, while still capable with its Intel CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, offers a standard IPS display with lower color accuracy and battery life, making it less optimal but more affordable for engineering and design work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 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
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 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
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering with its high resolution and bright display, providing crisp visuals and vibrant colors. It also offers wide color gamuts, crucial for engineering and design accuracy, but lacks a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth rendering in 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 delivers good screen quality for everyday tasks and professional design work, but falls short for gaming and 3D due to a lower refresh rate, which can hinder motion fluidity and responsiveness.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 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
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,044
$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 15 costs $1,044.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with the Apple M1 Pro GPU capable of supporting 120Hz screen refresh rate, making it suitable for smooth 3D rendering; however, it's worth noting that gaming options on the MacBook are limited as many popular games do not have Mac support.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 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 MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Prestige 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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