If you prioritize a high-quality display and seamless integration with Apple's ecosystem, the Apple MacBook Pro would be a superb choice. However, it may be more costly and may not offer the same hardware flexibility as some Windows-based alternatives. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo often comes in at a lower price point and offers a variety of ports and potentially better performance for certain professional applications like 3D modeling or machine learning. Keep in mind the MSI may be a bit heftier and might not match the MacBook's battery life or build quality. Consider your preferred applications and whether you value performance for specialized tasks, or if the MacBook's sleek design and potentially longer battery life better suit your needs. 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)
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 16 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 14's Retina display offers vivid colors, sharp resolution, and high brightness, making it comfortable to view for everyday tasks. Its screen also excels in engineering and design tasks, boasting wide color gamuts that accurately reproduce a range of colors essential for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for 3D environments where fluid motion is key, its standard refresh rate is less ideal compared to screens designed with higher refresh rates, which provide smoother transitions and can handle fast-paced visuals better.
Battery
13.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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 16 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
$1,349
$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 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
Both the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are praised for general use due to their strong CPUs, ample RAM, and high-quality displays, with the MacBook featuring a bright mini LED screen and the MSI boasting an OLED display. The MacBook Pro stands out for its exceptional portability and long battery life, while the MSI provides more storage and a larger screen with a higher resolution, which may appeal to users needing more space and sharper visuals.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its Mini LED screen, a high refresh rate, and the Apple M1 Pro's integrated GPU delivers solid performance in 3D tasks and will benefit creative professionals, though its MacOS limits gaming options as many popular games aren't available. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a dedicated Intel Arc GPU for better gaming performance, and its OLED display, while having a lower refresh rate, offers exceptional screen quality which is beneficial for both gaming and 3D work, plus it runs Windows which supports a vast library of games.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design use due to its high-quality Mini LED screen, potent M1 Pro CPU and GPU combination, and solid battery life, while maintaining reasonable portability. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo offers a larger and very sharp OLED screen, a powerful Intel Core Ultra CPU and Intel Arc GPU, with more RAM and storage for more demanding engineering tasks at a slight tradeoff in weight and thickness compared to the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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
8.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for software development.
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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 16 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."
"The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Prestige 16 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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