The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a seamless experience if you're already in the Apple ecosystem and need a combination of strong performance with better battery life, plus it's more portable. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while typically heavier and with shorter battery life, provides superior power for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. If those intensive tasks are a priority and you're okay with the additional cost and reduced portability, the MSI may be a better fit. Give Feedback
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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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, while capable of handling some 3D tasks, is limited in gaming performance due to a significant number of popular games not being compatible with macOS and its GPU being less powerful for high-end gaming compared to dedicated gaming laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio excels in gaming and 3D modeling with its superior GPU and a high refresh rate screen, which are crucial for smooth and visually detailed experiences, although the screen quality and CPU, while satisfactory, are not the primary factors in its performance advantage.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a balance of a fast CPU, high-quality screen, and reliable GPU, making it well-suited for engineering tasks, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio excels with even more powerful CPU and GPU options, larger RAM capacities, and a top-tier screen, catering to the most demanding engineering and design applications, with the tradeoff being less portability and potentially more operating noise. While both have good keyboards and speakers, the MacBook might edge out in portability and lower noise levels, but for raw performance, the MSI is the stronger choice.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the MacBook Pro's Retina display offers sharp resolution and high brightness levels, providing a clear and vivid viewing experience. In engineering and design, its wide color gamut coverage ensures accurate color reproduction, crucial for detailed work. However, for 3D applications, its refresh rate is lower compared to specialized gaming laptops, which can hinder the smoothness of fast-moving graphics.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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
Fair
14.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 delivers high performance with its strong CPU and ample RAM, making multitasking and demanding applications smooth, while its high screen quality, long-lasting battery, and lightweight design offer a balance of portability and usability for general use. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio also provides excellent CPU performance and plenty of RAM which is ideal for resource-heavy tasks, and while it has impressive screen quality for visual clarity, it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it more suited for stationary use rather than on-the-go.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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