The Apple MacBook Pro is more portable and offers a well-integrated ecosystem, which is excellent for general use, and creative professionals who value design software compatibility. Its battery life tends to be longer, making it suitable for on-the-go use. The MSI Titan, on the other hand, delivers top-tier performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks due to its superior graphics power, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life, which may not be ideal if mobility is a priority for you. If your budget allows and your focus is on high-demand applications, the MSI Titan stands out, whereas the MacBook Pro is a cost-effective option for everyday productivity and creative tasks with the benefit of greater portability. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Excellent for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
9.4/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, while capable, may not handle the most demanding 3D tasks or run many popular games due to its limited GPU power and a lower screen refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming machines. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with a markedly stronger GPU and higher refresh rate display, excels in gaming and 3D rendering, making it a superior choice for those specific tasks, albeit with the trade-off of being less portable and generally more expensive.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a balance of high-quality CPU, RAM, GPU, and excellent screen quality for engineering tasks, while being more portable and having a quieter operating noise, but the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its superior CPU, RAM, and GPU, excels in handling more demanding engineering and design applications, though it sacrifices portability and has a louder operating noise. Both laptops have good keyboards and speakers, but the MSI may provide a larger and clearer screen, beneficial for intricate design work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
9.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very 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
8.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for software development, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
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
9.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 for content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers excellent screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, bright display, and wide color gamuts that ensure precise color representation, but its standard refresh rate is not ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The MSI Titan 18 HX similarly provides crisp visuals and accurate colors necessary for detailed design work and everyday tasks, but despite its powerful components, it doesn't focus on high-refresh-rate displays that are vital for a flawless gaming and 3D experience. Both machines emphasize color accuracy and image clarity over the faster refresh rates that are more beneficial for gaming and rendering fast-moving visuals in 3D modeling and animation.
Battery
13.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Titan 18 HX 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
$4,800
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a balance between performance and portability with a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and an excellent screen, while being lightweight and offering significant battery life; this makes it appealing for everyday mobile use and tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its top-tier CPU and large amounts of RAM, excels in screen size and overall performance for demanding tasks, yet it sacrifices portability and has shorter battery life, aligning it more with stationary use where power is a priority.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the MSI Titan 18 HX 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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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