The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is a good fit if you prioritize portability, battery life, a high-quality display, and macOS as an operating system. Its performance is well-suited for general use and it has a high build quality. However, for more demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software, the MSI GE66 Raider, although heavier and with shorter battery life, offers better performance due to its more powerful hardware, including an Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics. The Raider's larger screen is also a bonus for intensive tasks, but it comes with a higher price tag. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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 GE66 Raider
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
8.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is armed with an efficient M2 Pro chip and a vibrant Mini LED screen which is beneficial for engineering and design, but the MSI GE66 Raider takes the lead for these tasks due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor, expansive RAM, top-tier Nvidia GPU, and a higher resolution screen. While both have high screen quality, the Raider's performance edge comes with a tradeoff in portability and battery life, being heavier and with shorter battery duration compared to the MacBook Pro.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI GE66 Raider for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers vibrant colors and sharp visuals due to its high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for general use and precision tasks like engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial. The MSI GE66 Raider also provides a clear and bright display for everyday tasks and professional design work, ensuring color fidelity with its color gamut coverage. However, for 3D applications and gaming, where the smoothness of motion is key, the MacBook Pro falls short due to a lower refresh rate compared to gaming-oriented laptops, while the MSI's display, despite its good color performance, lacks the high refresh rate desired for a seamless gaming experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider 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
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$3,199
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,630 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and MSI GE66 Raider are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is great for general use with a balance of a strong CPU, ample RAM, high screen quality, and lightweight design offering excellent portability and long battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go tasks. The MSI GE66 Raider, while also providing top-tier CPU performance and even more RAM, boasts a larger high-resolution screen and dedicated gaming graphics, but it's heavier with shorter battery life; its strength lies in demanding tasks like 3D work and gaming but at a cost to portability.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and MSI GE66 Raider 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
8.4/10
8.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and MSI GE66 Raider 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 (2023) and the MSI GE66 Raider 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 Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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