The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is notably more expensive than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio and offers a premium build quality, impressive battery life, and is optimized for macOS-specific applications. Its high-resolution Mini LED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate is excellent for professionals in need of color accuracy and fluid visuals. Additionally, the Apple M2 Pro processor provides powerful performance for intensive tasks, though it may not be as well-suited for gaming due to the lack of dedicated gaming hardware.
On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is less expensive and provides a good balance of performance with its Intel processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, which makes it better suited for gaming and 3D tasks. It has a high refresh rate IPS display, though with a lower resolution than the MacBook, which is still sufficient for most users. It runs Windows 11 Home, making it versatile for a wide range of applications.
In summary, if your work revolves around engineering, machine learning, or gaming, and you're looking for a more cost-effective option, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is a solid choice. If you prefer macOS, need exceptional display quality, and value a more portable and longer-lasting device for general use and content creation, the MacBook Pro 14 may justify the additional expense. Consider your specific needs, preferred operating system, and budget when making your decision. 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 (2023)
Very good for general use
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 keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) offers a higher resolution Mini LED screen, longer battery life, and is slightly lighter than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which makes it excellent for general use, portability, and viewing content. Conversely, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a larger storage capacity and a dedicated high-performance graphics card that's suitable for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks, yet it has a shorter battery life and is a bit heavier, which might only be good for general use.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
7.8/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with its Apple M2 Pro GPU and 120Hz refresh rate display is tailored for 3D applications that benefit from great screen quality; however, its gaming potential is limited as many popular games are not compatible with macOS.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
8.4/10
7.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.6/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display boasts a high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general use, and the wide color gamuts it covers ensures accurate color representation, crucial for engineering and design tasks. However, the screen's modest refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where higher rates can provide smoother visuals. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio delivers respectable quality in both resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and decent color coverage for design work, but its refresh rate similarly falls short for the optimal gaming and 3D experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,432
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is equipped with an M2 Pro processor and Mini LED screen, offering excellent CPU and screen quality which are vital for engineering and design; its built-in GPU also provides solid performance for graphics-intensive tasks.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the MSI Stealth 14 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the MSI Stealth 14 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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.