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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) offers a higher-resolution Mini LED screen, longer battery life, and it's lighter, which makes it more portable; it's well-suited for general use and creative tasks, particularly with Apple's ecosystem. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 has a high-refresh rate display which is better for fast-paced gaming and it's equipped with more powerful graphics hardware, ideal for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. The MacBook runs on MacOS, while the MSI laptop runs Windows 11 Pro, so your preference for operating systems could also be a deciding factor. 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 speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
- The MSI Stealth GS66 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.7
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is superior for general use because it has a high-quality Mini LED display, a powerful integrated CPU and GPU, and a longer battery life, along with better build quality and heat management, making it highly portable with excellent everyday performance. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 has a high refresh rate IPS display and a dedicated graphics card which is better suited for gaming, but it has a shorter battery life and is heavier, which makes it less ideal for users who prioritize portability and all-day use.
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.8
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Stealth GS66 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with its high-quality Mini LED screen and Apple M2 Pro GPU accommodates 3D tasks well, but its MacOS may limit game compatibility, whereas the MSI Stealth GS66 offers a high-refresh-rate screen and a powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU which is excellent for gaming and 3D work in Windows 11 Pro.
Content Creation
8.5
7.7
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 GS66 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
7.5
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Stealth GS66 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
8.1
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 likely offers superior screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, along with wide color gamuts that ensure colors are accurate and vibrant; however, it falls short for 3D use because of a lower refresh rate, making it less ideal for action-intensive visuals. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 provides good general and engineering display quality, but its screen may not match the high color standards of the MacBook, which is crucial for precise design work. And for gaming and 3D tasks, the MSI might disappoint due to its poor refresh rate, which is key for smooth motion and a responsive experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.2
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is geared towards engineering and design use with its powerful M2 Pro CPU, integrated GPU designed for such tasks, and a Mini LED screen offering high resolution and color accuracy, making it advantageous for detailed visual work in a portable form factor. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth GS66 boasts a high-performance Intel CPU, dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU suited for demanding software, and a larger screen, which is beneficial for extensive design space, but trades off slightly in portability and screen resolution.
Cost
$1,695
$1,799
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,695 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,799.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the MSI Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) | MSI Stealth GS66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,695 | $1,799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14.2'' x 9.7'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 14.17" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.65" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 280 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"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."
MSI Stealth GS66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2022
"The MSI Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the MSI Stealth GS66
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.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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