If you prioritize high performance for tasks such as video editing, graphic design, or software development, and value durable build quality and ecosystem integration, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) justifies its higher price. Conversely, if cost is a significant concern and your needs are centered around general use, casual gaming, or you require a Windows-based system for compatibility with specific applications, the MSI Thin GF63 offers adequate performance at a more accessible price point. The MacBook Pro will generally offer better battery life and a higher-resolution display, while the MSI is likely more suited to gaming due to its dedicated graphics card. The MacBook Pro's portability is superior owing to its compact design and lower weight, although both devices are designed to be mobile. Consider your specific needs closely when choosing between these two laptops. 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 engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
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 Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use because it combines a powerful CPU with a high-quality Mini LED screen and long battery life in a lightweight and portable design; meanwhile, the MSI Thin GF63, with adequate performance for general use, offers a good IPS screen and decent portability, but falls short on battery life and has a heavier build.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.5/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) with its powerful M2 Pro processor, more advanced GPU, and superior Mini LED screen is better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, offering high-quality visuals and performance. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 also supports engineering use with a capable Intel processor and an Nvidia RTX GPU but is slightly less portable with a larger screen and heavier build, and it has a lower-quality IPS display which might not be as vibrant or color accurate as the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
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 Thin GF63 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
7.2/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 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
6.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's high resolution and bright display with accurate color representation make it ideal for activities like editing and designing that demand precision in color, benefiting professionals in engineering and design fields. However, its screen refresh rate is lower than what's desired for 3D applications, where smoother motion and rapid image changes are crucial for optimal experience. The MSI Thin GF63 provides acceptable screen quality for everyday tasks and design-related work, but it lacks the higher refresh rate needed for seamless gaming and 3D rendering, plus it may not offer the same color accuracy as the MacBook Pro.
Battery
13.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 has 4.5 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
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,400
$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 Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Thin GF63 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is well-suited for 3D tasks with its high-quality Mini LED display and capable integrated Apple M2 Pro GPU, but its MacOS limits game compatibility, while the MSI Thin GF63 combines a higher screen refresh rate and dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics for an optimal gaming experience on Windows.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the MSI Thin GF63 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 GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the MSI Thin GF63
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
103,095
Recommendations made
22,338
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.