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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a higher resolution display and better build quality which is ideal for professional creative work, but it's more expensive and has less versatile gaming capabilities. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while cheaper, provides stronger gaming performance with its dedicated graphics card and a higher refresh rate screen, suited for gaming and multitasking, but it won't match the MacBook's display quality or operating system integration. 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 (Late 2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- 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 Cyborg 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.3
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, excellent build quality, and high screen quality including wide color coverage, is suitable for general use and favors portability with a lower weight and better battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 also comes with similar RAM and storage but has a dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics card and an Intel i7 CPU, which, combined with its good cooling system, makes it capable of handling intensive gaming and more demanding tasks but at the cost of reduced battery life and portability.
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.2
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its Mini LED screen and powerful integrated GPU is suited for 3D tasks, offering high screen quality and resolution conducive to detailed work, but is less optimal for gaming, particularly because many popular games are not compatible with its operating system. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, equipped with a higher refresh rate screen and an Nvidia RTX GPU that excels in rendering graphics, is tailored for gaming and can handle 3D graphics-intensive tasks as well, running on a platform that supports a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 CPU, high RAM capacity, advanced GPU, and exceptional screen quality, is tailored for complex engineering and design tasks, offering robust performance along with a high-resolution, color-accurate display. Conversely, the MSI Cyborg 15 is equipped with a potent Intel i7 CPU, ample RAM, a dedicated GPU suitable for engineering software, and a quality display but stands out in its enhanced portability and gaming-grade keyboard, balancing power with the flexibility for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
8.4
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
8.2
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
6.8
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
234.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers high resolution and brightness, making text and images sharp and vivid for general use, and the color gamuts ensure accuracy for engineering and design tasks. The MSI Cyborg 15 has a fair screen that suits routine tasks and non-specialized work, but its colors may lack the precision needed by professionals in design fields. However, for 3D applications and gaming, which rely heavily on high refresh rates, both the MacBook Pro and the Cyborg 15 fall short, leading to less fluid visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
17.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
6.7
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,499 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,499 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M3 | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 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 | 17 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 53.5 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
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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 Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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