If you prioritize high performance for tasks like video editing or music production and a longer battery life, you might lean towards the MacBook Pro, acknowledging it often comes at a higher price. However, if you need a laptop with good performance that's more affordable and slightly more portable for everyday use and professional tasks, the MSI Prestige 14 could be a suitable option, though it may not match the MacBook in build quality or display excellence. Consider that the MacBook Pro typically offers a more seamless experience with other Apple devices, if that ecosystem is important to you. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's exceptional screen quality for general use is due to its high resolution and brightness, along with robust panel technology that ensures sharp and vivid images. For engineering and design, this MacBook shines with its wide color gamuts, providing accurate color representation that professionals need for their work. However, its screen falls short for 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate, which is critical for smooth rendering and a responsive experience in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
17.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has 8 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$1,300
$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 Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-quality screen, exceptional CPU performance, and long battery life, making it suitable for a range of tasks with a focus on portability and a seamless user experience. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, with its capable CPU and ample RAM, also offers a high-quality display and is geared towards efficient performance in a lightweight design, with storage options and a comfortable keyboard that appeals to professionals on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-quality screen and powerful GPU, excels in 3D work, though keep in mind its software limitations for gaming; by contrast, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offers compatibility with a wide range of games and still performs well in 3D tasks, but its GPU and screen refresh rate may not match the MacBook when it comes to the most demanding creative applications.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its powerful CPU, high RAM capacity, and dedicated GPU, excels in handling complex engineering and design tasks while offering a high-quality screen for precise visuals; its well-built keyboard and quiet operation also enhance the user experience. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo balances strong performance with portability, providing substantial processing power and a suitable GPU for mobile engineering work, though the screen and speakers may not match the MacBook's polish.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
8.2/10
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
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
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Laptops evaluated
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Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
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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.
Jason Lew
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.