The choice between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 and the MSI Prestige 14 hinges greatly on your preferences and needs. If you prioritize build quality, a seamless software ecosystem with other Apple devices, and you are involved in creative work that benefits from specialized applications available on macOS, the MacBook Pro is a solid choice. However, it usually comes at a higher cost. On the other hand, if you prefer a laptop that can run Windows-specific software, is more affordable, and offers more connectivity options without dongles, the MSI Prestige 14 is worthy of consideration. For performance-sensitive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, ensure that the laptop you choose has adequate specifications like a higher-end processor and graphics card, which could affect both price and battery life. Portability is an advantage with both models, but the specific weight and size differences should be noted if you travel frequently. Always balance these trade-offs against your budget and the kinds of tasks you typically perform on a laptop. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-quality Mini LED screen, a strong CPU and integrated GPU for solid performance, and excellent battery life for extended use without frequent charging, all in a compact form that's slightly heavier than its competitor. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 offers more RAM for better multitasking, a decent IPS screen for general tasks, and a lightweight design for easy portability, although its battery life and screen quality aren't on par with the MacBook Pro's.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
8.2/10
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
6.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's screen is praised for its high resolution, brightness, and vibrant color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, making it excellent for general use and engineering/design tasks where color accuracy is critical. Despite these strengths, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for 3D applications where a higher refresh rate can provide a smoother experience. The MSI Prestige 14, while offering good resolution and brightness for general use and reasonable color accuracy for engineering and design, falls short in providing the high refresh rate desirable for gaming and 3D work.
Battery
17.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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.
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 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,449
$999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,449 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $999.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is better suited for 3D work because it has an Apple M3 GPU that outperforms the MSI Prestige 14's Intel Iris Xe GPU, and its screen supports a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, compared to the MSI's 60Hz which is adequate for many games but not as smooth for fast-moving 3D visuals. Although the MacBook Pro's GPU is advantageous for 3D tasks, its operating system may not support many popular games that are available on Windows, which is something the MSI Prestige 14, running Windows, can handle.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the MSI Prestige 14 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 Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the MSI Prestige 14
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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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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