The Apple MacBook Pro 16 from late 2019 is a more suitable choice if you prioritize a higher resolution display, longer battery life, and a more robust build quality, typical for general use and professional tasks like video editing or music production. The MacOS operating system can be a deciding factor if you're already in the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 is a newer device with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card designed for gaming and more graphically intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or machine learning. It runs Windows, which might cater better to gaming and compatibility with a wider range of software. It's more expensive, but if supreme graphic performance is a must-have for you, it justifies the price. However, it is less portable due to its weight, and its lower resolution display may not be as crisp as the MacBook's. Keep in mind that the MacBook, despite being older, has a higher-quality display which is beneficial for creative work, whereas the MSI offers a gaming edge with its higher refresh rate screen and newest generation specs. 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 16 (Late 2019)
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.2/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
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 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a capable GPU and good screen quality for 3D applications but is limited in gaming due to fewer compatible titles and typically lower refresh rates compared to dedicated gaming machines. The MSI Cyborg 15, on the other hand, comes with a more powerful GPU for smoother gaming and 3D performance as well as a higher screen refresh rate, which is advantageous for gaming responsiveness but may trade off against the Mac's screen quality and optimized CPU for general use.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9/10
7.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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
7.8/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 16 (Late 2019) offers a high-resolution display with bright and vibrant colors, essential for both daily tasks and professional design work where accurate color representation like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB matters. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15, while providing a serviceable viewing experience for everyday use and engineering tasks, may not deliver the same color fidelity, which could be less satisfying for design professionals. For 3D applications, the MacBook's lower refresh rate can hinder the smoothness of movement, making it less ideal compared to laptops with higher refresh rates that can offer a more fluid visual experience for gaming or 3D rendering.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
$540
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) excels in general use due to its higher RAM, superior screen quality with better color accuracy, and substantially longer battery life, making it well-suited for productivity and media consumption, although it is less portable due to its weight and larger size. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, also good for general use, offers a newer CPU with potential for stronger performance in some areas, but with lower RAM and screen quality compared to the MacBook Pro, it may not be as adept in handling multiple demanding applications simultaneously or displaying content as vibrantly.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with a powerful processor, plenty of RAM, and a high-quality AMD GPU, complemented by an exceptional IPS display that excels in brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks that require detailed visuals and sustained performance.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Cyborg 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"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 16 (Late 2019) 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.
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
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
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.