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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a larger, higher-resolution display and better graphics performance, making it suitable for demanding tasks like video editing or design work; however, it's heavier and may be less convenient for travel. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is much lighter and thus more portable, with a smaller screen and less powerful graphics, it would be adequate for everyday tasks such as web browsing, office work, and light photo editing. Both have similar storage and memory, but if your priority is high-end performance and a larger screen for multimedia work, choose the MacBook Pro; if you value portability and primarily perform less intensive tasks, the MSI Modern 14 is appropriate. 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)
- Good for engineering and design
- 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 Modern 14
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.8
7.2
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) shines in general use with its high-resolution, color-accurate screen, and substantial battery life, making it ideal for prolonged tasks requiring visual accuracy and less frequent charging, though heavier, which impacts portability. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14, while lighter and thus more portable, has a lower resolution and less impressive screen quality, and shorter battery life, but still offers similar CPU and RAM, suitable for typical day-to-day activities.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.6
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with a higher-end CPU and dedicated GPU, delivers robust performance for demanding engineering and design tasks, complemented by a superior screen with higher resolution and color accuracy essential for precision work. The MSI Modern 14, while more portable and with a commendable CPU for general use, has an integrated GPU and a less impressive screen, making it suitable for less intensive tasks but not ideal for high-end engineering or design requirements.
Content Creation
8.0
7.2
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 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
7.9
7.1
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Modern 14 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
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's high-resolution display and exceptional brightness make it great for generic tasks, while its wide color gamut ensures accurate color reproduction for engineering and design, despite its standard refresh rate limiting its appeal for 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 offers decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and competent color range for technical work, but it falls short for gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate. Paying more for the MacBook Pro might be worth it if your priority is top-tier screen performance for design work and general use, while the MSI could be a more budget-friendly option if your needs are more general and less focused on high-end graphics.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a dedicated GPU and a quality screen that can handle 3D tasks fairly well, but its lower refresh rate could limit a highly immersive gaming experience, and its operating system restricts compatibility with many popular games. The MSI Modern 14, on the other hand, also offers a dedicated GPU for decent gaming and 3D work, benefits from a high refresh rate screen desirable for gaming, but may fall behind the MacBook in both CPU performance and overall screen quality.
Cost
$569
$570
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $569 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $570.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$569 | $570 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2019 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.64'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.3 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-9750H | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 100 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3072 x 1920 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 477 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720P | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"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."
MSI Modern 14
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Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the MSI Modern 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.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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