If you prioritize a sleek design, a user-friendly operating system, and higher resale value, the Apple MacBook Pro offers robust performance for general use and creative tasks. However, for more demanding work like 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, despite the higher cost, provides superior hardware tailored to these intensive tasks, but note that it's heavier and might have a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for frequent travel. 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)
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.4/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a balance of high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and a crystal-clear screen while maintaining a decent battery life and portability for everyday tasks, but it excels in CPU and screen quality which is crucial for performance and visual clarity. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, packs more power and larger RAM for demanding applications, with superior heat management and a quieter operation, though it sacrifices some portability and battery life due to its focus on high-end performance.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
8.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with a GPU that is adequate for 3D applications but is outperformed by the more powerful GPU in the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, making the MSI a superior choice for gaming and high-end 3D tasks, especially considering its higher screen refresh rate which provides smoother visuals while playing games. Additionally, the limited compatibility of Macs with many popular games is a drawback for gamers, whereas the MSI running Windows will support a broader range of gaming titles without such limitations.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
9.1/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-quality screen and solid CPU, offers a robust platform for engineering tasks, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, equipped with a more powerful GPU and extra RAM, excels in demanding engineering and design applications where rendering and multitasking are crucial. While both laptops have excellent keyboards and screens, the MSI's superior performance comes with a decrease in portability due to its larger size and heft.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's Retina display offers crisp images and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general use, while also covering wide color gamuts, crucial for engineering and design precision. The MSI Stealth's display, with similar features, ensures sharp and accurate visuals for these tasks too. However, for 3D applications where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short as their screens prioritize resolution and color over the high refresh rates that are essential for gaming and rendering 3D content fluidly.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9/10
8.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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