When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro and the MSI Creator M14, consider that the MacBook Pro offers higher performance suited for demanding tasks like video editing, with a more extended battery life and an excellent display, but it is less portable and comes at a higher cost. The MSI Creator, however, is more affordable, lighter, and better for carrying around, still capable of handling creative tasks but with a compromise on battery life and peak performance. If your budget allows and you need top-notch performance with a preference for a Mac ecosystem, choose the MacBook Pro; for a balance between cost and portability, the MSI might suit you better. 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 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Very good for software development
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
The MSI Creator M14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
8.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Creator M14 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a robust CPU and ample RAM ensuring smooth multitasking and high performance for demanding applications, with its high-quality screen, long battery life, and relatively good portability for its size; whereas the MSI Creator M14 also provides a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, making it suitable for general use and creative work, but with its focus on screen quality and portability, it may appeal to users seeking a balance between performance and ease of carrying around.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and MSI Creator M14 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
8.9/10
7.8/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Creator M14 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
9.4/10
7.5/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display with superior brightness, making it ideal for general use where readability and clarity are paramount, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate colors needed in engineering and design. However, its standard refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The MSI Creator M14's good resolution and brightness offer strong performance for general tasks and sufficient color representation for most design work, yet its gaming and 3D capabilities are hindered by a lackluster refresh rate.
Battery
17.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Creator M14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
The MSI Creator M14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-quality GPU that excels at handling 3D rendering tasks, and its screen quality supports vivid, clear visuals, but be aware that its limited compatibility may restrict gaming options. The MSI Creator M14, with its robust GPU and higher screen refresh rate, is built to deliver a smoother gaming experience and manage 3D work efficiently, though the screen quality and CPU are generally less premium compared to the MacBook.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
8.4/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and MSI Creator M14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, all of which contribute to seamless engineering and design tasks, paired with an exceptional Retina display that enhances screen quality. The MSI Creator M14 also offers robust CPU and RAM specifications necessary for demanding software, though it trades some display resolution for increased portability and a comfortable keyboard, making it a practical choice for on-the-go professionals without compromising on core performance needs.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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 (2021) and the MSI Creator M14 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 (2021) or the MSI Creator M14
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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