If you prioritize performance for tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is a powerful option but comes at a higher cost and with a more premium build. However, if you prefer a laptop that's more affordable and also suitable for gaming, the MSI Cyborg 15 is a solid choice with good graphics capabilities, though its overall performance may not match the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro excels in display quality, while the Cyborg offers a high refresh rate screen which is ideal for gaming. The MacBook Pro also boasts a longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use, while the Cyborg 15 is heavier and may offer less battery life. Each has a distinct operating system, with the MacBook running MacOS and the Cyborg on Windows 11 Home, potentially influencing your choice depending on your software needs. 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 engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
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 Cyborg 15
The MSI Cyborg 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.3/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021), with higher RAM and a strong CPU, offers a faster and smoother experience for general use, complemented by its superior screen quality for sharper and more vibrant visuals, but it's less portable and has a higher price. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, while also equipped for general use, has less RAM which may slow down multitasking, and an inferior screen resolution but benefits from better portability due to its lighter weight and is typically more affordable.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design use due to its robust CPU and GPU (Apple M1 Pro), more RAM for complex tasks, and a superior Mini LED screen offering high resolution and color accuracy. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, while also suitable for engineering with its capable Intel processor and Nvidia GPU, is slightly more portable but falls short on RAM and screen quality, which could impact performance and detail in demanding tasks.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
8.9/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
6.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
497.0 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 (2021) features a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for vivid visuals and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, but the standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications. The MSI Cyborg 15 offers an adequate display for daily tasks and sufficient color representation for some engineering and design work, but it might not impress gaming and 3D enthusiasts due to its lower refresh rate. Screen quality differs significantly between these laptops, with the MacBook outshining in general and professional use, while the MSI provides a balanced, albeit less remarkable, viewing experience across various activities.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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 (2021) 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
$1,949
$1,100
$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 Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The MSI Cyborg 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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 (2021) 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 (2021) 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.