For tasks like editing, video production, or graphic design, the MacBook Pro offers a high-quality Mini LED display and substantial processing power, which will suit professionals well, but it can be significantly pricier. If you're mostly doing general computing, light gaming or are price-conscious, the MSI GF63 Thin provides adequate performance at a much more affordable cost but sacrifices display quality and battery life. The MacBook has a longer battery life and higher build quality, while the MSI is lighter, which may be preferred for increased mobility. The MSI has a gaming aesthetic and could manage some light gaming better than general-purpose laptops but is not as powerful as dedicated gaming laptops. 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
Good for gaming and AI
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 GF63 Thin
The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
6.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a premium experience for general use with its superior CPU, ample RAM, high-resolution Mini LED screen, and excellent battery life, in addition to its high portability, despite being slightly heavier; on the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while lighter and easier to carry, provides fair performance due to its average CPU, less RAM, standard resolution IPS screen, and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for more demanding tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.0/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a high-quality GPU suited for 3D work and a high refresh rate display which benefits smooth visuals, although its MacOS may limit gaming due to incompatibility with many games. The MSI GF63 Thin features a dedicated gaming GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, making it capable for gaming, but its overall screen quality and hardware may not support 3D applications as well as the MacBook Pro.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.8/10
6.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
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 GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
6.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
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 GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
6.1/10
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts high resolution and brightness along with an exceptional color range, making it optimal for activities that require accurate color representation like engineering and design, but its standard refresh rate limits its 3D capabilities. The MSI GF63 Thin provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and work that involves engineering and design, but the coverage of color gamuts may not be as wide as premium models. For gaming and 3D applications, its screen falls short due to a refresh rate that's less ideal for the fast-paced visuals these tasks demand.
Battery
17.5 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin 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
$599
$0
$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 GF63 Thin costs $599.
"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."
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the MSI GF63 Thin
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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