When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, consider that the MacBook Pro generally offers high performance suitable for demanding tasks and a long battery life, but at a higher cost and with less portability due to its size and weight. The MSI, on the other hand, is more affordable and lightweight, making it more portable, but it might not match the MacBook in terms of raw power or screen size, which can be important for tasks like video editing or software development. For general use, the MSI is more cost-effective, while the MacBook Pro is geared towards professionals needing top-tier performance and a larger display. 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
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 Prestige 14 AI Evo
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
8.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) provides robust CPU performance and high-quality RAM for smooth multitasking, with a superior screen for crisp visuals, all in a less portable form with impressive battery life. Whereas the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo offers decent computing power and good screen quality in a more portable design, but with slightly less battery endurance; both feature adequate storage, comfortable keyboards, quality speakers, and manage heat and noise effectively for a satisfying user experience.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.8/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, a dedicated GPU, and a high-quality screen, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks. The MSI Prestige 14, while also capable with a strong CPU and good RAM, trades a bit of performance and screen size for increased portability and a quieter operating experience.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
7.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
7.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is renowned for its high-resolution, bright Retina display which provides sharp and vibrant images, making it excellent for general use and ideal for engineering and design due to its wide color gamuts ensuring accurate color representation. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for 3D work where smooth motion is key. The MSI Prestige 14, while offering a good quality display for general use and sufficient color accuracy for engineering and design tasks, also falls short for gaming and 3D due to a standard refresh rate that doesn't match the smoother visuals required for these activities.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has 8 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
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,300
$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 Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a powerful GPU and a high-quality screen, making it well-suited for demanding 3D tasks, but its operating system limits the range of games available. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, with its decent GPU and good screen refresh rate, can handle gaming and 3D work, but its performance may not match that of more specialized gaming laptops.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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 Prestige 14 AI Evo
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.