The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers superior performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering, accompanied by a higher screen quality perfect for those who need color accuracy, and a better battery life which is ideal for those frequently on the move. However, it is considerably more expensive and less portable due to its weight. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 is more affordable, lighter, and therefore easier to carry, but it has a lower-quality display and reduced performance, potentially making it less suitable for intensive tasks but a good option for general use and business applications. 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 Prestige 15
The MSI Prestige 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Prestige 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" (2021) excels in general use largely due to its powerful M1 Pro processor, high RAM capacity, superior screen quality with Mini LED technology, and impressive battery life, making it very good yet less portable due to its weight and size. The MSI Prestige 15, while also good for general tasks, offers a standard IPS screen, less battery life, and its i5 processor with less RAM compared to the MacBook Pro, but gains in portability with its lighter weight.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.3/10
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
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 15 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its powerful GPU, excels in 3D tasks due to its high-quality screen and strong processing capabilities, but its gaming potential is limited as many games aren't compatible with macOS. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15, while providing decent gaming performance with a capable GPU and adequate refresh rate, might not match the MacBook Pro's screen quality, making it fair for gaming and 3D tasks rather than exceptional.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is highly suitable for engineering and design due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, abundant RAM, advanced GPU, and superior Mini LED screen quality; meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 15, while still capable for engineering tasks, offers less RAM, a moderately powered CPU and GPU, and a standard IPS screen which is less brilliant than the MacBook's. However, the MSI Prestige 15 is lighter and thus more portable, though both have high-quality keyboards and build, with less emphasis on speaker quality and operating noise in these professional tasks.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 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
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 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
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-resolution and bright display, excels in providing sharp and vibrant visuals, which is essential for general use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design, while its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for professional creative work. However, due to its standard refresh rate, it is less than optimal for 3D applications where a high refresh rate is key to smooth visuals. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15 also offers good resolution and brightness for general tasks and supports a decent color range for engineering and design, but similarly to the MacBook, it lacks the high refresh rate needed for fluid gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 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
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,044
$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 15 costs $1,044.
"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 MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the MSI Prestige 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.
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