The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is notably more expensive offering high-quality Mini LED display, larger storage, and more RAM, making it well suited for tasks that demand strong performance such as video editing or professional creative work. It also has a longer battery life and better build quality. The MSI Bravo 15 is significantly more affordable but comes with less storage and RAM. Its performance is tailored towards gaming with dedicated graphics and a high refresh rate screen, though it may not match the MacBook's prowess for intensive professional applications. Keep in mind the MacBook's superior display if your work benefits from high color accuracy, and consider the Bravo 15 if cost and gaming are higher priorities. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
The MSI Bravo 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
7.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is highly suitable for general use due to its more powerful CPU and higher RAM, which provide smoother multitasking and application performance, as well as its superior screen quality that offers a better visual experience with higher resolution and color accuracy. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15's moderate CPU and lesser RAM may limit performance in demanding tasks, while its lower screen quality, heavier weight, and significantly shorter battery life make it less ideal for intensive or on-the-go use despite typically being more affordable.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
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
9.1/10
7.1/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the MSI Bravo 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
6.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 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
9.3/10
6.9/10
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) boasts an exceptional display with high resolution and brightness, coupled with wide color gamuts, making it ideal for general use and color-critical engineering and design tasks; however, its screen refresh rate is lower, which is less optimal for 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. The MSI Bravo 15 provides decent resolution and brightness for a pleasant general use experience, but it has limited color range which might not meet professional standards for engineering and design work. For gaming and 3D, the MSI Bravo's refresh rate may not keep pace with fast-moving visuals, reducing the level of immersion and responsiveness.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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
Fair
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,423
$862
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in 3D tasks with its powerful integrated GPU and a high-resolution Mini LED display, but its MacOS may not support many popular games. On the other hand, the MSI Bravo 15 is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it better suited for smooth gaming experiences, especially since it runs Windows which supports a wider range of games.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the MSI Bravo 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."
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the MSI Bravo 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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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.
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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.
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