The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is a premium option offering high performance suitable for intensive tasks like 3D, machine learning, and engineering work, with a superior build quality and display technology. It features Apple's own M2 Pro chip and operating system that provides a seamless experience for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is more affordable and offers a high resolution OLED display and more memory, which is useful for heavy multitasking and professional applications. It runs on Windows and may appeal to those who prefer or require this operating system for compatibility reasons. The MacBook Pro might have better battery life and overall build quality, but the MSI Prestige is lighter and possibly more portable. Consider the importance of operating system preference, budget constraints, and needs for specific software or hardware compatibility when making your choice. 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
Good for gaming and AI
Excellent 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 16 AI Evo
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is only fair.
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.
Content Creation
9.1/10
8.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very 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.
Screen Quality
9.3/10
8.4/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro 16's screen shines for general use and engineering/design tasks because of its high resolution, bright display, and wide color gamut coverage, ensuring sharp visuals and accurate color representation. However, for 3D applications where a high refresh rate is critical, the MacBook's refresh rate limitations make it less suitable. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo's exceptional color accuracy and resolution benefit engineering and design users but, like the MacBook, it falls short for gaming and 3D due to a lower refresh rate; its very good general use quality stems from its resolution and brightness, even though it doesn't quite match the MacBook.
Battery
17.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,423
$1,349
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be excellent for general use, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) offers a strong CPU, ample RAM and a high-quality Mini-LED screen which contribute to a great general use experience, plus its larger battery capacity translates to longer use between charges, though it is heavier impacting portability. Conversely, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo also boasts a robust CPU with double the RAM for potentially smoother multitasking and an OLED screen that delivers vivid colors, packed in a lighter chassis for easier transport, but has a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is equipped with the Apple M2 Pro processor and a 16GB RAM, making it powerful for engineering tasks and design work, complemented by its high-quality Mini LED screen that enhances visual clarity and color accuracy. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo offers a higher RAM capacity of 32GB which, along with the Intel Core Ultra processor and OLED display, presents a compelling choice for similar applications, with emphasis on multitasking and high-fidelity visuals, although it trades off some portability and battery life in comparison.
Software Development
8.9/10
8.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are both very good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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 (2023) and the MSI Prestige 16 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."
"The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the MSI Prestige 16 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
102,495
Recommendations made
22,208
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.