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MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
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Raider 18 HX
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What we think

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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated June 22, 2024·

The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is a top-tier choice for creative professionals and those seeking a balance of performance and portability with its powerful M2 Pro chip and stunning Mini LED display that excels in color accuracy and brightness. It's also lighter and has a longer battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use. However, it's limited to macOS and lacks the expandability and hardware ray tracing found in gaming laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Raider 18 HX is a powerhouse designed for high-end gaming and intensive tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning, thanks to its top-of-the-line Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and high-refresh-rate display. It offers more RAM, a larger screen, and a more versatile Windows environment with better upgrade options. But it's heavier, has a shorter battery life, and isn't as portable, making it more suitable for stationary use or situations where maximum performance is required. Consider the MacBook Pro for its exceptional build quality, superior display, and better portability if you're within the Apple ecosystem or prioritize a premium, compact design. Choose the MSI Raider for its unparalleled gaming and computational performance, larger screen real estate, and Windows flexibility, especially if you don't mind being tethered to a power outlet more often. 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
  • 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 Raider 18 HX
  • Best in class for engineering and design
  • Excellent for gaming and AI

Key differences

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Gaming and AI

7.4
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
9.0
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is good.

Engineering and Design

8.8
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
9.6
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good.

Screen Quality

9.3
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
9.4
16.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
1000.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the MSI Raider 18 HX have similar screen quality.

Battery

17.5 Hours
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider 18 HX has 9 hours of battery life.

Portability

Good
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
Poor
16.2in
SIZE
18.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has good portability, while the MSI Raider 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Build Quality

10.0
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
7.4
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Raider 18 HX has good build quality.

Cost

$2,423
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
$3,999
Product image
Product image

$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 Raider 18 HX costs $3,999.
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Key similarities

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General Use

9.1
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
8.8
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
1000.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be excellent for general use, while the MSI Raider 18 HX is very good.

Content Creation

9.1
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
9.1
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Raider 18 HX are both excellent for content creation.

Software Development

8.9
MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
Raider 18 HX
8.8
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Raider 18 HX are both very good for software development.

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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the MSI Raider 18 HX compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)MSI Raider 18 HX
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)MSI Raider 18 HX

GENERAL

Price
$2,423
$3,999
Release Date
January 1, 2023March 1, 2024
Overall Dimensions
14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66''15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26''
Weight
4.7 lbs7.94 lbs
Width
14.01"15.91"
Depth
9.77"12.09"

INTERNAL

Processor
Apple M2 Pro (12C)Intel i9-14900HX
RAM
16 GB32 GB
DDR Memory Version
55
RAM Slots
04
Storage
1024 GB1024 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
17.5 Hours9 Hours
Battery Capacity
99.6 Wh99.9 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
16.2"18"
Display Technology
Mini LEDMini LED
Resolution
3456 x 22343840 x 2400
Refresh Rate
120Hz120Hz
Display Brightness
487 nits1000 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
10/107.4/10
Portability Score
7.6/105.1/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
NoYes
Premium Business Laptop
YesNo
Fan Noise Score
8.8/108/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
9.5/107/10
Speaker Quality Score
10/108/10
Webcam
1080p1080p
Fingerprint Reader
YesNo
Backlit Keyboard
YesYes
Number Pad
NoYes

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
03
USB-C ports
32
USB-C Charging
YesYes
Display Outputs
23
Thunderbolt Version
44

Shopping

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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)

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Dig into reviews and images

NotebookCheck

Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"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 (2023) or the MSI Raider 18 HX

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.

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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

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Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
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Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
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Recommendations made
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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.

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.

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