Choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the MSI Thin GF63 depends on what you value more. If you prioritize high performance for intensive tasks like video editing or 3D rendering, the MacBook's more advanced processor and graphics will serve you well, but it comes at a premium cost. On the other hand, the MSI might be suitable for general use and gaming, offering decent performance at a lower price. However, the MacBook has a longer battery life and a higher resolution display, which could enhance your experience if you're willing to invest more. If portability is key, both laptops are similar in weight, but the MSI is a bit slimmer, which may make it easier to carry around. The MacBook runs MacOS, while the MSI runs Windows 11 Home, so consider which operating system you prefer before making a decision. 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
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
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 Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
7.4/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in general use due to its powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-resolution Mini LED screen, and exceptional battery life, alongside premium keyboard and speaker quality; however, it is less portable and tends to be pricier. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 also provides solid performance with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, and it's more portable and affordable, but it falls short in screen quality, battery life, and it can't match the premium attributes of the MacBook Pro's keyboard and speakers.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in engineering and design due to its powerful Apple M2 Pro CPU, a significant amount of RAM, and a superior GPU, paired with a high-quality Mini LED screen; it also boasts a longer battery life, making it very suitable for intensive tasks but less portable due to its weight. The MSI Thin GF63, while also good for engineering and design with a capable Intel CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GPU, offers a lower screen resolution and quality, less battery capacity, and overall build, still, it is lighter and thus more portable.
Content Creation
9.1/10
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the MSI Thin GF63 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
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 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
9.3/10
6.8/10
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
262.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display with brilliant brightness and colors, making it excellent for general tasks and professional engineering and design work due to its wide color gamut coverage. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth visuals in 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 offers decent resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and some engineering work, but its limited color range and standard refresh rate do not provide the optimal experience for gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
17.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 has 4.5 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
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 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
$1,400
$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 Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Thin GF63 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and MSI Thin GF63 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 Thin GF63 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 GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the MSI Thin GF63
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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