MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
Grab the MSI GF65 Thin if you want a cheap entry into PC gaming and don't mind upgrading the RAM yourself and living with terrible battery life.
Get the MacBook Pro M4 Max if you're doing heavy creative work, coding, or anything that needs serious horsepower and you have the budget for it.
Key Differences
- The MacBook has 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM vs 8GB of DDR4 on the MSI. That's an 8x gap, and the MSI's 8GB is barely enough for modern games, let alone creative work. Owners of the MSI consistently mention needing immediate RAM upgrades.
- Storage is 4TB NVMe on the MacBook vs 512GB on the MSI. You'll fit maybe 3-4 modern AAA games on the MSI before you're out of space.
- The MacBook's Mini-LED display at 3024px resolution makes the MSI's 1920px IPS panel look rough. MSI owners specifically call out the screen quality as poor.
- Battery life is a real-world pain point for the MSI. Users report 2 hours or less, while the MacBook's Apple silicon is known for all-day battery. The MSI also runs hot during gaming sessions.
- The MSI's RTX 3060 is actually decent for gaming, scoring 16890 vs the MacBook's 17798 on GPU benchmarks. But the MacBook wins that too, and does it without sounding like a jet engine.
What Buyers Say
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
The MSI laptop offers excellent value for its price, with many users praising its powerful RTX 3060 graphics and solid gaming performance for titles like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty. However, several reviewers report significant issues including poor battery life (2 hours or less), high temperatures during gaming, and a difficult upgrade process due to a warranty sticker. While the performance is generally good for the cost, reliability concerns and the need for immediate RAM upgrades are common themes.
Pros
- Powerful RTX 3060 graphics
- Great value for the price
- Good gaming performance
- Expandable RAM and storage
- Runs modern games smoothly
Cons
- Poor battery life (2 hours or less)
- High temperatures during gaming
- Difficult upgrade process
- Warranty sticker blocks upgrades
- Screen quality is poor
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
The MacBook Pro M4 Max is widely praised as a powerful workhorse, handling heavy photo and video editing tasks with ease. Users highlight its smooth performance, fast file processing, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Verified buyers consistently note excellent value, especially when opting for the Pro over the Max model, and commend B&H's customer service and shipping process.
Pros
- Powerful performance for heavy tasks
- Smooth handling of photo and video editing
- Fast file import and export
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- No significant drawbacks mentioned
Scores
Specifications
| MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE | Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 10500H | Apple M4 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 2 | 16★ |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | Apple (40-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 8 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6★ | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 | LPDDR5★ |
| Storage 1 | 512 GB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | NVMe SSD★ |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6" | 14.2" |
| Resolution | 1920 px | 3024 px★ |
| Panel | IPS | Mini-LED★ |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz★ | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | — | 1600 nits★ |
| Color Gamut | — | 100% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | — | 3★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | — |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 5 |
| HDMI | — | 1x HDMI Output |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6E★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3★ |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.90 kg | 1.60 kg★ |
| Battery | — | 72 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 10 | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
- Strong social proof (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong gpu (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average ram (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average port selection (23rd percentile)
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
- Strong screen (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong storage (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Below average affordability (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
Pricing
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 18 of 29 specs.
