MSI Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US vs Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max
MSI Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US 2024, Ryzen 7 7735HS, 16GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
Grab the MSI Thin if you're a student or casual gamer on a tight budget who wants to play AAA titles at decent settings without spending MacBook money, and you can live with a washed-out screen and mediocre trackpad.
The MacBook Pro M4 Max is for creative professionals, developers, and power users who need serious compute for video editing, AI workloads, or heavy multitasking, and who already live in the Apple ecosystem.
Key Differences
- The M4 Max scores 43,903 on multi-core benchmarks vs the Ryzen 7's 22,314, nearly double the CPU performance, and it packs 64GB of RAM vs 16GB on the MSI.
- Storage is a blowout: 4TB NVMe SSD on the MacBook vs 512GB on the MSI, which fills up fast with modern games and creative projects.
- The MacBook's Mini-LED display runs at 3024px resolution vs the MSI's 1920px IPS panel, and owners specifically call out the MSI's faded colors and poor color accuracy as a real annoyance.
- Gaming is the one place the MSI holds its ground, scoring 74 vs the MacBook's 60, thanks to its discrete RTX 4050 with dedicated GDDR6 VRAM.
- Customer sentiment tells a clear story: MacBook owners report zero significant drawbacks with a 95/100 sentiment score, while MSI owners gripe about Wi-Fi issues out of the box, sharp corners digging into wrists, and underwhelming speakers.
What Buyers Say
MSI Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US 2024, Ryzen 7 7735HS, 16GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
This budget gaming laptop offers solid performance for the price, with many users praising its ability to run AAA titles and its sturdy build. However, several reviewers note significant drawbacks including a poor screen with faded colors, a mediocre trackpad, and underwhelming speakers. Battery life is surprisingly good for the category, but some users experienced software issues like Wi-Fi problems and driver crashes. Overall, it's a capable machine for its price point if you can overlook its compromises.
Pros
- Surprising battery life
- Great keyboard
- Runs AAA games well
- Sturdy build quality
- Good thermal management
Cons
- Poor screen color accuracy
- Mediocre trackpad feel
- Underwhelming built-in speakers
- Sharp corners uncomfortable for wrists
- Wi-Fi issues out of the box
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 Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US | Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Apple M4 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 1 | 16★ |
| Frequency | 3.2 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 | Apple (40-Core)★ |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 6 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6★ | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | 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 | 1 | 3★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | — |
| Thunderbolt | hdmi | Thunderbolt 5 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI | 1x HDMI Output |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E★ |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Bluetooth 5.3★ |
| Ethernet | 1 | — |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.86 kg | 1.60 kg★ |
| Battery | 52 Wh | 72 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US 2024, Ryzen 7 7735HS, 16GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
- Strong social proof (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Strong gpu (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong port selection (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong cpu (73rd 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
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 17 of 30 specs.