Apple MacBook vs MSI:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple MacBook had more branded searches than MSI among laptop brands in the United States. Apple MacBook had about 823,000 branded searches, while MSI had 18,100. Apple MacBook made up 50.3% of all laptop brand searches we track, and MSI accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about laptop brands, Apple MacBook appeared in all five answers and MSI in one. Apple MacBook was mentioned before MSI in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Apple MacBook, about 45 searches for every 1 for MSI
Who does AI mention more?
Apple MacBook, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple MacBook, named ahead of MSI in every answer
Follow Apple MacBook vs MSI and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top laptop brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple MacBook appeared in all five answers. MSI was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple MacBook was listed before MSI in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Apple MacBook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Dell5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lenovo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
ASUS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
HP2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Alienware1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Acer1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
MSI1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Razer1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Framework0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about laptop brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which laptop should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best laptop brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best laptop for college students?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“laptop”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best laptop”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Apple MacBook or MSI more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Apple MacBook and MSI by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 laptop brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Apple MacBook, MSI. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple MacBook | HP | Dell | Lenovo | Alienware | ASUS | Framework | Microsoft Surface | Samsung | Acer | MSI | Razer | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44% | 13.1% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 4% | 4% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.97% | 0.65% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.9% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 8.2% | 3% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.7% | 14% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| Jan 2026 | 42% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.62% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.3% | 13.5% | 11.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 3.3% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.81% | 0.67% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.2% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.82% | 0.55% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| May 2026 | 48.2% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.87% | 0.58% |
| Jun 2026 | 48.8% | 12% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.59% |
| Jul 2026 | 47.5% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.57% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.3% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.6% |
How has the Apple MacBook and MSI comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple MacBook was ahead of MSI in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple MacBook’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 44% to 50.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 673K to 823K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MSI’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 1.5% to 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United States laptop brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple MacBook lost share of searches among laptop brands in the United States, from 51.8% to 50.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for MSI in the United States fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 22.2K to 18.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple MacBook’s and MSI’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple MacBook
1 branded search term
- macbook
MSI
1 branded search term
- msi laptop
Other head-to-heads among laptop brands
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.