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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're mainly using the laptop for everyday tasks like browsing, streaming, and office work, the Acer Aspire 5 is a budget-friendly option with ample performance for these activities. However, if your work involves engineering software, 3D design, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while more expensive, offers superior capabilities for those intensive tasks. Its higher price tag also often comes with a more premium build, better display, and faster performance. Keep in mind, the Stealth is also more portable due to its smaller size, which could be a significant advantage if you travel often. Conversely, the Aspire's typically longer battery life is advantageous if you're away from power outlets for extended periods. 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 Acer Aspire 5 15
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.1
7.8
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers better gaming and 3D performance with its high-end Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and faster 165Hz screen refresh rate, compared to the Acer Aspire 5 15, which is equipped with the less powerful Iris Xe graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
6.6
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio outperforms the Acer Aspire 5 15 in engineering and design tasks, primarily due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, advanced Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, and higher screen quality, which includes better resolution and color space coverage. On the other hand, the Aspire 5 15, while good, has a less powerful Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, and although it has a larger screen, the quality isn't on par with the MSI, but it is somewhat more portable due to its larger battery capacity.
Content Creation
7.3
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.2
7.6
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
If you prioritize vibrant colors and sharp visuals for everyday tasks, the good screen resolution and brightness of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio make it a solid choice over the Acer Aspire 5 15. For engineering and design work, where color accuracy is crucial, the MSI's support for broader color gamuts gives it the edge for professionals seeking precision. However, if fast-paced gaming or 3D modeling is your main interest, neither laptop is ideal due to their poor refresh rates, although their resolutions and panel types are acceptable for moderate use.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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
6.5
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$480
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 comes with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, a decent screen for general use, and a longer battery life, making it suitable for those who need to work on-the-go without frequent charging. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while also good for general use, offers a more powerful CPU and better screen quality for intensive tasks and media consumption, as well as greater portability due to its lighter weight, but this comes at the cost of shorter battery life.
Software Development
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 15 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$480 | $1,432 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 275 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | November 2022
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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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