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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Acer Aspire 5 17 could suit you well for general use and offers a large screen size, which is great for productivity and media consumption. However, with a less powerful processor and graphics, it's not as equipped for demanding tasks like gaming or 3D work. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while more expensive, offers a higher resolution display, more powerful hardware ideal for gaming or creative work such as video editing and 3D modeling, and a more compact design for portability but with a smaller screen size. If you prioritize performance and portability for more intensive tasks and are willing to invest more, the MSI would be a stronger choice. 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 17
- 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
6.2
7.8
3.7/10
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 17 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and high screen refresh rate, delivers smooth and detailed gaming experiences, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 relies on the less powerful Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate, hence its fair performance in gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, the MSI's superior CPU and better screen quality contribute to its overall good ranking for these activities.
Engineering and Design
6.7
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers superior performance for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU and GPU, double the RAM, and a screen with better color coverage and higher resolution compared to the Acer Aspire 5 17. However, the Acer Aspire has a larger screen and may be more comfortable for extended use, although it is heavier and thus less portable than the lighter and more compact MSI Stealth.
Content Creation
7.2
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 17 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
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
If you prioritize a vibrant display that's essential for tasks like photo editing or graphic design, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio may be the preferred option, as it likely offers a wider color gamut covering brighter and more accurate colors. However, for casual browsing or document work, both laptops have screens with satisfactory resolution and brightness, making the Acer Aspire 5 17 suitable for everyday tasks. For gaming or 3D applications where motion clarity is crucial, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, so dedicated gamers might need to seek alternatives focused on those specifications.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 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.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have good portability, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$700
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is valued for everyday tasks due to its solid processor and sufficient RAM for standard usage, along with a large screen, although it's less convenient to carry around and has satisfying battery life. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a more powerful processor, double the RAM, better overall screen quality, and a more compact and lightweight build, suited for those requiring higher performance and portability at the expense of shorter battery life.
Software Development
7.2
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 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 17 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.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $1,432 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.83" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.1" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 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 | 50.3 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 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 | 266 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 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 | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | March 2021
"The Acer Aspire 5 17 laptop shows the expected strengths in the test. Besides the usual high build quality, the configuration convinces in most benchmarks and tests. The combination of CPU, GPU, and RAM is absolutely sufficient for the everyday office and browsing tasks of a laptop. It also renders the odd game passably if the requirements aren't too high. We liked the matte display in the test as well as the fairly manageable dimensions despite the screen size. It can also be used outdoors, even if it's certainly not a laptop designed for mobility."
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 17 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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