The Acer Nitro 16 offers a larger 16-inch display with a higher resolution, which may be better for gaming, design work, or multitasking. It comes with an AMD processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics, suggesting strong performance for intensive tasks such as gaming or video editing. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a smaller 14-inch screen but is lighter and more compact, which makes it more portable. It's equipped with an Intel processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, providing solid performance but possibly less so than the Acer for demanding applications. The MSI also boasts a larger solid-state drive capacity out of the box. If you prioritize a larger screen and peak performance over portability and storage, the Acer might be the better fit. Conversely, if portability and a sleeker design are more important, along with ample built-in storage, consider the MSI. Both laptops offer similar features like IPS displays, 16:10 aspect ratios, and high refresh rates, aiming to provide quality visuals and smooth performance. 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 Nitro 16
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
494.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Acer Nitro 16 stands out due to its display having sharp resolution and high brightness, making texts and images crisp and easy to read in various lighting conditions. In engineering and design tasks, its superior color coverage ensures that the visuals are vibrant and accurate, a key aspect for professionals needing precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, the Acer Nitro 16 falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which could lead to less fluid motion compared to displays optimized for these tasks.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 16 has 9 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
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,050
$1,432
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 16 has a price of $1,050 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
The Acer Nitro 16 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 16 offers a robust CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, a quality display for clarity, a larger battery for extended use, but is heavier, which impacts portability. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers double the storage and a high-quality build in a lighter package for easy portability, though it might not last as long on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Nitro 16 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Nitro 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 16 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, making it suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, and it comes with a high-resolution screen that benefits detail-oriented work; however, it is less portable and has higher operating noise compared to the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which balances performance with an Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and excels in portability and speaker quality for users who need to move around frequently.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Nitro 16 are both good for content creation.
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.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Nitro 16 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.6/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Nitro 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Nitro 16 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
"Video editing, rendering and, of course, gaming represent the Nitro 16's core competencies with a Ryzen 7 7735HS and GeForce RTX 4070 providing the necessary power. Both chips run at consistently high clock speeds. A fast PCIe 4 SSD (1 TB) provides the required storage space and ensures short loading times. With the Nitro 16 AN16-41, Acer has a well-specced, mid-range gaming laptop in its portfolio."
"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 Nitro 16 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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
109,995
Recommendations made
23,833
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.