The Acer Nitro 17 offers larger storage, more RAM, and a bigger screen than the MSI Cyborg 15, which can be better for multitasking and immersive gaming experiences but at a higher price and with less portability due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 is less expensive, has a newer graphics chip which may provide slightly better gaming and 3D performance, and is lighter and more portable, making it a good fit if mobility and budget are priorities. Neither are top-of-the-line in terms of battery life, but the Acer has a longer battery life which can be helpful if you're away from outlets frequently. 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 17
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.4/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 17 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Acer Nitro 17's superior resolution and brightness make it ideal for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate is a drawback for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key. The MSI Cyborg 15's fair screen quality across the board suggests it balances resolution and brightness adequately for general use and engineering without excelling in any one area. Neither model is tailored for gaming or 3D, as both lack the high refresh rates required for the best visual performance in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.7/10
The Acer Nitro 17 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$970
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 17's larger screen, higher color coverage, and powerful CPU make it a versatile choice for various tasks, at the cost of heavy weight and less portability. Conversely, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers better portability with a lighter design and also exceptional battery life, although with less RAM which could affect multitasking performance and reduced screen size that may not be ideal for those preferring larger displays.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
7.2/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 17 is fit for gaming and 3D tasks with its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and high screen refresh rate, enhancing smooth visuals, though it has a larger and heavier build. Meanwhile, the MSI Cyborg 15, with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a decent refresh rate, offers better graphic performance in a more compact and lighter frame, but with a slightly lower refresh rate for the screen.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
7.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Cyborg 15 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Cyborg 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Nitro 17 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Nitro 17 isn't an exceptional gaming laptop; it's kind of chunky even among 17.3-inch notebooks, with a lackluster keyboard, and it doesn't outperform comparably priced machines. But there's a lot to like about it, including a good array of ports, a screen that's sharp and bright for work and play alike, and battery life that soundly beats the competition. All this comes at an affordable price. If size and weight aren't big concerns, you'll find the Nitro 17 a dependable big-screen gaming rig. If you crave higher quality, consider a slight step down or up in screen size with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 or Alienware m18 respectively."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 17 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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.
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