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Updated January 12, 2024·
If budget is a primary concern and you're looking for a less expensive option that still offers solid performance for gaming and general tasks, the Acer Nitro 17 could be a good choice. However, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while pricier, may provide better performance for more intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or high-end gaming due to potentially higher-spec components. Additionally, the MSI's 14-inch form factor would be more portable than the Acer's 17-inch size, which could be a deciding factor if you need to travel with your laptop. Balancing these considerations with your specific needs - whether it be gaming, portability, or professional applications - will guide you to the laptop that best fits your usage. 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 battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good portability
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.9
8.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
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 Nitro 17 is good.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is considered very good for engineering and design use because it houses a slightly more powerful GPU and CPU, higher screen resolution offering better pixel density, and greater brightness and color coverage, which enhance visuals for detailed work. On the other hand, the Acer Nitro 17 provides a larger screen and stronger battery capacity but falls slightly short in graphics and processing power compared to the MSI, and its bulkier build makes it less portable.
Screen Quality
7.4
7.6
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 17 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio laptops have displays with good resolution and brightness, making them suitable for general use where readability and visibility are key. For engineering and design tasks, these laptops offer wide color gamuts, providing the color accuracy needed for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates which can make fast-moving visuals less smooth, detracting from the immersive experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 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
Poor
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$970
$1,432
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Acer Nitro 17 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 17 offers a decent balance for general use with a robust processor, ample RAM, and a good screen quality, which is critical for day-to-day tasks; however, its larger size and heftier weight make it less portable with shorter battery life compared to the MSI Stealth 14 Studio.
Gaming and AI
7.4
7.8
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Nitro 17 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Nitro 17 is equipped with a strong GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4050, and a high screen refresh rate, catering well to gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a slightly more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU for potentially smoother graphic performance, also supportive of high-level gaming and 3D rendering. Both laptops share a similar screen refresh rate which is crucial for fluid visual experiences, though screen quality like color accuracy and brightness may differ, with CPU performance also affecting overall speed and efficiency.
Content Creation
7.8
7.9
7.9/10
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 Nitro 17 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
7.4
7.9/10
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 Nitro 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Acer Nitro 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Nitro 17 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 17 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$970 | $1,432 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 11.6'' x 1.1'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.83 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.77" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.59" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 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 | 165Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 280 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 17
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | October 2023
"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."
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 Nitro 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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