A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is more affordable and offers great portability with a lightweight design, a high-quality display, and good battery life, making it suitable for general use and everyday tasks. However, if you need higher performance for engineering, 3D rendering, or intensive gaming, the MSI Stealth GS77 is the better option despite being more expensive and heavier. It has a more powerful processor, better graphics capabilities, and a larger screen with a faster refresh rate, allowing for smoother visuals, but this impacts battery life and makes it less portable. Select the MacBook Air if mobility and value are priorities, or the MSI Stealth GS77 if top performance for demanding applications is crucial. 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 Apple MacBook Air (2022)
- Best in class overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.4
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
486.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022), with its Apple M2 processor and 8 GB RAM, offers balanced performance for general tasks, while its high screen quality, lightweight design, and long battery life make it highly portable and suitable for users on the go. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS77 provides robust performance with its Intel i7 processor and 32 GB RAM for more demanding applications and multitasking, but it is less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, with a shorter battery life that may limit mobility for users.
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.9
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) is fair for 3D due to its integrated Apple M2 GPU which is less capable for demanding 3D applications and gaming, plus its MacOS's compatibility limitations with many popular games. The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for gaming and 3D, thanks to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU that excels in these tasks and has a high screen refresh rate, further enhancing the gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
7.5
8.7
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
The MSI Stealth GS77 outshines the Apple MacBook Air (2022) for engineering and design due to its stronger CPU, significantly more RAM, and a more powerful GPU, making it more capable of handling demanding software used in these fields; it also offers a larger screen with high refresh rates suited for detailed design work, albeit at the cost of greater weight and less portability. The MacBook Air maintains an advantage in portability with its lightweight design and silent operation, coupled with a high-quality display and sufficient power for less demanding engineering tasks, making it a better fit for users who prioritize mobility and silent use over maximum performance.
Screen Quality
7.6
8.3
13.6in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
486.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Air for gaming and AI, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Air offers a high-resolution display and exceptional brightness, which along with its accurate colors, makes it suitable for general tasks and professional design work; however, its refresh rate is not high enough for optimal 3D application performance. The MSI Stealth GS77, on the other hand, also offers a sharp and bright display with a wide color gamut, making it excellent for both casual use and design tasks, but like the MacBook Air, it falls short for 3D content due to a lower refresh rate that could impact the smoothness in fast-moving visuals. For users focused on general and engineering/design tasks, both laptops provide pleasing visual experiences, but those prioritizing 3D work, especially gaming, should consider laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
15.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 has 6 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
Excellent
Fair
13.6in
SIZE
17.3in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$839
$2,499
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2022) has a price of $839 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Content Creation
7.9
8.3
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth GS77 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Air (2022) is good.
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
8.0
8.1
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1664
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Apple MacBook Air (2022) are both very 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air (2022) and the MSI Stealth GS77 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Air (2022) | MSI Stealth GS77 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$839 | $2,499 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.5'' x 0.44'' | 15.7'' x 11.2'' x 0.79'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.7 lbs | 6.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 15.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 11.16" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 15 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.6 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 486 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Air (2022)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
MSI Stealth GS77
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | April 2022
"The MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2022) or the MSI Stealth GS77
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple MacBook Air (2022) vs. Acer Nitro 5 17
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Air (2022) vs. Gigabyte A5
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Air (2022) vs. Dell Latitude 5330
VS
Compare MSI Stealth GS77 vs. ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17
VS
Compare MSI Stealth GS77 vs. MSI Raider GE66
VS
Compare MSI Stealth GS77 vs. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
124,095
Recommendations made
26,888
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.
Featured in
