The Dell XPS 15 is a more affordable and lighter option with a slightly smaller screen, making it better for portability and general use. It boasts a good battery life, favorable heat management, and is suitable for intensive gaming despite a lower-performing GPU. The MSI Stealth GS77, though more expensive and heavier, offers a larger screen, higher resolution, superior gaming and engineering performance due to a more powerful GPU, and exceptional screen quality for color-intensive tasks. Both have high-quality keyboards and build, but for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering, the MSI stands out, with the tradeoff of less battery life and portability. 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 Dell XPS 15
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15's gaming and 3D capabilities are bolstered by its dedicated GPU, which is suitable for gaming, but the MSI Stealth GS77 surpasses it with a more powerful GPU and a much higher screen refresh rate, making it ideal for more intense gaming and 3D applications. While both laptops have high-quality CPUs and screens, the MSI's better graphics hardware and ability to display more frames per second offer a smoother and more immersive experience for demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design, though the MSI Stealth GS77 is somewhat better.
The MSI Stealth GS77 outperforms the Dell XPS 15 for engineering and design due to its more powerful GPU, double the RAM, and a higher resolution screen, which benefits complex visual tasks, but it's also heavier, which affects portability. The XPS 15, while more portable and with a quality build, offers less raw power and a lower resolution screen, making it suitable for less demanding engineering tasks.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15 offers a clear, bright display with high resolution, making everyday tasks and media consumption a pleasing experience. Engineering and design professionals will appreciate its color accuracy, as it covers a wide range of color gamuts, essential for precise work. However, for gaming and 3D, it falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which can make fast-moving visuals less smooth compared to screens designed for these purposes.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$2,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15 is valued for its balance between power and portability, offering a strong CPU and sufficient RAM for smooth operation, a quality screen, and a lighter weight for easy carrying, coupled with better battery life for on-the-go use. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS77 is geared towards those needing more performance and a larger, higher resolution screen with more RAM, a more powerful GPU suitable for more demanding tasks, but at the expense of heavier weight and shorter battery life, making it less portable.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.3/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 15 are both very 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
8.1/10
8.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 and Dell XPS 15 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI Stealth GS77 both have very 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 Dell XPS 15 and the MSI Stealth GS77 compare to other laptops
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
"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 Dell XPS 15 or the MSI Stealth GS77
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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