If you prioritize portability and are seeking a device for basic tasks like browsing the web, working with documents, and light media consumption, the Gateway 11.6" would likely suit your needs and could be more budget-friendly. However, if you require a laptop for more intensive tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering applications, the MSI Stealth GS66 would provide the higher performance necessary for those activities. Keep in mind that the MSI will generally cost more and might have less battery life due to its powerful components, and it will also be less portable than the compact Gateway. 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 Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.7/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" is not ideal for general use largely due to its inferior CPU, minimal RAM, and lower-quality screen, which result in slower performance and a less vivid display, combined with the lack of information on its battery life which could imply mediocrity in longevity when unplugged. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 excels in general use with a high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and a superior screen quality, ensuring fast operation and a clear image, also bolstered by a solid battery life that supports extended use away from a power source.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
7.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has a basic Intel Celeron processor with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which makes it less suited for gaming and 3D applications that require high processing and graphical power.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
8.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS66 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" lacks the powerful CPU, high RAM capacity, and advanced GPU required for demanding engineering and design tasks, and also features a lower-quality screen, making it poorly suited for these demanding uses. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS66 is equipped with a high-end CPU, ample RAM, a top-tier GPU, and a superior screen, all of which are very important for engineering and design software, thus making it very suitable for such applications.
Content Creation
5.7/10
7.7/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7/10
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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.
Screen Quality
5.7/10
8.1/10
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 11.6" likely suffers from a lower resolution and inadequate brightness, which can make text less sharp and content less vivid, hence not ideal for any user focused on screen clarity. For engineering and design, this laptop might not cover a wide color gamut, affecting professionals who need accurate color reproduction for their work. The MSI Stealth GS66, while having a good resolution and panel quality suitable for general and engineering use, lacks a high refresh rate which is critical for smooth visuals in fast-paced 3D environments and games.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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
Excellent
Good
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,000.
"The MSI Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 11.6" or the MSI Stealth GS66
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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