The Gigabyte A7 offers better performance for intensive gaming and engineering thanks to a more powerful GPU and CPU, but it is larger and heavier, which makes it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 has a lighter build and longer battery life, making it more suitable for general use and on-the-go tasks, but it may fall short for high-end gaming or complex engineering software due to the lower-capacity GPU. Consider how you'll use the laptop: high-demand activities lean towards the Gigabyte A7, while daily tasks and mobility favor the MSI Prestige 15. 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 Gigabyte A7
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.3/10
6.3/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 15 is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 outperforms the MSI Prestige 15 for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU which is more powerful than the MSI's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, and also because its screen refresh rate is higher, offering smoother visuals. While both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the Gigabyte A7's emphasis on gaming is evident in its GPU and refresh rate, which are more conducive to demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
318.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Gigabyte A7 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, and gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 15 has a better screen for content creation.
For general use, laptops like the Gigabyte A7 and MSI Prestige 15 with high-resolution displays and bright panels offer a sharp and vivid viewing experience, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the importance of accurate color reproduction is met by these laptops as they cover wider color gamuts, essential for professionals who need precise color matching in their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, they fall short as their lower refresh rates fail to deliver the smooth visuals required for fast-paced, immersive experiences, despite having decent resolution and panel types.
Battery
4.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 15 has good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$940
$1,044
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Gigabyte A7 has a price of $940 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
The MSI Prestige 15 and Gigabyte A7 are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte A7 with its strong AMD Ryzen CPU and vibrant screen makes it suitable for general tasks and some heavyweight tasks like gaming, but it's larger and heavier, affecting its portability and it has a shorter battery life. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15 offers a lightweight design and longer battery life, making it highly portable and a great option for everyday usage; although its Intel i5 CPU and GPU are less powerful, its screen still provides good color coverage and sharpness for general tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A7 and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Gigabyte A7 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU which excel in engineering and design tasks, alongside a large 17.3-inch screen that offers ample workspace and high refresh rate, but is heavier, making it less portable.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 15 and Gigabyte A7 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
7.0/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 15 and Gigabyte A7 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
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 and Gigabyte A7 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte A7 and the MSI Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A7 or the MSI Prestige 15
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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