When choosing between the Gigabyte Aero 16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, consider how much you value portability and battery life against screen size and power. The Aero 16 is more affordable and easier to carry, with longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and mobility. On the other hand, the MSI Steath 18 AI Studio, with its larger screen and enhanced capabilities, is better suited for intensive tasks like 3D work, machine learning, and gaming. However, it is pricier and may not be as portable or have as long-lasting battery life as the Aero 16. 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 Aero 16
Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
8.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is equipped with a high-quality GPU and a decent screen refresh rate, making it suitable for smooth gaming and 3D work, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with an even more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, offers enhanced performance for these tasks. Both laptops have capable CPUs and high screen quality, but the MSI's superior specs give it an edge for more demanding gaming and professional 3D applications.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, laptops with better panel types, higher resolution, and good brightness levels, like the Gigabyte Aero 16 and MSI Stealth 18, provide crisper images and more vivid colors, enhancing the viewing experience. Both are suitable for engineering and design work, thanks to their excellent color reproduction covering a wide color gamut, which ensures that professionals see accurate shades and tones. However, gamers and 3D enthusiasts may find these models lacking due to the lower refresh rates, which can lead to less smooth motion and responsiveness during fast-paced action.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,260
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a price of $1,260 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers a high-quality screen and a powerful CPU and RAM setup that ensures smooth operation for everyday tasks, while its portability and battery life make it an excellent choice for users on the go. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with similar specs, leans more towards those requiring a larger screen and advanced heat management for prolonged use, though it trades off some portability due to its size.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
9.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be excellent for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16, with a capable CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, performs well for engineering tasks, while its screen quality enhances design work. However, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with superior processing power and graphics capability, excels even more in these demanding applications, though it may be less portable and noisier under load compared to the Aero 16.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Gigabyte Aero 16 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
7.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to have very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
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How the Gigabyte Aero 16 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a workstation laptop for light gaming. It's design is still muted, with a silver chassis alongside a black keyboard and trackpad that provides some contrast. The Gigabyte Aero’s full-size chiclet-style keyboard is enjoyable to type on thanks to its snappy feel and responsiveness. The 4K+ AMOLED display is good, but it could be better. It doesn’t handle true black very well and suffers from strong reflections and glare. The Gigabyte Aero excels at productivity performance and can keep up with other gaming laptops in 1080p. But it has very few ports and its refresh rate leaves a bit to be desired."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 16 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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