The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers an OLED screen with higher resolution, which is better for visual tasks like photo editing or watching high-definition content. However, the MSI Stealth GS66 boasts a higher refresh rate display better suited for gaming or tasks requiring smooth motion. The Stealth is also lighter and thinner, making it more portable, but with less storage space than the Aero. Both have similar processing power, but the Aero might offer better value for money unless specific features of the Stealth, such as the high refresh rate screen, lighter weight, and potential for better build quality or brand preference, justify the higher cost for your needs. 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
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Gigabyte Aero 16's high resolution and brightness combined with an excellent panel type provide sharp, clear visuals, whereas the MSI Stealth GS66 offers good performance in these areas but doesn't quite match the Aero's display quality. For engineering and design tasks, the Aero 16 stands out with superior color accuracy and broader color gamuts ensuring that the designs and models look as intended, an aspect where the Stealth GS66 does well but falls short of the Aero's standards. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Stealth GS66's refresh rate, although not cutting-edge, is likely more responsive compared to the Aero 16, which prioritizes color and resolution over the high refresh rates desired by gamers for smoother motion.
Battery
7.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 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.
Cost
$1,260
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a price of $1,260 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is well-suited for general use due to its high-resolution OLED screen, larger battery capacity, and ample storage, though it's slightly heavier affecting portability. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth GS66 offers good general use capabilities with a high-refresh-rate IPS screen and lightweight design for better portability but has shorter battery life and less storage.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
7.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aero 16's strong gaming and 3D capabilities come from its Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti and a high-quality OLED screen, but its refresh rate is lower compared to the MSI Stealth GS66 which also has the same powerful GPU but boasts a much higher screen refresh rate to offer smoother visuals during gaming and 3D rendering. While both laptops have capable CPUs and screen quality, those prioritizing screen fluidity for gaming might favor the MSI, while those valuing richer colors and contrast may lean towards the Gigabyte Aero 16's OLED display.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is superb for engineering and design thanks to its ample storage, high-quality OLED screen, and powerful CPU and GPU, which are critical for demanding software; however, its larger size and slightly heavier build affect portability and keyboard quality is only rated as good. Conversely, the MSI Stealth GS66, with the same powerful CPU and GPU, boasts a high refresh rate screen and a very good keyboard, but its lower screen resolution and smaller storage capacity may limit its appeal for high-level design work, although it compensates with better portability due to its lighter and slimmer form.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 16 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth GS66 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
7.9/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and MSI Stealth GS66 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aero 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth GS66 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.
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How the Gigabyte Aero 16 and the MSI Stealth GS66 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."
"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 Gigabyte Aero 16 or the MSI Stealth GS66
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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