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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize a lighter, more portable option with a lower price, the Gigabyte Aero 16 suits everyday use and moderate workloads; however, if you need top-tier performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, and don't mind a heavier laptop with a premium cost, the MSI Titan 18 HX offers more power but with likely shorter battery life. Consider how you'll use the laptop most frequently to determine which tradeoffs are acceptable for your needs and budget. 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
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
8.8
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is equipped with a high-quality CPU and screen, making it ideal for a variety of tasks, paired with enough RAM to ensure smooth multitasking, while its portability and battery life make it easy to use on the go. The MSI Titan 18 HX, on the other hand, offers top-tier performance with its powerful CPU and ample RAM, a high-resolution screen for crisp visuals, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it better suited for stationary use where power is a priority.
Gaming and AI
7.8
9.4
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16, with a capable GPU and a high-quality screen, offers solid gaming and 3D performance, but the MSI Titan 18 HX, with a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, provides an exceptional experience for those tasks. While both have strong CPUs and screens, the edge in visual smoothness and graphics rendering on the MSI makes it the superior option for serious gamers and professionals in 3D fields.
Engineering and Design
8.6
9.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers a balance of high-quality CPU, GPU, and ample RAM for demanding tasks, along with a superior screen for precise design work, but the MSI Titan 18 HX surpasses it with even more powerful components and a larger screen, which makes it the top choice for heavy engineering and design applications, although it's less portable and might be noisier under load. Both laptops have well-regarded keyboards and speakers, but the Aero 16 will be easier to carry around if you frequently move from place to place.
Content Creation
8.2
9.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is very 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
8.9
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is 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.
Screen Quality
8.4
9.2
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gigabyte Aero 16, with a high-resolution and bright display, enhances the visual experience for everyday tasks and professional design work by rendering sharp images and vibrant colors, yet falls short for gaming due to a lower refresh rate that could lead to less fluid motion. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18 HX boasts a premium screen with exceptional clarity and color accuracy that caters to both general users and professionals in engineering and design, benefiting from extensive color coverage, but like the Aero, it's not optimized for gaming because of its refresh rate limitations. For gamers, the lack of a high refresh rate on both models means less smooth gameplay, which is key for fast-paced, immersive 3D experiences.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX has 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.
Cost
$1,260
$4,800
$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 Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
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How the Gigabyte Aero 16 and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aero 16 | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,260 | $4,800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.88'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.07 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.78" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 368 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Gigabyte Aero 16
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Isaac Rouse | May 2022
"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."
MSI Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 16 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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.
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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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