If affordability is a primary concern, the MSI Stealth may suit your budget better than the Gigabyte Aero 17. The Stealth offers a balance of performance and cost but has a smaller screen and lower resolution compared to the Aero. On the other hand, the Aero 17 provides a larger, higher resolution display which might be better for tasks requiring a lot of screen space like video editing or design work. It's also equipped with a more powerful graphics card that excels in demanding applications, including gaming. Keep in mind though, the Aero is heavier and less portable, making the Stealth a preferable option if you need to carry your laptop around frequently. Additionally, battery life is an important factor; if you require longer unplugged usage, consider that the Aero might drain faster due to its larger, more power-intensive screen. 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 17
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Software Development
7.9/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for software development, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 is somewhat better.
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
9.2/10
7.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 offers a high-resolution display with excellent color accuracy encompassing wide color gamuts, making it outstanding for engineering and design tasks that require precise color representation, but its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming where smooth motion is critical. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio also provides a display with good resolution and color accuracy, suitable for engineering, design, and general use, yet similarly falls short for gaming due to its refresh rate not meeting the higher standard gamers seek for seamless visuals. General users will find both laptops' screen brightness and clarity adequate for everyday tasks, but gaming and 3D applications are better served by displays engineered specifically with higher refresh rates in mind.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,071
$1,520
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a price of $2,071 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 offers a large, high-resolution Mini LED display and a very powerful CPU and GPU combo, making it ideal for tasks requiring screen real estate and high performance; however, it's heavier and has a lower portability score.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a high-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a 120Hz Mini LED screen, enhancing gaming and 3D performance with rich visuals and smooth play, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio includes a newer Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a faster 165Hz IPS screen which may provide even smoother visuals in games and 3D applications but with a smaller display.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to have very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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 Aero 17 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
"Not only is the Aero 17 a very good laptop for gamers but also for content creators. With the upgrade to the Intel Core i9-11980HK, Gigabyte particularly improved the system performance. In addition, the hardware package is rounded by the extremely fast SSD and 32 GB of working memory in dual-channel mode. Compared to the predecessor, the battery life is reduced only moderately, and the 4K display also basically keeps its good qualities."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 17 or the MSI Stealth 14 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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