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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If budget is a primary concern, the Gigabyte Aero 17 offers solid performance for general use and some demanding tasks, and it's lighter on your wallet. Alternatively, the MSI Stealth offers top-tier performance suitable for very intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and high-end gaming. It does come at a higher cost and may also have shorter battery life due to more powerful components. For users who prioritize extreme performance over cost and need a machine that can handle nearly any task, the MSI Stealth is the better choice, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 balances cost and performance for a wide range of tasks. 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
- Excellent overall display quality
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
8.9
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17, with its high-end GPU and commendable screen refresh rate, offers solid performance for gaming and 3D applications, ensuring smooth visuals and graphics handling. However, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with an even superior GPU and similar or higher screen refresh rate, coupled with a robust CPU and excellent screen quality, provides an enhanced gaming and 3D experience, making it a superior choice for those seeking top-tier performance in these areas.
Screen Quality
9.2
8.4
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 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 content creation.
For general use, the Gigabyte Aero 17's superior resolution and brightness enhance visual clarity and detail, making it ideal for day-to-day tasks, while the MSI Stealth provides very similar attributes but may fall slightly behind in either brightness or clarity. For engineering and design, the Aero 17 likely offers a wider color gamut, such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensuring more accurate color representation for professional design work compared to the still commendable, but potentially less expansive color range of the MSI Stealth. For 3D and gaming, both the Aero 17 and the MSI Stealth may have lower refresh rates compared to dedicated gaming laptops, which could lead to less smooth visuals during fast-paced action, despite their good resolution and panel types that benefit general use and design tasks.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have only fair portability, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,071
$2,900
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a price of $2,071 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.1
8.4
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Gigabyte Aero 17 are both very good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 offers a balance of high-performance CPU and ample RAM for smooth general use, coupled with a high-quality screen, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go users. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio also delivers strong CPU performance and plenty of RAM with top-notch screen clarity but leans towards heavier use cases like 3D rendering or AI tasks; however, its larger form factor may reduce its portability, and extended use may impact its battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.8
9.1
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 17 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17, with its efficient CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, delivers reliable performance for engineering tasks, complemented by a color-accurate screen for design work. Whereas, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio outshines with even more robust processing power and graphics capabilities, enhancing performance for demanding engineering software, and provides an equally impressive screen, although it is less portable and could be louder under heavy use.
Content Creation
8.4
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Gigabyte Aero 17 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
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2160
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 17 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
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has 5.5 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
8.0
8.0
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have very 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 17 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aero 17 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,071 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 9.5'' x 0.92'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.6" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 368 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
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 17
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NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | May 2021
"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."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 17 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.
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