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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value a larger, higher-resolution screen and mini LED display technology for better color accuracy in creative tasks, the Gigabyte Aero 17 would be an excellent choice, albeit it's less portable due to larger size and weight. On the other hand, for better portability with a lighter build and higher screen refresh rate that is ideal for fast-paced gaming, the MSI Stealth GS66 stands out, though it compromises on screen resolution and display technology. Both laptops offer similar performance capabilities with high-end processors and graphics, so your decision should be based on the importance of screen quality versus portability and gaming experience. 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
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.8
8.2
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 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 stands out for engineering and design use due to its high-resolution Mini LED display which is crucial for detail-oriented tasks, paired with a potent Intel i7 CPU, ample RAM, and a powerful Nvidia RTX GPU suited for demanding applications. Conversely, the MSI Stealth GS66, while also featuring a robust Intel i7 CPU and equivalent Nvidia RTX GPU, offers a different balance with greater portability and a high-quality keyboard, but its standard IPS screen may lack the color precision and resolution provided by the Aero 17 for high-fidelity visuals.
Content Creation
8.4
7.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is 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.
Screen Quality
9.2
8.1
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 boasts a high-resolution display that provides crisp and vibrant visuals essential for general use and engineering tasks, where fine details and accurate colors are crucial. Enhanced by a broad color spectrum coverage, it stands out for design work, allowing designers to see colors with precision. However, its lower refresh rate doesn't align with the needs of gamers and 3D artists who rely on fluid motion for an immersive experience.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,071
$1,000
$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 GS66 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.1
7.7
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Stealth GS66 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 offers a high-resolution Mini LED screen for excellent visual quality, but is less portable and heavier than the MSI Stealth GS66, which, while having a lower resolution IPS screen, is lighter and more portable with a comparable battery life, making it suited for on-the-go users. Both laptops feature powerful CPUs and graphics, sufficient RAM for multitasking, and great build quality, but the Aero 17 has significantly more storage, making it ideal for storage-intensive tasks, whereas the Stealth GS66 has a higher refresh rate screen that can benefit fast-paced applications.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.8
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 excels in gaming and 3D with its high-resolution Mini LED display, offering better screen quality for visuals, but the MSI Stealth GS66 has a higher screen refresh rate, preferable for gamers seeking smoother motion visuals despite its standard IPS screen. Both laptops boast strong GPUs, but the Aero's larger and higher-quality screen also suits professionals needing more screen real estate and color accuracy for design work, while the Stealth's nimbleness caters more effectively to high-frame-rate gaming.
Software Development
7.9
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has 5.5 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.
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 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 GS66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aero 17 | MSI Stealth GS66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,071 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 9.5'' x 0.92'' | 14.2'' x 9.7'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.6" | 14.17" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 9.65" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 368 nits | 280 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
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."
MSI Stealth GS66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2022
"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 17 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.
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