A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If cost is a major concern, the Gigabyte Aero 5 offers solid performance for general use and some specialized tasks at a more affordable price, but if your work involves intensive 3D rendering, machine learning, or other engineering software, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while more expensive, provides superior performance that could justify the cost. The Stealth's capabilities can also handle gaming with higher settings. However, it might be less portable and have shorter battery life. Choose the Aero 5 for a balance between cost and capability, and the Stealth if high-end performance takes priority over budget and portability. 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 5
- The Gigabyte Aero 5 has no clear advantages over the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9
8.9
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 5, with its capable GPU and high screen refresh rate, caters well to gamers and those involved in 3D work, ensuring smooth visuals and gameplay. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, boasting a more powerful GPU and equally high refresh rate, delivers an even more premium gaming and 3D experience, albeit typically at a higher cost, while also featuring a slightly superior CPU and screen quality for overall performance and display sharpness.
Screen Quality
8.6
8.4
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
446.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 5 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 gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
If you value vivid colors and sharp details for activities like browsing or document editing, both the Gigabyte Aero 5 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offer high resolutions and bright displays that make them excellent choices. For tasks like CAD and digital art that demand accurate color representation, these laptops have wide color gamuts, enhancing the precision and quality required in engineering and design work. However, gamers and those running 3D applications may find the displays less appealing due to lower refresh rates, meaning less fluid motion and potentially more noticeable lag during fast-paced scenes or interactions.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gigabyte Aero 5 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have only fair portability, though the Gigabyte Aero 5 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aero 5 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.9
8.4
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
446.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to be very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 5 offers solid performance with its CPU and ample RAM for everyday tasks, with a high-quality screen that enhances the user experience; however, it lags slightly in battery life and portability compared to some competitors. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio excels in these very important areas, providing robust performance and a superior screen for a range of uses, alongside improved portability and battery life, making it very good for general use despite it being on the higher end price-wise and possibly having a louder operating noise when under heavy load.
Engineering and Design
8.7
9.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.3/10
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 5 is very good.
The Gigabyte Aero 5 features powerful components including the CPU, RAM, and high-quality GPU that make it a solid choice for engineering tasks, while its screen renders designs accurately. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, steps up performance with top-tier processing and graphics capabilities, superior for demanding engineering software, paired with a similarly exceptional screen, though it may be less convenient to carry around and could have a louder operating noise due to heavier workloads.
Content Creation
8.2
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
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and Gigabyte Aero 5 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 5 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
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 5 has 7 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
7.8
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to have very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 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 5 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aero 5 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10'' x 1.08'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.07 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 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 | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 446 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 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 | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Gigabyte Aero 5
See more
Dig into reviews and images
The Tech Revolutionist
Zhi Cheng | May 2022
"It is unfortunate that the Gigabyte AERO notebook series have seem to lost its charm, as it’s not exactly any much different from the AORUS series now. Regardless, content creators and designers will certainly still appreciate the features on the AERO 5 XE4, which are fundamental to their work. This largely revolved around the notebook’s display, which is colour calibrated and validated, high resolution (4K) and with great AMOLED colour representation. Now that the AERO 5 XE4 has improved its performance with the latest CPU and GPU, the professionals can also appreciate the improved productivity from the notebook."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 5 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Gigabyte Aero 5 vs. Dell Alienware m17 R5
VS
Compare Gigabyte Aero 5 vs. Acer Swift X 16
VS
Compare Gigabyte Aero 5 vs. Acer Nitro 17 (2024)
VS
Compare MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio vs. Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
VS
Compare MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio vs. ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 (2024)
VS
Compare MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio vs. Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
113,895
Recommendations made
24,678
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
