The Gigabyte Aorus 15 offers better performance for 3D, machine learning, and intensive engineering tasks, a higher-resolution screen, and a longer battery life, which may justify a higher price. However, it is less portable and has a heavier weight. The MSI GP66 Leopard, on the other hand, is priced lower, is slightly more portable, and has a lower weight, but comes with half the storage and a less powerful battery. It still offers adequate performance for general use and gaming but is not as well-suited for engineering and high-performance tasks as the Aorus 15. Both have good build quality and heat management, and are equipped for intensive gaming, but battery life and portability may be deciding factors depending on your needs. 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 Aorus 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 offers a high-resolution display and a stronger CPU, providing clearer visuals and better processing capabilities for demanding engineering software, whereas the MSI GP66 Leopard, with a powerful GPU and excellent heat management capabilities, is suitable for intensive tasks but with lower screen resolution and older CPU.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GP66 Leopard 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
8.0/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
316.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the Gigabyte Aorus 15, its high-resolution display coupled with bright, vibrant colors can make everyday tasks and detailed engineering work a visual pleasure, but the lower refresh rate can detract from the smooth visuals sought after by gamers and those working with 3D graphics. The MSI GP66 Leopard, while also offering a good resolution and bright screen that meets general and engineering needs, may fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to a refresh rate that isn't as high as dedicated gaming laptops. Both laptops have good screen quality in their own right, but neither is optimal for gaming and 3D modeling where faster screen updates are key to a seamless experience.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,500
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 has a price of $1,500 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 offers a strong processor, abundant RAM, and a high-resolution screen, all conducive to versatile usability; however, its portability is limited by its heavier weight and lower battery life compared to some alternatives. The MSI GP66 Leopard, with equally ample RAM, a capable but slightly less recent processor, and a potent graphics unit, also fits general use well, while its lighter frame and more robust heat management make it a bit easier to carry around, but with trade-offs such as reduced storage and lower screen resolution compared to the Aorus 15.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.8/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 15 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15's higher screen refresh rate and excellent GPU make it very suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI GP66 Leopard, though it has a robust GPU for gaming and 3D tasks, has a lower screen refresh rate which may affect fast-paced visuals. The Aorus 15 also features a superior screen quality with higher resolution, providing sharper images which can enhance the gaming and 3D experience.
Software Development
7.6/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 and MSI GP66 Leopard 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
6.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 15 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Gigabyte Aorus 15 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gigabyte Aorus 15 and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 15 is a power-hungry gaming beast. The Aorus 15 is designed to run games at QHD and high to max settings. But it also cuts a good figure in other demanding applications such as video editing and rendering. This is made possible by the Core i7 12700H and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop inside the machine. A lightning-fast PCIe 4.0 SSD (1 TB) allows for short loading times."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aorus 15 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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