The Gigabyte Aorus 5 comes at a premium price but offers high performance with better graphics, more RAM, and a more powerful processor which is ideal for intensive gaming and engineering tasks. However, it has a heavier build and shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 is lighter and less expensive, making it more portable with longer battery life, suitable for general use and carrying around. Both laptops have the same storage and screen size, but the Gigabyte has a higher refresh rate which is beneficial for fast-paced games and smooth visuals. Choose the Gigabyte Aorus 5 if performance is a priority and you don't mind the extra weight and cost, or go for the MSI Cyborg 15 if you prefer something more affordable, lightweight, with better battery life for daily 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 Aorus 5
Very good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.2/10
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Gigabyte Aorus 5 is somewhat better.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is well-suited for gaming and 3D tasks thanks to its more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, making it ideal for smooth and visually intensive experiences. Conversely, the MSI Cyborg 15, while still capable with a competent GPU for gaming, has a lower screen refresh rate which may not deliver as fluid visual performance as the Aorus 5 but comes with a lighter frame for better portability.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.0/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When considering general use, the Gigabyte Aorus 5's screen likely offers sharper details and more vivid colors due to its resolution and panel type, and it's bright enough for most environments, whereas the MSI Cyborg 15, while adequate, may not be as vibrant or sharp. For engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation, the Gigabyte Aorus 5 probably covers a broader range of color gamuts, rendering it capable of more accurate color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Aorus 5 falls short as a higher refresh rate is critical for smoother visuals and the MSI Cyborg 15, despite its fair screen attributes, might provide a somewhat better experience in this regard owing to its refresh rate.
Battery
5.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has 5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,359
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has a price of $2,359 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 performs well for general use with more RAM, a higher-end CPU, and a more powerful GPU for multitasking and demanding applications, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life than the MSI Cyborg 15, which also offers solid performance with sufficient RAM and a capable CPU but better portability and longer battery usage time. Both laptops feature quality IPS screens for good color and viewing angles, and they provide ample storage along with decent keyboard and speaker quality, which are important for everyday tasks and entertainment.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both 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
7.3/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Cyborg 15 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.
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How the Gigabyte Aorus 5 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 5 SE4 is a capable mainstream gaming notebook that will run the latest PC games with aplomb. However, it's not your stereotypical flashy gaming PC. Gigabyte has added some interesting tweaks. For example, the webcam placement and its Microsoft Azure AI tool — to automatically switch between power modes — are unusual for this genre. But more importantly, the pricing is fairly competitive and reasonable."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aorus 5 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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