If portability is crucial for you and you prefer a lighter device with a high-quality keyboard, the MSI Stealth GS66 is the better option, but at a higher price. In contrast, if you're looking for a larger screen and are okay with a heavier laptop, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is less expensive but equally capable for general use and even gaming, thanks to its dedicated graphics card. The Aorus 7, however, has a lower battery life during typical usage, so it may not be the best choice if you need to use it for extended periods away from a power source. Both laptops have ample storage and memory for most tasks, but keep in mind, the MSI has a better build quality, making it more durable. 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 7
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
8.1/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
351.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, and gaming and AI.
When comparing the Gigabyte Aorus 7 and the MSI Stealth GS66 for general use, their screens offer clear visuals and vivid colors thanks to their resolution and brightness, which are essential for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. In the context of engineering and design, both laptops have screens that cover a wide range of colors, ensuring that the visuals are accurate and consistent, which is crucial for detailed work that requires color precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short as their screens have lower refresh rates, leading to less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experiences.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,190
$1,718
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a price of $1,190 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,718.
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aorus 7 are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is well-suited for general use due to its large screen and high refresh rate, which contribute to a pleasing visual experience, and its robust CPU and RAM that handle everyday tasks with ease, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66 offers a more portable design with its lighter weight and slightly better battery performance, while still providing a strong CPU and adequate RAM for general tasks, as well as a high-quality keyboard.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
7.8/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and the MSI Stealth GS66 are praised for gaming and 3D applications because they both come equipped with high-performance GPUs, with the Aorus 7 having an Nvidia RTX 4060, paired with quality IPS displays, while the Aorus 7 is powered by an Intel i5 processor and the Stealth GS66 by a somewhat more powerful i7 processor, enhancing their overall performance for gaming and other demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aorus 7 are both very good for engineering and design.
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.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
7.4/10
7.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS66 and Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
5.5 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has 6 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte Aorus 7 and the MSI Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a gaming laptop that is pitched at perhaps the hardest market to get right: the mid-range. So, unlike high-end gaming laptops that can throw the latest and greatest components together in a bid to attract gamers with plenty of money to spend, or budget gaming laptops that can make wise cuts that are justified as long as the price is low enough, mid-rangers like the Gigabyte Aorus 7 have to balance the two."
"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 Aorus 7 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.
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
99,795
Recommendations made
21,623
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.