When considering the LG Ultra 16 versus the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, keep in mind that the LG is generally more affordable and may offer decent everyday performance with better portability due to its lighter weight and typically longer battery life. In contrast, the MSI Stealth is likely to excel in demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, thanks to its more powerful hardware. However, this also means the MSI will be heavier and might have a shorter battery life, making it less convenient for on-the-go use. Your choice should reflect your primary needs: everyday functionality and mobility or high performance for specialized 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 LG Ultra 16
Good portability
Excellent battery life
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 for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
270.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the LG Ultra 16 is good.
For everyday tasks, the LG Ultra 16 offers a balance of decent processing power and memory, alongside a high-quality screen, and it's easier to carry around with its lighter weight and longer battery life. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has superior CPU and RAM, better for demanding applications, but its larger size and shorter battery life make it less convenient for on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the LG Ultra 16 is only fair.
The LG Ultra 16, while capable for gaming and 3D applications, has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate which are crucial for smooth and visually detailed gaming experiences, compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio. Moreover, the MSI's superior CPU and screen quality contribute to its excellent performance in these areas, ensuring more fluid gameplay and better handling of complex graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
9.1/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 16 is good.
The LG Ultra 16 typically offers a balance of performance and portability with decent CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality for engineering tasks, though it may lag behind on more demanding workloads. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its higher-end CPU, greater RAM, powerful GPU and superior screen quality, excels in engineering and design tasks but sacrifices portability due to its larger size and possibly generates more operating noise.
Content Creation
7.7/10
8.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for content creation, while the LG Ultra 16 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.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the LG Ultra 16 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.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
270.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the LG Ultra 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The LG Ultra 16 offers adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks, making it suitable for general users, but its limited color gamut and contrast do not meet the precision needs for engineering and design work. The MSI Stealth 18 has a higher resolution and color accuracy essential for detail-oriented tasks in engineering and design, plus its brightness is comfortable for extended use, though it's not specifically tailored for gaming due to a lower refresh rate. When considering gaming and 3D applications, both laptops do not prioritize the high refresh rates and rapid response times that are crucial for a smooth visual experience in fast-paced environments.
Battery
17.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The LG Ultra 16 has 17 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The LG Ultra 16 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality, while the LG Ultra 16 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The LG Ultra 16 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
"Unlike the gram, the Ultra PC isn't designed to be as lightweight as possible. The 16-inch laptop is a whole 400 g (0.88 lb) heavier than its 16-inch gram counterpart partly because its chassis is not made of magnesium. Other than that, the Ultra PC seems like a copy of the gram – but with longer battery life, lower noise levels, and a clean, delicate look."
Get a great deal on the LG Ultra 16 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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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