When deciding between the MSI Stealth 17 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider how you prioritize portability against power and screen size. The Stealth 17 offers easier transportation and often a longer battery life, appealing for frequent travelers or those who work on the go. On the other hand, the Titan 18 HX boasts a larger display and generally superior performance, better suited for heavy tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming. However, it's less convenient to carry and can be pricier. Evaluate your primary use case and budget to guide your choice. 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 MSI Stealth 17
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
9.4/10
9.9/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
9.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
64.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Stealth 17 is excellent.
The MSI Stealth 17 offers a balance between high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a capable GPU, all enhancing engineering and design work, with a quality screen pivotal for detail-oriented tasks; however, its portability is superior, making it suitable for on-the-go professionals. The MSI Titan 18 HX steps up with even more powerful components and a top-tier screen for the most demanding engineering software, at the cost of being less portable and potentially noisier under heavy loads, but with a premium keyboard and speaker experience.
Screen Quality
8.6/10
9.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 17 has a better screen than the MSI Titan 18 HX for gaming and AI, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Stealth 17's screen, while offering sharp images and brightness suitable for general use and accurate colors beneficial for engineering and design tasks, falls short in refresh rate, a critical feature for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX stands out with its superior color reproduction, resolution, and brightness, making it ideal for both everyday tasks and color-sensitive work like graphic design or video editing. However, similar to the Stealth 17, its lower refresh rate means gaming and high-speed 3D rendering won't appear as fluid compared to displays designed specifically for those purposes.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Stealth 17 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The MSI Stealth 17 has only fair portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,899
$4,800
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Stealth 17 has a price of $3,899 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
The MSI Titan 18 HX and MSI Stealth 17 are both very good for general use.
The MSI Stealth 17 offers a balance between performance and portability, with its capable CPU and ample RAM making it ideal for general use while being easier to carry and having longer battery life than heavier laptops. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with its larger screen and high-end hardware, excels in raw power and visual quality for demanding tasks, although it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it more suited to stationary use where it can shine despite its greater noise and heat production.
Gaming and AI
9.1/10
9.4/10
9.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and MSI Stealth 17 are both excellent for gaming and AI.
The MSI Stealth 17 and MSI Titan 18 HX boast top-tier GPUs and high screen refresh rates, making them prime choices for immersive gaming and smooth 3D rendering. While the Stealth 17 offers a balance between performance and portability, the larger screen and more powerful CPU of the Titan 18 HX accommodate the most demanding games and 3D tasks, albeit with a tradeoff in portability and possibly battery life.
Content Creation
8.8/10
9.0/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
64.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Titan 18 HX to be excellent for content creation, while the MSI Stealth 17 is very 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
8.5/10
8.9/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
64.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and MSI Stealth 17 are both very 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 MSI Stealth 17 and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
"The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is a laptop with a quiet RTX 4080 for almost every occasion. The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is equally capable of high-level media processing and playing current games. It remains pleasantly quiet, even if a few percentage points of power have had to be sacrificed in the process. But, it is not quite perfect: To some extent, the Stealth 17 is well thought out. It packs tons of graphics power and high-end components in a slim case. The laptop's cooling system can be set such that, noise-wise, it doesn't even reach low volume. However, small flaws cloud otherwise exceptionally positive impressions."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the MSI Stealth 17 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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