MSI vs. Acer: Which is the Better Brand?
MSI and Acer are two big-name brands in the technology market.
However, each of them has started out on different sides of that market. MSI is known for delivering a great gaming experience, while Acer is more known for affordable (but still good-quality) devices.
But technology is always changing, and both brands have evolved enough that we can actually pit them head-to-head today.
MSI and Acer: Brand Overview
Both MSI and Acer are Taiwanese companies.
MSI was founded in 1986 and is the world’s fourth-largest PC vendor. They have a reputation for making high-performance products — especially for gaming.
The brand is mostly famous for high-end hardware (like the processor, GPU, and motherboard) that can cater to even the most aggressive gamers.
MSI also produces technology like servers, workstations, and other gaming gear.
Meanwhile, Acer was founded in 1976 and is currently the third-largest PC vendor in the world. They’re also known for selling quality products for an affordable price.
Acer’s cheaper laptops can also still perform just as well (or close to) high-end products.
The brand’s product line includes tech, such as peripherals and storage devices.
MSI and Acer: Features Comparison
Both of these brands have excellent laptop product lines. But let me give you a breakdown of the quality and features of each brand to better help you decide which to get.
Pricing
I’ll say it outright: MSI laptops aren’t cheap — that’s because their computers are typically equipped with top-of-the-line hardware.
That’s mostly because they started out as trying to cater to the gaming community. Because of that, an MSI laptop will normally have high-quality hardware (like the processor and GPU) that can handle the most demanding games.
Meanwhile, Acer has really affordable options. The C720-2844, their cheapest laptop, retails for below $200!
And this model has 4GB RAM, a 1.4 GHz processor, and 16GB storage, which is enough for basic needs. It also has two USB ports.
Winner: Acer
Processors and Graphics Cards
The latest line from MSI has the Intel Core i9 processor that can be overclocked 4.6GHz.
However, don’t count Acer out yet! Despite the Acer Predator only having an Intel Core i7, it can be overclocked to a speed of 4.9GHz.
But MSI has a stronger foothold in the gaming market, so you can typically expect better performance and excellent memory and hardware.
Winner: MSI
Screen Quality
Acer laptops usually have a LED display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.
They’ve also started using features like vibrant color schemes to enhance what appears on your screen. This gives you a better viewing experience.
But as a provider of mainly gaming hardware, you can always expect vivid displays with MSI laptops. They have many machines that pack a QHD display with 2560 x 1440 pixels.
Winner: MSI
Build Quality
MSI produces durable, yet lightweight laptops, removing the idea that gaming laptops are bulky.
The company has also gained a reputation for being one of the best computer hardware manufacturers in the industry.
You can upgrade your RAM and hard drive while still keeping your warranty. The motherboard is made of industrial-grade components for solid and long-lasting construction.
However, I think Acer is impressive for their innovations, trying to add new and more convenient features to their laptops.
For one thing, they invented a better method to cool down laptops. The Acer Predator Triton 900 has 2X Aeroblade 3D fans to keep it cool.
Winner: Tie
Battery Life
MSI laptops give you an average of 6 hours per use. The MSI Modern 14 is one of the MSI laptops with the longest battery life — but it lasts only 8 hours.
Meanwhile, Acer’s laptops typically give you an average of 8 hours.
Acer’s Aspire and Nitro lines can last for 6 to 7 hours on a full charge. But their Chromebooks can last 12 to 15 hours. However, the Acer Predator line averages only around 5 to 6 hours.
Winner: Acer
Customer Support
MSI has a dedicated website for customer support. I’d say it’s relatively easy to navigate.
Customer support through the telephone feels quite inadequate. Overall, I find it hard to communicate with them by phone or through social media.
However, most of their products have warranties that last 1 to 2 years. They cover accidental damage repair services too.
Meanwhile, I love how reliable and fast Acer’s customer support is.
The telephone customer support system is great — intending to answer hundreds of queries in one day. Their staff can get you through basic queries, but they can also pass you down to technical experts if needed.
For warranties, the company normally provides 1 year. But you can extend it up to 3 years for an additional fee.
The replaceable components admittedly don’t have a long warranty. However, I like how they’re easy to get.
Winner: Acer
Design
I think MSI laptops are some of the coolest and slickest on the market.
Yes, you might notice that their computers tend to have similar designs — but this shouldn’t be an issue. That’s because their products overall have a classy and professional look.
Meanwhile, Acer’s machines can be hit-or-miss in terms of design.
Their more expensive laptops have excellent designs, while the cheaper ones tend to have a plastic-like feel.
However, I will say that Acer makes great lightweight and ultra-thin designs while ensuring good features and performance.
Winner: MSI
What Laptops Do They Offer?
MSI and Acer are both rooted in the laptop world.
If you don’t have time to check the specs of every laptop on the market, let me give some recommendations depending on what you’re looking for.
Do MSI and Acer Have Good Gaming Laptops?
MSI may be known in the gaming world, but if you prefer Acer, it can also offer a good-quality gaming laptop at any price point.
MSI Titan GT77
The MSI Titan GT77 is currently perhaps the most powerful gaming laptop from MSI — with a 13th-gen Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 12GB Laptop graphics card.
Thanks to its 4K resolution and an insane 144Hz refresh rate, I’ve never seen games look and move better. If speed is what you’re after, look no further than the Titan GT77!
This gaming laptop has lots of ports and a physical webcam privacy shutter.
The MSI Titan GT77 is big, heavy, and expensive. However, it’s meant to replace your PC, so I’d still say it’s worth the investment if you have enough money.
Pros
- Incredible performance
- Fast charging
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Very expensive
- Big and heavy
Acer Predator Triton 500 SE
The Acer Predator Triton 500 SE is an Acer gaming laptop with enough processing power for intensive gaming.
This Acer Predator laptop is relatively lighter and smaller than what you would expect from a powerhouse gaming laptop.
But I assure you that you’ll be instantly immersed in anything you’re watching or playing thanks to its 1920 x 1080 and 240Hz display, allowing for a bright, colorful, and crisp gameplay experience.
Pros
- Bright, colorful, and crisp display
- Minimal fan noise
- No lagging performance
Cons
- Cooling during gaming could be improved
Do MSI and Acer Offer Good Budget Laptops?
MSI and Acer are big-name manufacturers that always work towards more impressive computers. However, they also offer laptops that are affordable, but still offer great performance.
MSI Katana 15
The Katana 15 is one of the cheaper MSI gaming laptops — and you can see it in the lackluster display and low peak brightness. In fact, it only has a 46.1% DCI P3 color gamut percentage.
But because of that, it has better performance metrics, thanks to the motherboard containing an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM.
As a gaming laptop, I’d say the MSI Katana 15 does well for the price. But even if you’re not using it to play, it’s still really good.
Pros
- Impressive performance metrics
- Responsive trackpad and satisfying keyboard
- Relatively affordable gaming laptop
Cons
- Poor color depth and display brightness
- Less than 3 hours of battery life
Acer Aspire Vero
Yes, there are more budget-friendly Acer laptops. But I’d say this is one of the better options that don’t just give you the bare minimum.
For one, it has a 1080p webcam — which is rare at this price range. It has a 12th-generation Intel Core processor that can range from the i5-1235U model to the i7-1255U, depending on the configuration.
The Acer Aspire Vero has an upgradeable design to help reduce waste. The eco-friendly design also includes an unpainted chassis made of recycled materials and a touchpad made of ocean-bound plastic.
It may look cheap to some since it’s technically partially made of plastic. However, I personally think it makes the laptop look unique.
Pros
- Upgradeable design
- 1080p webcam
- Solid performance
Cons
- Keyboard could be more comfortable
- Design looks quite cheap
Do MSI and Acer Sell Good Business Laptops?
Normally, you wouldn’t need high-end motherboards and other hardware for good business laptop models.
Both brands offer business laptops that can also work as decent gaming laptops.
MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo
Yes, some MSI laptops can do more than just gaming! The MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo, for instance, is a business-focused model that’s a good choice for multitaskers.
In fact, I’d go so far as to say that it’s a great Windows alternative to the MacBook Pro for your business needs!
It’s thin and lightweight, but it passes the top 10 MIL-STD 810G military durability tests, ensuring longevity. [R] It also offers an impressive display thanks to the 120Hz RR.
The battery life’s not bad, but it isn’t the best, either. This laptop is relatively expensive too.
Pros
- Thin and lightweight
- Very durable
- Impressive display
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Battery life could be better
Acer Swift 3
I’ll say right now that the Acer Swift 3 isn’t the best option for intense games. That’s because it sports Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics.
Despite that, I absolutely love how you can use the whole day on a single charge — specifically more than 14 hours! But I assure you that Acer didn’t cut too many corners here.
It’s a lightweight, easy-to-carry workhorse that offers good-quality display and audio.
Thanks to all these, you’ll be able to work on this laptop no matter where you are.
Pros
- All-day battery life
- An extremely portable and lightweight workhorse
- Great display and audio
Cons
- Not built for intense games
Frequently Asked Questions
Acer and MSI are well-known in the industry. But, as I’ve mentioned, they’re both known for different things and are nowadays slowly expanding their market.
So, if you have more questions on either brand, I’ve answered some below:
Does Acer Make Good Gaming Laptops?
Yes, Acer’s got several good gaming laptops too. In fact, I love how they have computers for all types of gamers. This is unlike MSI, which mostly offers expensive gaming laptops.
For instance, the Acer Nitro 5 is a great AMD gaming laptop, while the Predator Triton 300 SE might be better if you prefer an Intel core processor.
If you’re not a hardcore gamer but rather a creative professional, the ConceptD 7 Ezel is pretty decent too.
Are MSI Gaming Laptops Worth It?
Yes, MSI gaming laptops are very worth it!
This brand has been making motherboards and processors even before they started making laptops. Nowadays, they’re known for their high-end gaming laptops that will give you the best gaming experience.
Admittedly, they tend to be more expensive than Acer computers. But I’d say, for all the features an MSI gaming laptop has, they’re worth the money and certainly the best laptops for hardcore gamers.
Some of their best gaming laptops can even replace your PC!
Is MSI Still A Good Choice for Non-Gaming Laptops?
I’d say MSI is still an okay choice even if you’re not looking for a gaming laptop. That’s because their hardware and monitors are upgraded to minimize stutters and daily use performance issues.
These make for high usability that lets you multitask easily.
But, in my opinion, MSI might be too expensive for everyday users. However, they still have lower-end models that customers can check.
I’d recommend MSI for someone who’s looking for an everyday use and gaming laptop.
MSI vs. Acer: Who Wins?
After putting both brands head to head in different categories, I can say that there’s no clear winner in this match.
That’s because both companies started out in different markets and are still expanding and improving their products.
The main difference between MSI and Acer is their target market: while MSI laptops are typically gamer- or content creator-oriented, Acer’s devices are aimed at a more general market.
So, which brand should you get?
Get an MSI Laptop If:
- You want a great gaming laptop
- You want great displays
Get an Acer Laptop If:
- You want a laptop for everyday use
- You want a relatively inexpensive dedicated business laptop