MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15 Comparison

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MSI Stealth GS66 2022

15.6 inches | January 2022

Speed 5.5

Size 7.5

Display 5.5

Gaming 4

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MSI Thin A15

15.6 inches | January 2024

Speed 4

Size 5

Display 6

Gaming 2.5

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MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15 Comparison Overview

MSI Stealth GS66 202...

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MSI Thin A15

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MSI Stealth GS66 202...

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MSI Thin A15

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In this review, we will be comparing Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15, two laptops by MSI. MSI Stealth GS66 2022 was introduced to market in January 2022 and MSI Thin A15 was launched in January 2024. As you can see, Stealth GS66 2022 is 2 years older than Thin A15. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Stealth GS66 2022 and MSI Thin A15 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Stealth GS66 2022 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12700H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
8GB Ram
358.3 x 248 x 18.3-19.8 mm (14.11 x 9.76 x 0.72-0.78 inches)
Weight: 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)

MSI Thin A15 Key Specs

Launched in January 2024
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS
GPU: GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile 4GB
8GB Ram
359 x 254 x 21.7 mm (14.13 x 10 x 0.85 inches)
Weight: 1.86 kg (4.1 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose MSI Stealth GS66 2022 over MSI Thin A15

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~75.5% vs ~73.6%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.5 mm vs 6.8 mm	0.3 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	360 Hz vs 144 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU FLOPS	10.8 TFLOPS vs 5.1-6.1 TFLOPS	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2	Support audio, data, power and video all through one single port
Thunderbolt	v4 vs No

Reasons to choose MSI Thin A15 over MSI Stealth GS66 2022

Weight	1.86 kg vs 2.10 kg	0.24 kg lighter
CPU Fabrication Process	6 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time

Common Strengths of MSI Thin A15 and MSI Stealth GS66 2022

Launch Dates	January 2022 vs January 2024	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	DDR5 vs DDR5	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Thin A15 and MSI Stealth GS66 2022

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Stealth GS66 2022 and the MSI Thin A15.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)	1.86 kg (4.1 lbs)
Surface Area	889 cm2 (137.7 inches2)	912 cm2 (141.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~75.5%	~73.6%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.5 mm	~6.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.13 kg/inch	0.12 kg/inch
	0.286 lbs/inch	0.264 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Gray
Cover Opening Angle	180Â°	180Â°

Comparison of the MSI Stealth GS66 2022 and the MSI Thin A15 External Dimensions

Weight

Stealth GS66 2022 weighs 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs), whereas the Thin A15 weighs 1.86 kg (4.1 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

MSI Stealth GS66 2022

MSI Thin A15

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

MSI Stealth GS66 2022

MSI Thin A15

Min

Average

Max

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the MSI Stealth GS66 2022 is 0.13 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Thin A15 is 0.12 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900H	AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS
Base Frequency	2.3 GHz	3.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.7 GHz	4.55 GHz
Number of Cores	14	6
Number of Threads	20	12
L3 Cache	24 MB	16 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)	Radeon 660M
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	6 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1750	1760
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	12242	7557
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1800	1552
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	16309	9562

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the MSI Stealth GS66 2022 and MSI Thin A15.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12700H

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile 16GB	GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop 4GB GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop 8GB
Base Clock Frequency	900 MHz	1185 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1425 MHz	1477 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	80 W	45 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	Yes, Advanced Optimus
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	10.8 TFLOPS	5.1-6.1 TFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	192 bit	64 bit
Memory Speed	~12-14 Gbps	~14 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	3840	2048
TMUs	120	64
ROPs	48	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. MSI Stealth GS66 2022 has a FLOPS value of 10.8 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Thin A15 ' has a FLOPS value of 5.1-6.1 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the MSI Thin A15 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2

Both laptops, the Stealth GS66 2022 and the Thin A15, come with similar RAM capacities of 8 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	MSI Stealth GS66 (2022)	MSI Thin A15
CPU	Intel Core i7 12700H	AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS
GPU	GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB	GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile 4GB
Memory	8 GB ; 6 GB VRAM	8 GB ; 4 GB VRAM
Available for LLM total	~10 GB (4.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)	~8 GB (2.5 GB VRAM 5.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Runs Smoothly fits in your 6 GB VRAM	✔ Runs Well fits in your 4 GB VRAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 4 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	! Not Practical doesn't fit in 6 GB VRAM, spills to RAM (VRAM + RAM, slower)	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

MSI Stealth GS66 (2022)|MSI Thin A15

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	99.9 Wh	52.4 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left
Charge Power	240 W	120 W
AC Adapter Weight	578 gramm

Moreover, the Stealth GS66 2022 boasts a larger battery capacity of 100 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Thin A15's52 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

MSI Stealth GS66 2022

MSI Thin A15

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Average

Max

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Stealth GS66 2022 and the Thin A15 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Stealth GS66 2022 and MSI Thin A15 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 screens have the same size of 15.6".The total usable screen area of the Stealth GS66 2022 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Thin A15's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 feature the same pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 15.0-15.9 inches

MSI Stealth GS66 2022

MSI Thin A15

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Average

Max

Refresh Rate
The Stealth GS66 2022 offers a higher refresh rate of 360 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

MSI Stealth GS66 2022 vs MSI Thin A15 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 have USB-A ports. Stealth GS66 2022 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Thin A15 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 have USB Type-C ports. Stealth GS66 2022 has 3x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Thin A15 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Stealth GS66 2022 is equipped with Thunderbolt 4 port. Thin A15 does not have Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Stealth GS66 2022 nor Thin A15 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Stealth GS66 2022 and Thin A15 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.2	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes