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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use, the Acer Aspire 1 is more affordable, lighter, and offers silent operation due to its fanless design, but its performance and screen quality are suited for non-demanding tasks. The MSI GF63 Thin, while more expensive, provides better performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering software due to its superior processor and dedicated graphics card, and it also offers a higher-quality IPS display. However, the MSI has a shorter battery life and is slightly heavier, which may affect portability. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming despite the MSI's better-suited hardware. Choose the Acer if your needs are basic and budget is a primary concern, or the MSI if you require more power and better display quality for advanced 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 Acer Aspire 1
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.2
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The MSI GF63 Thin has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
When choosing between the Acer Aspire 1 and the MSI GF63 Thin, consider that the Aspire's screen may disappoint across all use cases due to poor resolution, lackluster brightness, and an inferior panel type, resulting in a less vivid and sharp display for everyday tasks. The MSI GF63 Thin offers a better viewing experience by improving upon these factors, although still falls short for professional engineering and design work since it may not fully cover professional color gamuts, affecting color accuracy critical for such tasks. For gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's fair resolution and panel type provide a decent experience, but its lower refresh rate could hinder fluid motion crucial for high-speed gaming.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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.
Build Quality
5.5
6.5
The MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$244
$599
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
General Use
5.8
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has lower performance with a weaker CPU and less RAM than the MSI GF63 Thin, making it less suitable for multitasking and more demanding applications. Additionally, the Aspire's display uses TN panel technology, which generally offers poorer viewing angles and color reproduction compared to the MSI's IPS display, impacting screen quality negatively for general use.
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.0
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has an integrated Intel GPU which is not suited for high-end gaming or 3D tasks, while the MSI GF63 Thin comes with a dedicated Nvidia GPU better equipped for these demands. Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but the MSI's dedicated GPU, alongside a stronger CPU, will deliver a better experience in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.5
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
5.9
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
6.1
6.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 1 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 1 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | May 2020
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
MSI GF63 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the MSI GF63 Thin
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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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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