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Updated January 12, 2024·
Since your main concern is cost and you're comparing the Acer Aspire 1 with the MSI Thin GF63, keep in mind that the Acer is a budget-friendly, basic laptop suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing, office applications, and video streaming. However, the MSI Thin GF63, while more expensive, is a gaming laptop with more powerful hardware, capable of handling more intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. If you don't need the higher performance for intensive applications and prefer to save money, the Acer could serve your needs well. On the other hand, if you require better performance for demanding software or gaming, the MSI would be a better fit despite the higher cost. Consider the importance of battery life and portability as well, as gaming laptops like the MSI often have shorter battery life and are heavier, which could be a drawback if you need to carry the laptop around frequently. 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 Thin GF63
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is less suitable for general use due to its weaker Intel Celeron processor, limited 4GB of RAM, lower-quality TN screen, and shorter battery life, adversely impacting performance and user experience. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 outperforms it with a much stronger Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, higher-quality IPS display, and longer battery life, making it more capable and enjoyable for a variety of tasks.
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.9
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The MSI Thin GF63 delivers a better gaming and 3D experience, thanks to its superior Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, both vital for smooth and visually detailed gameplay. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 1 is limited by its lower-tier Intel UHD Graphics chip and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which restrict performance and visual fluidity in demanding gaming and 3D scenarios.
Engineering and Design
5.5
7.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a less powerful Intel Celeron processor and lower graphics capabilities, making it less suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the MSI Thin GF63, which boasts a high-performance Intel i7 processor and Nvidia GPU, essential for such software-intensive work.
Content Creation
5.9
7.4
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 is good 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
7.2
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
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
5.2
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1 likely has a lower resolution and dull display, making it less vibrant for any task; for engineering and design, its limited color range leads to less accurate color representation. The MSI Thin GF63's fair screen quality for general use and engineering suggests it has a decent resolution and acceptable color coverage, but the lacking refresh rate makes it subpar for 3D applications. In contrast with 3D demands, both may struggle with smooth visuals and rapid movements crucial for a seamless gaming experience or 3D rendering work.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 has 4.5 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 Thin GF63 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
$1,150
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
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Key similarities
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 Thin GF63 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 1 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $1,150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
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 i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4.5 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 262 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 | 2 | |
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 Thin GF63
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jeffries | November 2022
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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