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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is a budget-friendly option that offers solid battery life and is well-suited for general use, such as web browsing, office applications, and media consumption. It has a number pad, a quiet operation without a fan, and is significantly less expensive if you're looking to save money. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while more expensive, is a better fit for gaming or more demanding tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning due to its more powerful processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics. Its keyboard has a red backlight, which might appeal to gamers, but it has a shorter battery life, so you may need to keep the charger handy during intensive use. Both laptops have a 15.6-inch display with similar quality, but if you're often on the move, consider the Acer Aspire 3 15 for its longer battery life and lighter weight. 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 3 15
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.6
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for general use, though the Acer Aspire 3 15 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 15's AMD Ryzen CPU and Radeon graphics are adequate for everyday tasks, and with a moderate amount of RAM and storage, it offers decent performance and space for general use; however, it may struggle with more demanding applications and multitasking.
Content Creation
7.0
6.0
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
7.0
6.0
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 Thin 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
6.2
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, both laptops have screens that may not be as bright or sharp as high-end models, affecting clarity and comfort during long work sessions. For engineering and design, neither laptop offers the wide color gamuts needed for precise color work, which is essential in professional creative tasks. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack the high refresh rates that provide smooth motion, which is crucial for a more immersive and responsive experience.
Battery
9.5 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has 9.5 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.
Cost
$330
$599
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.8
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 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, with its AMD Radeon 610M, and the MSI GF63 Thin, equipped with a Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, are moderately capable for gaming and 3D tasks due to their entry-level GPUs that offer sufficient but not top-of-the-line power for such activities. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, which is suitable for average gaming performance, but neither pushes the higher frame rates required by competitive or very high-fidelity games.
Engineering and Design
5.9
6.0
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 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 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 offers decent performance with its AMD Ryzen 3 CPU and integrated AMD graphics, suitable for light engineering tasks, but its less vibrant display and lesser storage may limit its effectiveness for more demanding design work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The MSI GF63 Thin and Acer Aspire 3 15 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 15 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$330 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.29" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 244 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 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 | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 3 15
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Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | March 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and it's easy to carry around. The display looks decently sharp and provides plenty of space for multitasking, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and integrated graphics can only handle simple tasks, like text processing, web browsing, and video playback, so it isn't ideal for students in more technical fields like 3D graphics. Unfortunately, the battery lasts only around six to seven hours of light use."
MSI GF63 Thin
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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 3 15 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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