A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is a budget-friendly convertible laptop with a touchscreen and Windows 11S, suitable for general use and portability, offering around 8 hours of battery life and a fanless design for silent operation. However, it has less storage, a less powerful Intel i3 processor, and it's lighter, which may affect its performance for more intensive tasks. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin has more storage, a more powerful Intel i5 processor with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, suited for gaming and engineering applications but comes with a slightly heavier build and shorter battery life of around 4 hours. If portability and silent operation are your priorities, the Acer might be more appropriate, but if performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming is important, the MSI will be the better choice. 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 Spin 14
- Good for content creation
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
6.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for general use, though the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers fair general use highlighted by its 2-in-1 convertible design, suitable for portability and flexible usage as both a laptop and tablet, while its moderate screen quality and basic CPU cater to everyday tasks without heavy processing demands. The MSI GF63 Thin, on the other hand, is equipped with a higher performance CPU and a dedicated graphics card, better suited for tasks that may involve gaming or graphic-intensive applications but compromises on weight and thickness, leading to reduced portability compared to the Acer.
Content Creation
7.0
6.0
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 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
6.9
6.0
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for software development, though the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is somewhat better.
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
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the MSI GF63 Thin have screens with resolutions and brightness levels that are adequate for everyday tasks, but they may not offer the crispness or vibrancy found in higher-end displays. In engineering and design, the importance of accurate colors means that these laptops' limited color gamut coverage could leave professionals wanting more precise color representation. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these devices may lead to less smooth visuals, which is a drawback for fast-paced games or detailed 3D rendering.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has 8 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has very good portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$418
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a price of $418 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.8
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
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 Spin 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is equipped with integrated graphics which is less capable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks compared to the MSI GF63 Thin's dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics card, offering a more robust gaming experience. Both laptops have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for fair gaming, but not optimal for high frame rate gaming where higher refresh rates would be beneficial.
Engineering and Design
5.9
6.0
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.6/10
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 Spin 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers fair performance for engineering and design due to its entry-level CPU and integrated graphics, which are sufficient for basic tasks but may struggle with heavy workloads; its higher screen resolution and touchscreen feature could benefit design work but its hardware is not as powerful as dedicated gaming or engineering laptops.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The MSI GF63 Thin and Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$418 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 9'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-N305 | 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 | 8 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 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 | No | 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 Spin 14
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | November 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. The battery lasts around seven hours of light use, so you only have to plug it in for a short time to get through a typical school day. The overall user experience is so-so; the display looks sharp but dim, and the touchpad is fairly responsive, albeit small."
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 3 Spin 14 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
109,395
Recommendations made
23,703
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
