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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 has twice the storage space and double the RAM compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which means it can handle more multitasking and store more data. Also, it runs on a newer processor with integrated graphics, ideal for everyday tasks, and has better battery life, enabling longer use on a single charge. In terms of portability, both laptops weigh roughly the same. The MSI laptop, despite its slightly higher cost, offers a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which provides enhanced graphics performance for gaming and graphic-intensive applications but comes with a smaller storage capacity and lesser RAM. If you frequently run demanding applications or games, the MSI might be a better fit despite its lower storage and memory. However, if your usage is more general and you value storage, RAM, and battery life, the Acer Aspire 5 would be more suitable. 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 5 15
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 5 15.
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is better suited for general use with a more recent CPU, higher RAM, and longer battery life, supporting improved multitasking and extended use without charging. Meanwhile, the MSI GF63 Thin, despite its dedicated graphics card, falls short with an older CPU, less RAM, and shorter battery life, hindering sustained productivity and general performance.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Acer Aspire 5 15 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is better suited for engineering and design due to its higher RAM capacity and latest-generation CPU, both crucial for handling complex tasks and applications, plus it boasts Iris Xe graphics known for decent performance in visual work. Meanwhile, the MSI GF63 Thin, while it comes with a dedicated graphics card, the Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, which is capable in some design scenarios, it is held back by an older CPU, less RAM, and its screen produces less vivid colors; this makes it fair for engineering use but not as optimal as the Aspire 5.
Content Creation
7.3
6.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 5 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
7.3
6.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 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
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation.
The Acer Aspire 5 and MSI GF63 Thin laptops both have screens that suffice for tasks like browsing and watching videos, primarily because they meet the basic requirements in resolution and brightness. However, professionals in engineering and design may find the color accuracy lacking due to limited color gamut coverage, which is crucial for precise visual work. For gaming and 3D applications, the monitors fall short as they do not offer the high refresh rates needed for smooth visuals, even though their resolutions and panel types are acceptable.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 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
$450
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $450 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.0
2.4/10
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
6.5
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and MSI GF63 Thin 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 5 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 15 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$450 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50 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 | 275 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | 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 Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | November 2022
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
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 5 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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