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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming or performing intensive engineering tasks, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is better equipped due to its higher RAM capacity and more powerful processor. It's also suitable for this purpose with its dedicated graphics card and high refresh-rate display for smoother visuals. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which affects portability. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin is lighter and has a longer battery life, making it more portable, but it comes with a less powerful processor and half the RAM, which may limit performance in demanding applications. Both laptops offer similar quality displays and are suitable for intensive gaming. Choose the Acer if you need higher performance and can manage shorter battery life with more weight, or the MSI for better portability and longer battery use at the expense of lower performance capabilities. 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 Predator Helios 300
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.4
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 outperforms the MSI GF65 Thin in general use primarily due to its superior CPU and larger RAM, which contribute to better multitasking and overall performance. Although both have similar screen sizes and quality, the Helios 300 also has a slightly better battery life and a more balanced combination of portability and power, making it more suitable for a range of tasks without needing frequent charging.
Engineering and Design
7.6
6.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is equipped with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and double the RAM of the MSI GF65 Thin, which makes it better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks; both have the same Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and quality IPS displays for good visual performance. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, being lighter and slightly slimmer, offers greater portability, but with lower RAM and an older i5 processor, it's less capable for intensive workloads.
Software Development
7.1
6.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Predator Helios 300 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 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
7.3
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 boasts a high-resolution display and adequate brightness, making it well-suited for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate could be less favorable for the fast-paced action in 3D gaming. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin delivers a balanced display that’s sufficient for non-specialized tasks and engineering software but may fall short for gaming due to its mediocre refresh rate. Both laptops could benefit from wider color gamut coverage to truly excel in engineering and design tasks, where color accuracy is crucial.
Battery
3.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has 3.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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
7.4
6.7
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,204
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a price of $1,204 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.8
6.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 300 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Predator Helios 300 provides a more powerful CPU and better screen quality, which contribute to a more robust gaming and 3D experience compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. Although both laptops feature the same GPU and screen refresh rate, which are very important for gaming and 3D applications, the Helios 300's higher CPU performance and screen quality give it an edge for these intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.3
6.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Predator Helios 300 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF65 Thin to have good portability, while the Acer Predator Helios 300 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Predator Helios 300 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Predator Helios 300 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,204 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.9'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.51 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 59 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 | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 294 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Predator Helios 300
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | November 2022
"The Acer Predator Helios 300 review is an overclocked gaming laptop with a good display. The Predator is large, heavy, and loud, but also offers plenty of performance according to gamers. An overclocked gaming laptop - or its user - also has to struggle with the usual disadvantages we mentioned above. On the other hand, overclocking is optional, and those who like it quieter and can live with a few less frames per second can also switch to the significantly more moderate Standard mode. Then the Helios 300 won't be any louder than the competitors."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Acer Predator Helios 300 or the MSI GF65 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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