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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Swift X 16 may suit you better if you require longer battery life and a higher resolution and brighter display, ideal for productivity tasks such as photo editing. Its AMD Ryzen processor with Nvidia RTX 3050 offers solid performance, though not as powerful as the MSI for 3D tasks. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, with its Intel i5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060, could be better for gaming and other graphically intensive activities. It is important to note that the MSI has half the storage and RAM compared to the Acer, which could limit performance in demanding applications or multitasking but also tends to be less expensive. While both have similar weight, the Acer has a larger screen size and a better suite of connectivity options. The MSI is an older model with a faster refresh rate screen, beneficial for gaming, but its battery life is significantly shorter than the Acer's. 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 Swift X 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Swift X 16 excels in general use due to its advanced AMD processor, ample RAM that smoothens multitasking, and a high-quality display that offers better brightness and color coverage, which, combined with a solid battery life and overall portability, creates a well-rounded experience. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, while offering a powerful GPU, falls short in general use due to its lesser RAM, a less impressive display in terms of resolution and color accuracy, and a significantly lower battery life, which may impact its usefulness when away from power sources.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design because it has a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality screen which are crucial for such intensive tasks, while the MSI GF65 Thin, though good for engineering and design due to its strong GPU, has less RAM and a lower-quality screen which could hinder performance in those fields. Additionally, the Swift X has better portability and quieter operation than the GF65 Thin, adding to its suitability for professional environments.
Content Creation
8.3
6.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 is very 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.
Software Development
8.0
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very 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
8.2
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 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 Swift X 16 offers a superior display with better resolution, brightness, and color accuracy, making it suitable for general use, and especially for professionals in engineering and design who require a wide color gamut. However, its screen doesn't support high refresh rates, which are crucial for a smooth gaming experience and 3D rendering tasks, an area where the MSI GF65 Thin, while having a more modest display for general tasks and color-sensitive work, may outperform due to its potentially higher refresh rate. The GF65 Thin's balanced screen features aim to cater to a fair general and engineering use experience but fall short for gaming and 3D because of the same limitation in refresh rate and overall visual fidelity.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 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
7.6
6.7
The Acer Swift X 16 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
$1,250
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.0
6.8
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Acer Swift X 16 is superior for gaming and 3D because it features a high screen refresh rate and a quality GPU - an Nvidia RTX 3050, which, despite being slightly less powerful than the MSI GF65 Thin's Nvidia RTX 3060, is compensated by its better screen quality and higher refresh rate. Although the MSI GF65 Thin has a more powerful GPU, its lower screen refresh rate and screen quality make it less suitable for the smooth visuals and rapid response times often desired in gaming and 3D applications.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift X 16 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,250 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 76 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 402 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift X 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | September 2023
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
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 Swift X 16 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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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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