If you need a laptop primarily for lighter tasks and appreciate longer battery life, the sleek design, and the benefits of macOS, including integration with other Apple products, the MacBook Air is a solid choice. However, if you prioritize more storage, higher processing power, and better graphics capabilities for gaming or demanding applications, even if it means a heavier device with potentially shorter battery life, the MSI Thin GF63 would better fit your needs. Keep in mind, the MacBook Air is fanless and operates silently, whereas the MSI will have a fan and may produce some noise under load. 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 Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2020).
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The MacBook Air (2020) is less suited for 3D and gaming primarily because it uses an integrated GPU that is not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, and it has a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is lower than what is preferred for smooth gameplay. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia GPU, better suited for gaming and 3D applications, and features a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz for a more fluid visual experience, making it more capable for these purposes.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) 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
7.5/10
6.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air has a high-resolution display that offers vivid colors and sharp details, making it suitable for general use and engineering tasks that require accurate color representation, but the screen's lower refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D work where smooth motion is critical. The MSI Thin GF63's display may not be as bright or color-accurate as the MacBook's, leading to a less vibrant experience for general use and less precise color work in engineering and design, and its refresh rate is also not optimal for the fast-paced visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. Thus, the MacBook Air excels in display quality for general use and professional design, while the MSI Thin GF63 offers a more modest screen experience across the board.
Battery
15.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has very good portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$850
$955
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $850 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $955.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for general use.
The MacBook Air (2020) with its Apple M1 processor, ample RAM, and high-resolution screen is a solid option for general users who value portability and long battery life, while the MSI Thin GF63 offers a stronger CPU, more storage and RAM, plus a high refresh rate display, which makes it attractive for users who may require more power and are less concerned about carrying a heavier laptop with shorter battery life. The MacBook Air leads in screen color accuracy, which could be a bonus for those who do media work, whereas the MSI Thin GF63, with its dedicated graphics card, might appeal more to users interested in occasional gaming or graphical tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and Apple MacBook Air (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is favored for engineering and design work due to its high-quality IPS display and efficient Apple M1 CPU, which handles tasks silently without a fan, while the MSI Thin GF63 offers a more powerful Intel CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU combo that's better suited for high-performance engineering tasks, despite its increased weight and louder operating noise. The MacBook Air excels in portability and has a superior screen quality, as reflected by higher color accuracy for design work, whereas the GF63 provides more RAM for complex tasks and a higher screen refresh rate that can be beneficial for certain design applications.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for content creation.
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.
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How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the MSI Thin GF63
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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.
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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