Considering your priorities when selecting between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the MSI GF63 Thin is essential. The MacBook Pro is an efficient choice for general use and offers a fanless operation, which results in silent performance; it also offers excellent battery life, high build quality, and is suitable for graphic design and video editing, thanks to its superior display. However, if cost is a concern, the MSI GF63 Thin is less expensive and may be more appealing for gaming, as it includes dedicated graphics hardware. On the downside, the MSI has shorter battery life and might not match the MacBook in terms of build quality and display excellence, and it's slightly heavier, which might affect portability. The choice depends on whether you prioritize performance in gaming and cost-saving, or if you prefer silent operation, display quality, and longer battery life for productivity tasks. 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 Pro 13 (2020)
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) boasts superior screen quality, a more powerful CPU in the form of the Apple M1, and significantly longer battery life, making it ideal for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin, though having a fair screen quality and good CPU performance, falls short in battery life and has a larger form factor decreasing its portability, thus it's considered fair for general use.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
7.8/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
7.6/10
6.1/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13's high-resolution display and superior brightness make it well-suited for general use by offering sharp and clear visuals, while its wide color gamut provides accurate colors crucial for engineering and design tasks. The MSI GF63 Thin's display, while offering fair clarity, may not be as vivid or bright, affecting its performance for general tasks and precision work in engineering and design. Despite both having decent displays, their lower refresh rates are not ideal for 3D applications, where smoother motion and quick screen updates are key for an optimal experience.
Battery
20.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a capable but not specialized GPU which coupled with a lower screen refresh rate makes it fair for 3D work; however, it may fall short for popular games due to MacOS compatibility issues. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q is suitable for gaming and 3D applications but also has a standard screen refresh rate, balancing performance and cost.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the MSI GF63 Thin
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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