The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is priced higher but offers better performance with more advanced processor and GPU, suitable for intensive 3D, machine learning tasks, and engineering. It's more portable, has a touchscreen, superior screen quality, and longer battery life, making it versatile for different environments. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin is more affordable, comes with less storage and RAM, and while it's still capable for gaming, its performance in demanding tasks isn't as strong as the ASUS. The GF65 is also heavier, has a larger screen without touch capability, lower battery life, and its color coverage is less vibrant, which could be important if your work involves color-sensitive 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 ASUS ROG Flow X13
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
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow X13.
Key differences
General Use
8.1/10
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and superior screen quality with higher resolution and touch capability than the MSI GF65 Thin, making it perform better for a range of tasks. Additionally, the lighter build and longer battery life contribute to the Flow X13's portability and general-use suitability, while the MSI GF65 Thin's heavier weight and shorter battery life, though offering comparatively lower performance, may provide a more budget-friendly option with acceptable capabilities.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
6.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 delivers superior gaming and 3D performance due to its higher-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and faster screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, compared to the MSI GF65 Thin which is equipped with the Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144 Hz screen refresh rate. Even though the CPU and screen quality are also important, the considerable advantage in graphics processing power and smoother visual experience make the ASUS a stronger option for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
6.7/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 stands out for engineering and design due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, double the RAM, and a superior Nvidia RTX GPU, coupled with a higher resolution touchscreen that enhances visual detail and interactivity, making it very suitable for complex tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
6.8/10
9.2/10
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 ASUS ROG Flow X13 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
8.0/10
6.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 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
8.4/10
6.8/10
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 likely offers a high-resolution display along with vibrant colors and good brightness levels, making it ideal for general use and engineering tasks where image detail and color accuracy are crucial. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast motion is common, its poor screen performance could be due to a lower refresh rate, which can lead to motion blur or not feeling as responsive. The MSI GF65 Thin, providing fair screen quality across applications, suggests it has acceptable resolution and color reproduction for everyday tasks and some professional work but may lack the high refresh rate needed for smooth gameplay in fast-paced games.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very 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
$2,500
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a price of $2,500 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
"The Asus ROG Flow X13 is not an off-the-shelf convertible. This quickly becomes clear when you take a closer look at the technical specs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is a state-of-the-art SoC with 8 cores and 16 threads, which also makes the 2-in-1 interesting as a work device. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, gamers are also well taken care of. The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q fits well into the overall concept and ensures a solid 3D performance. With the eGPU dock, which is equipped with a GeForce RTX 3080, the small convertible transforms into a full-fledged desktop replacement in terms of performance."
"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 ASUS ROG Flow X13 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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