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Updated January 10, 2024·
When considering the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and the MSI GF65 Thin, the ASUS offers better performance and versatility at a significantly higher price. The ASUS has a stronger processor and graphics card, making it suitable for intensive tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming. Additionally, it has a unique feature of a detachable keyboard, which allows it to double as a tablet. On the other hand, the MSI is more budget-friendly, with ample capabilities for general use and some gaming, but less suited for high-end tasks. It also has a larger screen but is heavier, impacting portability. The ASUS has a higher resolution screen and better color accuracy, suitable for design or visual work, while the MSI's battery may not last as long. Consider the ASUS for peak performance and flexibility or the MSI for cost efficiency and decent performance. 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 Z13
- 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
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow Z13.
Key differences
General Use
8.0
6.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 offers a superior CPU, double the RAM, higher screen resolution, touch screen functionality, and better screen quality, which enhances its performance and versatility for general use, complemented by its tablet mode with a detachable keyboard.
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.8
6.2/10
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 Z13 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is superior for gaming and 3D tasks because it has a more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4050, and a higher screen refresh rate at 165 Hz, compared to the MSI GF65 Thin which is equipped with a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144 Hz screen refresh rate. The ASUS also boasts a more robust CPU and higher screen resolution, contributing to an enhanced gaming and 3D experience, although it is a more compact and potentially less immersive device due to its smaller screen size.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.7
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 stands out for engineering and design use with a higher performance CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, along with a higher resolution touchscreen that provides better screen quality. While the MSI GF65 Thin is less portable and has a lower screen quality, it still offers solid performance with a capable CPU and GPU for engineering tasks, though its memory and screen resolution fall short of the ASUS model.
Content Creation
8.2
6.8
9.5/10
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 Z13 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
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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
6.8
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 Z13 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 Z13 boasts a screen with higher resolution and brightness, contributing to its excellent quality for general use and intricate tasks like engineering and design, plus it likely covers a wider range of colors for those professionals concerned with color accuracy. The MSI GF65 Thin, with its fair screen quality, provides adequate resolution and brightness for general and engineering use, but it may not offer the same color precision, making it less ideal for color-critical work. For gaming and 3D activities, both laptops are considered to have poor screens due to their lower refresh rates, despite the ASUS's better resolution and panel technology, which doesn't compensate enough for the smooth visual experience gamers often seek.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has 6.5 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has excellent portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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
$1,575
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a price of $1,575 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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How the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Flow Z13 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,575 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.9'' x 8.1'' x 0.54'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.6 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.89" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.11" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900H | 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 | 6.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 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 | 511 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 7.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 4K | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Flow Z13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with powerful Alder Lake i9 CPU. The ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its good cooling. After our review, the impression is predominantly positive. Besides a very fast Alder Lake CPU and stable gaming performance, especially the cooling system is surprisingly effective and quiet. You can use the integrated speakers without any issues while gaming. The 1200p display in the 16:10 format also impresses with good color reproduction and high brightness. Since the battery runtimes aren't particularly long as it is, we wouldn't recommend the optional 4K panel."
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 ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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.
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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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