The ASUS ROG Strix G15 typically costs a bit more and offers better performance with its Ryzen 9 processor and RTX 3050 Ti, making it suitable for intensive gaming and engineering tasks. However, it's heavier and offers a shorter battery life than the MSI GF65 Thin. The GF65 Thin is less expensive, a bit more portable due to its lighter weight, but it has a less powerful i5 processor, less RAM, and less storage, which may limit its performance for demanding tasks, despite having a slightly superior RTX 3060 GPU. Both are good for general use, but for intensive tasks and gaming, the ASUS may be a better fit, while for better portability and a lower price, the MSI could be considered. 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 Strix G15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G15.
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
284.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 outperforms the MSI GF65 Thin for general use due to its superior CPU and RAM, contributing to better overall performance, as well as a higher quality screen, which enhances visual clarity and color reproduction. However, the MSI GF65 Thin is more portable and has better heat management, making it a more travel-friendly option but potentially less suitable for demanding tasks like heavy multitasking or advanced graphic applications.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
6.7/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
5.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 stands out for engineering and design tasks due to its high-performance AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and sufficient RAM, accompanied by a decent screen which is important for visual tasks, although it is heavier which affects its portability. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, while offering a powerful Nvidia GPU and a lighter weight enhancing its portability, comes with a less powerful CPU and less RAM, which may limit its capabilities for demanding engineering applications despite its good build.
Content Creation
7.7/10
6.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is 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
7.2/10
6.3/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is 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
7.1/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
284.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 offers a high-resolution and bright display with a panel type that provides vivid colors and wide viewing angles, making it pleasant for everyday tasks, while the MSI GF65 Thin offers a reasonable display that meets basic needs without standing out. The ASUS's suitability for engineering and design is enhanced by its wider color gamuts, ensuring more accurate color reproduction crucial for such professional tasks, an area where the MSI provides only adequate performance with lesser color fidelity. Lastly, when it comes to 3D and gaming, the ASUS falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which limits smoothness in fast-paced visuals, an aspect where both laptops do not excel but the ASUS's other screen qualities do not compensate for this deficit.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has 5.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 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
$1,249
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a price of $1,249 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G15 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 provides a solid gaming and 3D experience with its powerful AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and a capable Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, complemented by a high 144Hz screen refresh rate for smooth visuals. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, while still fair for gaming with a decent Intel i5 CPU and a better Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, might not deliver the same performance due to potentially weaker CPU and overall build quality, but it matches the 144Hz refresh rate for competitive gameplay.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS ROG Strix G15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a successful high-performance 15-inch laptop. The Asus ROG Strix impresses with an elaborate design and fast hardware. The latter can unleash its potential well in the large 15-inch case and achieve a decent performance boost compared to the previous generation. Especially the stunning 300 Hz display as well as the RTX 3070 and its generous TDP give gamers their money's worth. Asus didn't neglect seemingly small details, either, such as the keyboard and the maintenance options. The ROG Strix G15 offers a lot of pure performance and excellent workmanship in a 15-inch format, but connectivity leaves something to be desired."
"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 Strix G15 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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