Choosing the ASUS ROG Strix G18 will give you superior performance for tasks like 3D rendering and engineering, due to its higher-end processor and GPU. However, it is more expensive and less portable than the MSI GF63 Thin. The MSI laptop, on the other hand, offers a balance of affordability and portability, making it suitable for general use, but it won't match the performance of the ASUS for more intensive tasks, such as gaming or professional workloads. Additionally, the ASUS has a larger screen size and better screen quality, but this contributes to its heavier weight and larger form factor, which could be a downside if portability is a priority for you. 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 G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin for general use due to its superior CPU, greater RAM, better screen quality, and larger storage capacity. Despite the Strix G18’s higher power, its heavier build and shorter battery life make it less portable than the lighter MSI GF63 Thin with longer battery duration.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with a more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4070, and boasts a significantly higher screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, both of which are very important for gaming and 3D applications, leading to its very good reputation in these areas.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Asus ROG Strix G18 is ideal for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU and GPU, large RAM, and superior screen quality, which supports intensive tasks and detailed visual work. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin, while more portable and with a quality keyboard, falls short on performance with modest CPU and GPU, less RAM, and lower screen quality, making it less suitable for demanding engineering software and detailed design tasks.
Content Creation
8.6/10
6.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very 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
8.1/10
6.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very 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
8.7/10
6.1/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers excellent screen resolution and brightness, which enhances its panel for general use and detail work required in engineering and design, along with wide color gamuts that help in accurate color representation critical for those fields. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its screen falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which is less ideal for the fast-paced visuals those tasks demand. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin provides acceptable resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and sufficient color gamut coverage for some level of design work, but its screen also struggles in gaming and 3D scenarios where a high refresh rate is key for a smooth experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good 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
$2,299
$599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI GF63 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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