Choosing between the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Thin GF63 depends on your priorities. The ASUS offers top-notch performance for demanding tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, and engineering software due to its superior processor and graphics card. It also has a larger, higher-resolution display, but this also results in increased weight and size, making it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI is more affordable and lightweight, suitable for everyday use and mid-level gaming. However, its performance is less powerful compared to the ASUS, which may not be as future-proof for intensive applications. The battery capacity of the MSI is also smaller, which might translate into shorter unplugged usage. Consider the ASUS if your workload requires high performance and you can handle a heavier laptop; otherwise, for general use and the benefits of greater portability and affordability, the MSI may be more appropriate. 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 Thin GF63
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 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 Thin GF63 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior CPU performance, a larger and higher-quality screen, and better heat management, which suits demanding tasks and enhances overall user experience for general use, albeit with less portability and shorter battery life compared to the MSI Thin GF63.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
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 Thin GF63 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior gaming and 3D performance with its more advanced GPU and higher screen refresh rate, whereas the MSI Thin GF63, although still good for gaming, has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, resulting in slightly less smooth visuals. While both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the ASUS's higher-tier screen quality and CPU provide a better experience for the most demanding tasks, yet it comes with a higher price and less portability compared to the MSI.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 surpasses the MSI Thin GF63 in engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, greater screen resolution and quality, and larger screen size, which enhance productivity and visual detail for complex tasks, albeit with less portability. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 offers adequate performance with a less powerful CPU and GPU than the ASUS, and falls behind in screen quality, but gains an edge in portability making it easier to carry around.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
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
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Thin GF63 is good.
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
6.8/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a high-resolution display with vibrant color quality suitable for engineering and design tasks, but its lower refresh rate may not suit fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering. The MSI Thin GF63 offers adequate resolution and color representation for everyday tasks and engineering software, but similar to the ASUS, it lacks the high refresh rate needed for optimal gaming and 3D experiences. Both laptops compromise on gaming and 3D performance for screen qualities that prioritize clarity and color accuracy for general and professional use.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Thin GF63 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 Thin GF63 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
$1,400
$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 Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
"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."
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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