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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use like browsing, office work, and video streaming, the ASUS Vivobook 15 is more affordable and offers decent performance with a longer battery life, which makes it practical for everyday tasks. However, if you require a laptop for more demanding tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI GF63 Thin, with its more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, is a wiser choice despite being heavier and more expensive, but it won't last as long on a charge. The Vivobook is lighter and more portable, with a better battery life for on-the-go users, while the MSI is tailored for performance-centric activities but compromises on battery longevity and is a bit bulkier. Neither laptop is touch-enabled, but they both feature backlit keyboards, though the MSI also offers a single color lighting option. 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 Vivobook 15
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for general use, though the ASUS Vivobook 15 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 is suitable for general use due to its adequate CPU and RAM for day-to-day tasks, an IPS screen known for good viewing angles with fair color coverage, and reasonable portability with a battery that offers modest usage time. The MSI GF63 Thin also fits general use with a stronger CPU and a dedicated GPU for light gaming or graphics work, larger storage capacity, but it compromises on battery life and is slightly heavier, affecting its portability. Both laptops have decent build quality, keyboard, and heat management but may not impress users looking for high screen color accuracy or long battery life.
Software Development
6.5
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for software development, though the ASUS Vivobook 15 is somewhat better.
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
6.3
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vivid and clear display for everyday tasks, both the ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are acceptable choices with their resolution and brightness suitable for browsing, video streaming, and document editing. However, for engineering and design work, which requires accurate color representation, both laptops may fall short in covering the wider color gamuts professionals look for, such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications that benefit from smooth motion, the lower refresh rates of both laptops mean that they might not provide the most fluid visual experience compared to models designed specifically with high refresh rates for these purposes.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has 6 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.
Cost
$358
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a price of $358 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 is equipped with integrated UHD graphics, which are less powerful compared to the dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the MSI GF63 Thin, impacting their ability to handle gaming and 3D tasks effectively. Although both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the MSI's dedicated GPU generally offers better performance for these types of applications.
Engineering and Design
6.1
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 is equipped with an entry-level Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, which may handle basic engineering and design tasks but could struggle with more intensive software; it does have a good quality IPS display but moderate RAM, which could be limiting. The MSI GF63 Thin offers a more robust Intel i5 processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, which provide better performance for engineering and design applications, but its slightly heavier weight decreases portability, and its screen, while also IPS, has lower color space coverages which may affect visual tasks.
Content Creation
6.4
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for content creation.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 15 to have 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.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook 15 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$358 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.2'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.15" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 42 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Vivobook 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck, | April 2022
"The Asus VivoBook 15 is a quiet office notebook with a strong screen. However, the VivoBook 15 still has room for improvement. Office and internet applications as well as simple games do not pose any major challenges for the VivoBook - this is ensured by the built-in combination of Ryzen 7 5700U APU and 16 GB of RAM. Heat and noise emissions are acceptable. But, the laptop has weaknesses that should not be present at this level: lack of keyboard lighting, a slow memory card reader, no fast USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 4) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort. Battery runtimes can only be described as average."
MSI GF63 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"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 Vivobook 15 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.
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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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