If you prioritize high performance for 3D applications, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI GF65 Thin with its powerful graphics card will excel. However, it's a pricier option, and its battery life isn't as great, making it less ideal for extended use away from a power source. The ASUS Vivobook 15 comes at a lower cost and is more portable, offering sufficient performance for general use, a longer battery life and a lightweight design, but it won't handle extensive engineering tasks or intensive gaming as effectively due to its basic integrated graphics. 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 GF65 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has an integrated GPU and a standard 60Hz screen, which are sufficient for casual gaming and some 3D tasks but will struggle with demanding graphics and fast-paced games. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin comes with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, catering better to intensive gaming and 3D work, allowing for smoother visuals and improved gameplay.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
6.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Vivobook 15 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has less powerful CPU and GPU capabilities compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which is important for tasks in engineering and design that require processing power and graphics performance. While both have similar RAM and screen quality, the MSI GF65 Thin's better CPU and GPU make it more suitable for demanding engineering applications, though it may sacrifice some portability due to its added power.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS Vivobook 15 and the MSI GF65 Thin deliver adequate visuals due to their resolution and brightness, but may not stand out in terms of exceptional clarity or vibrancy. When it comes to tasks in engineering and design, neither laptop excels in providing the wide color gamuts necessary for the most accurate color work. As for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these laptops can lead to less smooth visual experiences, which is especially noticeable in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has 6 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.
Cost
$530
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a price of $530 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Vivobook 15 are both only fair for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 15, with an Intel i3 CPU and Intel UHD Graphics, is lighter and offers better battery life for general use, though it has a lower storage capacity and lacks a dedicated GPU, making it less suitable for intensive applications.
Content Creation
6.4/10
6.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Vivobook 15 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.
Software Development
6.5/10
6.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 GF65 Thin are both only fair for software development.
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.
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 GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 15 to have 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.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 15 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Vivobook 15 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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