The ASUS Vivobook 17 is generally less expensive and offers a larger screen. It's better suited for general use with a good balance of performance for day-to-day tasks, making it ideal for productivity and multimedia on a budget. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while more costly, packs a better processor and dedicated graphics card, which significantly improves performance for 3D tasks, machine learning, gaming, and engineering software. It also has a better portability score due to its lighter weight, making it more convenient for carrying around. However, battery life is shorter on the MSI, which could be a downside if you need longer unplugged usage. 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 17
Good for general use
Good for content creation
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
263.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 17 has a weaker processor compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, less portable given its larger size but offers slightly better battery life and screen brightness. The MSI GF63 Thin provides improved graphics handling thanks to its dedicated GPU, making it more suitable for media tasks, though it does so at the expense of heavier weight and slightly reduced battery life.
Content Creation
7.0/10
6.0/10
6.2/10
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 17 is 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
6.9/10
6.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for software development, though the ASUS Vivobook 17 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
6.2/10
6.1/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
263.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Vivobook 17 and MSI GF63 provide sufficient clarity and brightness for tasks like browsing and watching videos; however, their resolution and panel types are not top-tier, thus being considered fair. In engineering and design, professionals require accurate color reproduction which these laptops offer to some extent, but they don't cover the wider color gamuts fully, making them fair for such tasks. For gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, both models lack high refresh rates, deterring optimal performance and responsiveness in these activities, hence they're rated as poor for these specific needs.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 17 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
$440
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The ASUS Vivobook 17 has a price of $440 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook 17 is limited in gaming and 3D tasks due to its integrated graphics and standard screen refresh rate, which is suitable for basic functions but not for high-end gaming requiring fast frame rates. In contrast, while the MSI GF63 Thin also has a standard refresh rate which restricts smooth gameplay, it includes a dedicated Nvidia GPU, making it more capable for gaming and 3D activities than the ASUS, but still not optimal for the most demanding games.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.0/10
6.2/10
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 17 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 17, with an Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, is suitable for basic engineering and design, offering a larger screen but it may struggle with more intensive tasks and has only fair ratings for keyboard and speaker quality, hindering extended work sessions.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin and ASUS Vivobook 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 17 and MSI GF63 Thin both have 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 17 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
"The ASUS Vivobook 17 is an affordable 17-inch laptop with passive cooling. On one hand, you get a really quiet and cool work device with a good system performance, many connections, good maintenance options, speakers acceptable for multimedia enjoyment, and a sharp and clear matte FHD IPS display with the Asus VivoBook 17 (F712JA). On the other hand, the USB-C port lacks Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and the display, a higher brightness and better color space coverage."
"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 17 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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