If you prioritize battery life and general performance for tasks like engineering or 3D work, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 can be a better choice, although it's more expensive and may not excel for intensive gaming. The MSI GF63 Thin, being less expensive, could suit you if your tasks are less demanding and you're looking for a more affordable option for gaming, although it offers less storage and RAM, and shorter battery life compared to the ASUS model. Keep in mind, the MSI's gaming capabilities are good for its price but won't match high-end gaming laptops. 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 S 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is better suited for general use due to its more capable CPU, double the RAM, and significantly longer battery life compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which is held back in general use by its lower RAM and shorter battery life despite having a dedicated GPU, which is more advantageous for gaming rather than everyday tasks. Additionally, the ASUS has a slight edge in heat management and significantly better speaker quality, contributing to a more comfortable and enjoyable user experience for tasks like video conferencing or media consumption.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 offers a more robust CPU and GPU setup, more RAM, and a higher quality screen than the MSI GF63 Thin, making it better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks that require fast processing and good visualization. However, while both laptops are similar in portability, the MSI is slightly lighter with a quieter operating noise, which may be preferred by users who prioritize a more silent working environment.
Content Creation
7.6/10
6.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 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
7.4/10
6.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is 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
6.3/10
6.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering laptops for general use, both the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin have adequate resolution and brightness, but their panel types lack the vibrancy and viewing angles found in higher-end screens. For engineering and design tasks, while their screens are sharp enough for detail work, they do not cover a wide range of color gamuts, resulting in less accurate color representation. Lastly, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops have screens with refresh rates that are not as high as those preferred for such uses, which means motion may not appear as smooth, and while they offer decent resolution and screen technology, dedicated gaming laptops offer better overall performance for these tasks.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 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
$908
$599
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is equipped with an AMD GPU that's less common in gaming, which may affect compatibility and performance, while the MSI GF63 Thin sports a Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, a mainstream GPU preferred for consistent gaming performance.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 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 S 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
"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 S 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.
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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