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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is generally less expensive than the MSI GF65 Thin and offers double the storage capacity and twice the RAM for better multitasking. It packs an AMD Ryzen processor with integrated graphics, which is suited for general use and light gaming. The Vivobook also shines in battery life, potentially lasting twice as long as the MSI on a single charge. However, if gaming or 3D work is a priority, the MSI GF65 Thin boasts a dedicated Nvidia graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, offering smoother visuals and improved performance for intensive tasks, albeit with less storage and RAM. The Vivobook is slightly better for general use, while the GF65 excels in gaming and graphics-intensive applications. Both share similar portability, but the MSI model may have a slight edge in build quality and heat management. Choose the Vivobook for cost efficiency and longer battery for everyday tasks, or opt for the GF65 if performance in gaming and engineering software is crucial. 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 GF65 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 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 GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 boasts a more capable CPU and double the RAM of the MSI GF65 Thin, enhancing its performance for everyday tasks and making it more suitable for multitasking and productivity applications. While both have similar screen sizes and types, the Vivobook offers a longer battery life and a more portable design, which are significant considerations for general use, whereas the MSI, with its dedicated graphics, may be better suited for gaming but falls short in portability and battery duration for regular activities.
Content Creation
7.6
6.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 GF65 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
6.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 GF65 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
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the MSI GF65 Thin may have screens that lack the crispness and brightness ideal for activities like browsing or document editing. For engineering and design, they may not provide the wide color gamut needed for precise color work in professional graphics software. In terms of gaming and 3D, their lower refresh rates could result in less fluid visuals, impacting fast-paced action and rendering experiences.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has 9 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
$908
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.8
3.7/10
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 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15, with an integrated AMD Ryzen Vega graphics, offers moderate performance for gaming and 3D tasks and has a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which may not be as smooth for fast-paced games compared to higher rates. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin includes a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card providing better gaming capabilities and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz for more fluid visuals in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is equipped with a capable CPU and a high-quality screen, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks, but its integrated GPU is less powerful compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which boasts a strong GPU ideal for demanding engineering graphics and design work. While both laptops have substantial RAM and good screen quality, the MSI GF65 Thin stands out for graphics-intensive tasks due to its dedicated RTX 3060 graphics card, yet the ASUS Vivobook S 15 may be preferred for its potential balance of performance and portability.
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 GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook S 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook S 15 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$908 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.2'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.17" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.17" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 70 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 267 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Vivobook S 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | February 2023
"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."
MSI GF65 Thin
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"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 S 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.
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