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Updated January 16, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and the MSI Thin GF63 cater to different needs. The ASUS Zenbook 13, being lighter with an OLED screen, is better suited for portability and vibrant display which can be a joy for general use and media consumption. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63, with a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics, is aimed at users needing higher performance for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or engineering software, but it's heavier and might not be as convenient to carry around. If budget is less of a concern and portability is essential to you, the ASUS may be preferable. However, if you require more robust performance for specialized tasks and can compromise on portability and battery life, the MSI should be your choice. 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 Zenbook 13
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
- The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 13.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The MSI Thin GF63 is preferred for gaming and 3D tasks due to its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, known for better performance in graphic-intensive applications, as well as a higher screen refresh rate which provides smoother visuals, compared to the ASUS Zenbook 13 which utilizes an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Vega 8 GPU that's less suited for such tasks and a standard refresh rate screen. While the Zenbook 13 may offer benefits like a lighter build and possibly better battery life, for gaming and 3D rendering, the superior GPU and faster screen refresh rate of the MSI Thin GF63 make it the better option.
Screen Quality
7.8
6.8
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 13 provides a crisp, bright display with high resolution, offering visual clarity that enhances everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. In engineering and design, its wider color gamut delivers accurate color representation essential for professional photo editing and CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of the Zenbook's screen leads to less fluid motion and response times, whereas the MSI Thin GF63, while offering only moderate resolution and panel quality, may still fall short in providing the smooth gameplay experience that high refresh rates deliver.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.5
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$1,150
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
378.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers a strong combination of lightweight portability with a high-quality OLED screen, making it a good choice for general use, especially considering its excellent battery life. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63, while offering more RAM and a dedicated graphics card for better performance, is heavier and has a shorter battery life but may be preferred by those who require more power and screen size for tasks beyond general use.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a less powerful integrated GPU and a lower amount of RAM compared to the MSI Thin GF63, which includes a dedicated Nvidia GPU and double the RAM, making the latter more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks. Additionally, while the Zenbook's OLED screen offers superior color accuracy and contrast, the GF63's larger screen and higher refresh rate might be preferred for certain design applications, despite its lower color accuracy and brightness.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good 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
7.3
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 13 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$890 | $1,150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.55 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.99" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 378 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 8.4/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
MSI Thin GF63
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jeffries | November 2022
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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