When deciding between the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the MSI GF65 Thin, consider how you'll use the laptop. The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14, with its dual-screen feature, is excellent for multitasking and creative workflows, and it offers a good balance of performance and efficiency with an Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics. Its slim design makes it relatively portable. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, with its Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, excels in gaming or tasks involving 3D graphics, and has a high-refresh display, ideal for fast-paced action but at the cost of being heavier and having a shorter battery life. 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 Duo 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
314.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers better battery life and portability, with additional features like touchscreen and better screen brightness, which makes it a strong option for those who value those attributes, along with a solid CPU for general tasks. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin, while having a more powerful GPU suited for gaming and somewhat lower battery life and portability, might not be as suitable for on-the-go professionals due to its larger size and weight but works well for users prioritizing gaming or graphic-intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.8/10
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
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a 60Hz screen refresh rate, which limits its gaming and 3D performance, while the MSI GF65 Thin is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144Hz screen refresh rate, which are better suited for smoother and more graphically intensive gaming and 3D experiences.
Software Development
7.0/10
6.3/10
5.5/10
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 Zenbook Duo 14 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
6.8/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14's higher resolution and brightness offer a clearer and more vibrant display, while its panel type provides wide viewing angles, making it superior to the MSI GF65 Thin. Engineering and design professionals prioritize color accuracy where the Zenbook Duo's expanded color gamuts ensure more precise color representation over the GF65 Thin. However, for 3D work or gaming, the MSI GF65 Thin, while still not ideal, may be more acceptable due to a slightly better refresh rate, aiding in smoother motion, even though both laptops don't excel in this aspect due to moderate resolutions and unsuitable panel types for high-end gaming.
Battery
8.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 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.
Cost
$999
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is equipped with a high-quality display and efficient processor for multitasking engineering designs, boasting two screens for additional productivity, while the MSI GF65 Thin offers a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU supporting hardware ray tracing and a higher refresh rate display for engineering tasks that may involve rendering or detailed design visualization. While both have comparable CPU and RAM, the Zenbook prioritizes screen real estate and quality, and the MSI prioritizes graphics performance; however, the Zenbook is more portable and has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go engineers and designers who also value display quality and battery longevity over the gaming-level graphics capabilities of the MSI.
Content Creation
7.3/10
6.8/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 to be 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
"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 Zenbook Duo 14 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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