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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
For intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers superior performance with a more powerful processor and greater RAM but at a significantly higher cost. Its OLED screen provides stunning visuals and color accuracy, but this machine is heavier and has a lower battery life, making it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin is more suited for gaming thanks to its high refresh rate display, it's lighter and more affordable but has less storage and a lower-quality display. If portability and budget are key considerations, the MSI may be more attractive. 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 Pro 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Key differences
General Use
8.3
6.5
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, a more potent i7 CPU, and greater RAM, which contributes to its very good performance in general use; it also has a more robust battery life and a better screen quality compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. The MSI GF65 Thin, while lighter for enhanced portability, compromises on screen resolution with an IPS panel, has a less powerful i5 CPU and lesser RAM, leading to a fair performance in general use.
Gaming and AI
7.5
6.8
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks due to its superior screen quality, offering an OLED display with higher resolution and more vibrant colors, and a more powerful Intel i7 processor compared to the MSI GF65 Thin's IPS display and Intel i5 processor. However, the MSI GF65 Thin has a higher screen refresh rate, which is advantageous for smoother gaming visuals, but it may not compensate for its lower screen quality and less powerful CPU.
Engineering and Design
8.6
6.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X outshines the MSI GF65 Thin in engineering and design due to its top-tier processor, double the RAM, a more powerful graphics chip, and a superior OLED screen, which is essential for high-quality visuals and color-accurate work. In contrast, the MSI is lighter and potentially more portable, but with its lower-resolution IPS screen and less formidable CPU and RAM, it may fall short for the most demanding tasks despite having the same tier GPU and a lower cost of entry.
Content Creation
8.5
6.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very 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
8.2
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very 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
8.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X boasts a high-resolution display with bright and vibrant colors, making it excellent for general and engineering use, where detail and color accuracy are crucial. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for 3D work and gaming, which favor smoother motion. The MSI GF65 Thin, while offering fair screen quality for everyday tasks and engineering applications with acceptable resolution and color range, falls behind for gaming and 3D due to its poor refresh rate.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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.
Build Quality
7.6
6.7
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
$1,300
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
MSI GF65 Thin
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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 Zenbook Pro 16X 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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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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