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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 13, being more affordable, is a premium business laptop with great portability and longer battery life, perfect for general use and on-the-go professionals, but less suited for intensive gaming or 3D applications due to its integrated graphics. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, while more expensive, is built with a dedicated GPU for gaming, making it better for 3D and machine learning tasks as well as gaming, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. Consider your needs: if portability and battery life for business and general use are priorities, go for the Dell; if gaming or 3D tasks are more your focus and you're less concerned about weight and battery, the MSI could serve you better. 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 Dell XPS 13
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13.
Key differences
General Use
7.7
6.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
442.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell XPS 13 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13's higher RAM and more powerful CPU contribute to its better suitability for general use, along with its superior screen quality, portability, and battery life, which are very important for such tasks. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin has a heavier build and shorter battery life, and although it possesses a strong GPU for gaming, it has less RAM and a less color-accurate screen, making it less ideal for general use but still capable.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Dell XPS 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 13, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, offers moderate gaming and 3D capabilities suitable for casual gaming, and a 60Hz screen refresh rate limits how smooth the gameplay will look. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, making it better for more demanding games and 3D applications, and the 144Hz screen refresh rate provides a smoother visual experience, particularly in fast-paced games.
Content Creation
7.7
6.8
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 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
7.5
6.3
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell XPS 13 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
7.2
6.8
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 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.
The Dell XPS 13 features a high-resolution display that provides sharp and vivid images essential for general use and engineering tasks where detail and color accuracy are paramount, but its lower refresh rate hinders smooth visuals needed in fast-paced gaming or 3D applications. The MSI GF65 Thin offers a display that's adequate for daily activities and engineering software but falls short for gaming due to its lower quality panel and refresh rate, not fully meeting the demands of quick motion clarity. Both laptops compromise on gaming and 3D performance for different reasons: the Dell sacrifices refresh rate while maintaining resolution and the MSI balances both but doesn't excel in either.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 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
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Dell XPS 13 has very 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
$850
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.7
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13, with its superior screen quality, ample RAM, and the efficient Intel i7 CPU coupled with Iris Xe graphics, makes a strong candidate for engineering and design, emphasizing clarity and multitasking capabilities. Meanwhile, the MSI GF65 Thin, although less portable and with a lower screen quality, boasts a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU and a faster-refreshing display, giving it an edge in GPU-intensive engineering tasks and design applications that benefit from graphic rendering power.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$850 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.9'' x 0.55'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.59 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.86" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1250U | 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 | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 442 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 13
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chen | April 2023
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
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 Dell XPS 13 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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Why trust us
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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