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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15 stands out with a premium build, more substantial storage, and memory, with a stronger processor and a more capable graphics card, making it better for intensive tasks like engineering work, 3D rendering, and machine learning. It also features a high-resolution screen with greater color accuracy, which is beneficial for creative professionals but comes with a higher price tag and is slightly heavier. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin offers a more budget-friendly price, it is lighter for greater portability, and while its specs are less powerful than the Dell, it's still suitable for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. If price and portability are key concerns, the MSI could be the better option, but for higher performance and professional work, the Dell XPS 15 is likely the superior 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 Dell XPS 15
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 offers robust performance with better CPU and RAM, superior screen quality, and a more portable design with longer battery life; these attributes are highly valued for general use. Conversely, the MSI GF63 Thin, while adequate, has weaker CPU performance, subpar screen and speaker quality, a less comfortable keyboard, and shorter battery life, which makes it only fair for general tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.0
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell XPS 15 is somewhat better.
The Dell XPS 15 has a more powerful Intel Arc A370M graphics card and a higher screen quality, making it better suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which has an older Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and a lower screen quality. Although both have the same screen refresh rate, the superior GPU and screen of the Dell will provide a more enjoyable and smoother experience for tasks that are very graphics-intensive.
Engineering and Design
8.1
6.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 is armed with a more advanced CPU and GPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality which explains its reputation for engineering and design work; the MSI GF63 Thin, while still capable, offers less powerful components and lower screen quality which makes it adequate but not optimal for such demanding tasks. Portability and build quality are comparable, but the XPS's higher screen resolution and color accuracy, combined with its overall hardware superiority, make a significant difference for professional-grade applications.
Content Creation
8.3
6.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
8.1
6.0
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
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 15 is very good for software development, while the MSI GF63 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
7.4
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 15 boasts a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color accuracy, meeting the needs of general use and professional engineering and design tasks where detail and color representation are crucial. However, for 3D gaming, the standard refresh rate of the XPS 15 may disappoint, as gamers usually prefer a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while offering decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and non-demanding design work, doesn't provide the advanced color gamut or high refresh rate, making it less ideal for specialized engineering applications and gaming.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
8.5
6.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$599
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell XPS 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.6'' x 9.1'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.21 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.57" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 86 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 9.1/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | May 2023
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
MSI GF63 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the MSI GF63 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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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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