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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15 offers better battery life, a higher quality keyboard, and superior performance for general use and engineering tasks with its better processor and more RAM. If you prioritize color accuracy for creative work, it provides complete sRGB coverage and better color space coverage overall. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, with its higher refresh rate display and more powerful Nvidia RTX graphics card, is better suited for gaming and some types of 3D work. Considering portability, both laptops are similarly weighted, but the XPS 15 is slightly slimmer. If high-performance gaming or 3D rendering is important to you, consider the MSI GF65 Thin, while the Dell XPS 15 is a better all-rounder with an emphasis on productivity and creative tasks. 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 GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
6.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 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 GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a superior experience for general use with its higher RAM capacity, more efficient CPU, and superior screen quality that delivers better brightness and color coverage, while also providing longer battery life, making it more reliable for longer work sessions. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, despite being lighter and nearly equal in portability, has lesser RAM, a less powerful CPU, and a lower quality display in terms of brightness and color reproduction, as well as a significantly shorter battery life, which may limit its performance and convenience for general tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1
6.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with a powerful processor, substantial memory, a high screen pixel density for clearer images, which is crucial for engineering and design applications, and it is marketed as a premium business laptop suggesting higher build quality and reliability. The MSI GF65 Thin, while it has a strong graphics unit suitable for design tasks and better screen refresh rate beneficial for smooth visual experience, has less RAM which could limit multitasking performance for demanding engineering software and a lower-resolution display which might be less ideal for detailed design work.
Content Creation
8.3
6.8
9.0/10
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 15 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
8.1
6.3
9.0/10
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 15 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
7.4
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell XPS 15, with a high-resolution display and superior brightness, offers a clear and vivid experience, while the MSI GF65 Thin's more modest resolution and brightness make it less ideal. In the realm of engineering and design, the XPS 15's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, crucial for precise work, whereas the GF65 Thin's narrower gamuts may not meet professional standards. However, for gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are paramount for smooth motion, both the XPS 15 and GF65 Thin fall short with their lower refresh rates, despite their differences in resolution and panel type.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 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.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Dell XPS 15 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
$1,000
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.8
4.4/10
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
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is considered good for gaming and 3D because it has a capable Intel Arc A370M GPU which supports moderate gaming, but its screen refresh rate is limited to 60Hz, which is less smooth for fast-paced action. The MSI GF65 Thin, while rated fair for gaming and 3D, has a stronger Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, offering better visuals and fluidity in games; however, it's paired with a less powerful CPU and has poorer overall screen quality compared to the XPS 15.
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 GF65 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 GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2021 | |
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 i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 606 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
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 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 15 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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