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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell XPS 15, being more expensive, offers superior screen resolution, a more color accurate display, and significantly longer battery life, making it suitable for professionals who need high performance for tasks such as graphics design and video editing. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63, while less expensive, provides a high refresh rate screen which is better for gaming and allows for adequate performance in general use and less demanding engineering tasks. Both have similar storage and memory, but the Dell has a slight edge in processing power and build quality. The MSI, however, is lighter and thus more portable, but compromises on battery life and display quality. If budget is a concern, the MSI is a cost-effective option, particularly for casual use and gaming, while the Dell is geared towards creators and professionals seeking premium features and endurance. 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 Thin GF63
- The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
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 Thin GF63 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 is favored for general use because of its robust CPU performance, ample RAM, high-quality screen, and longer battery life, which offer a smooth and visually pleasing experience with the convenience of portability. Meanwhile, the MSI Thin GF63, while also featuring a strong CPU and sufficient RAM, leans toward a good balance between cost and performance; however, it has a lower-quality screen and shorter battery life, yet offers advantages like a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals, particularly beneficial in gaming contexts.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 is well-suited for engineering and design tasks due to its high-performance CPU (Intel i7-13700H), generous RAM (16GB), capable GPU (Intel Arc), and excellent screen quality, though it may be less portable. The MSI Thin GF63 also serves engineering purposes with a robust CPU (Intel i7-12650H), ample RAM (16GB), powerful GPU (Nvidia RTX), and good display, but it offers a more game-centric aesthetic and potentially lower portability.
Content Creation
8.3
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
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
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 Thin GF63 is good.
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 Thin GF63 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 15 offers a high-resolution display and is bright, making it suitable for general use and detail-oriented work in engineering and design, while its color coverage caters well to professionals needing accurate color representation. However, it may lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth 3D graphics and fast-paced gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 has moderate resolution and brightness, suitable for everyday tasks and some design work but may not provide the full color range or fluid motion for more advanced design needs and 3D gaming experiences.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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
6.5
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 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
$880
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $880.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
6.9
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
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
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell XPS 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell XPS 15 is equipped with an Intel Arc A370M GPU and a standard refresh rate screen suitable for moderate gaming and 3D use; however, the MSI Thin GF63 includes a higher-end Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a high refresh rate screen, providing a better experience for intense gaming and 3D tasks, despite its less impressive screen quality and CPU 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 Thin GF63 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 Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 15 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $880 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
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 i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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 Thin GF63
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jeffries | November 2022
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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