If you value portability and are looking for a cost-effective solution primarily for general use like web browsing and office applications, the Gateway 11.6" might be the right choice with its smaller size and lower price. However, the MSI GF63 Thin, despite being more expensive and less portable, offers significantly better performance for tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming due to its superior processor and graphics card. It also has a larger screen with a higher resolution, which can enhance the user experience for multimedia and detailed work. If your work involves more intensive engineering tasks, the enhanced capabilities of the MSI GF63 Thin will be necessary, but if ease of carrying and budget are your primary concerns, the Gateway 11.6" could be sufficient. 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 Gateway 11.6"
Excellent portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI GF63 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" is limited for gaming and 3D applications due to its basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and entry-level Intel Celeron processor, both of which lack the power required for such demanding tasks. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin is better suited for these activities because it has a more powerful Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU and a higher-end Intel i5 processor, despite both laptops having similar screen refresh rates and Screen quality.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
6.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF63 Thin is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" laptop is considered poor for engineering and design use because it has a lower-end CPU and GPU, less RAM and storage, and a lower quality screen. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin is rated fair for such tasks since it comes with a more powerful CPU and GPU, more RAM and higher screen quality, which are essential for engineering and design software.
Screen Quality
5.7/10
6.1/10
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The MSI GF63 Thin has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering the Gateway 11.6", the screen's lower resolution and dimness detract from everyday tasks, with poor color accuracy and a limited range of color representation affecting precision needed in engineering and design, while its slower refresh rate hinders the smooth visuals critical for gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF63 Thin offers a fair balance for general activities with a passable resolution and brightness, but the limited color gamut doesn't meet the high standards for professional design work and the refresh rate, while decent for general use, falls short for the fast-paced clarity demanded by gamers and those working with 3D content. Overall, the Gateway's screen is less suitable across the board, whereas the MSI offers a middle ground for general and professional use, yet neither excels for high-end gaming or 3D purposes due to their refresh rate limitations.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the MSI GF63 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
6.5/10
The MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$599
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" falls short in general use primarily due to its weaker CPU, less RAM, and lower resolution screen, which might make multitasking and clarity less satisfactory. The MSI GF63 Thin, despite being somewhat less portable due to its larger size and weight, provides better performance for general tasks with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher resolution screen, but offers less battery life.
Content Creation
5.7/10
6.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7/10
6.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to be only fair for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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.
Give feedback
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How the Gateway 11.6" and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
"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 Gateway 11.6" or the MSI GF63 Thin
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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.
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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