The Gateway 14.1" laptop offers affordability and is suitable for general use like browsing, office applications, and media consumption. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 is priced higher but provides better performance for demanding tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software. The MSI also commonly has more robust build quality and may come with features like a dedicated graphics card, which significantly enhances performance in visually intensive tasks. However, the Gateway, being less expensive, may be more cost-effective for users with basic needs, while the MSI is better for those who need a high-performance machine and are willing to invest more. Keep in mind that the MSI Thin GF63 may also be heavier and have shorter battery life compared to the Gateway 14.1", affecting portability and convenience for on-the-go use. 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 14.1"
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a weaker CPU, less RAM, and lower screen quality compared to the MSI Thin GF63, which translates to slower performance and less crisp images, particularly important for general use. Additionally, the MSI has better portability with slightly more weight but improved battery life, which is very good for users who need to work on the go.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The MSI Thin GF63 offers a more powerful Intel i7 processor, higher RAM capacity, and a superior Nvidia RTX GPU, making it suitably equipped for demanding engineering and design tasks, whereas the Gateway 14.1" has a weaker Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and an integrated GPU which lacks the necessary performance for such intensive use. Additionally, the MSI has a higher screen quality indicated by better color space coverage, brightness, and refresh rate, all of which contribute to a clearer and more vibrant display that is essential in engineering and design work.
Content Creation
5.8/10
7.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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.
Screen Quality
6.0/10
6.8/10
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Gateway and MSI laptops offer adequate screen resolution and brightness, which are crucial for everyday tasks like browsing and document processing, but they may not have the highest quality panels that some users seek for activities like photo editing. Regarding engineering and design, the screens on these laptops may not represent colors as precisely as needed for professional work, given the significance of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB in this field. Lastly, their screens are less suited for 3D applications as they lack high refresh rates that provide smoother visuals, despite having a moderate impact from resolution and panel quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
6.5/10
The MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
"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 Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Thin GF63
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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