To assist you with your decision, you'll want to consider what you prioritize most. If cost is a main concern and you primarily use your laptop for everyday tasks such as browsing the internet, working on documents, or streaming media, the Gateway 15.6" laptop may suffice and save you some money. On the other hand, if you're interested in more demanding activities like gaming, photo or video editing, or other resource-intensive applications, the MSI Thin GF63 is generally designed for higher performance with better graphics and faster processing capabilities, albeit at a higher cost. Keep in mind that the MSI Thin GF63 may also offer a sturdier build and potentially longer battery life, but might be heavier, affecting portability compared to the Gateway 15.6". Consider these factors in light of your typical use to make an informed 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 Gateway 15.6"
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.9/10
3.6/10
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 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop's gaming and 3D performance is limited due to its integrated graphics (Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe) and standard screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, which can be drawbacks for fast-paced games that benefit from smoother visuals.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The MSI Thin GF63 stands out for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, providing higher performance necessary for demanding tasks, in contrast to the Gateway 15.6" with its less powerful i5 processor and integrated graphics. While both have similar RAM and screen quality, the MSI is also more portable and comes with a better keyboard, although it might be louder in operation due to its higher-performing components.
Screen Quality
6.1/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Gateway and MSI Thin may not offer the most vivid or sharp visuals given their fair screen quality, which might impact the clarity and brightness of the display during everyday tasks. When considering engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, these laptops may fall short in delivering wide color gamuts, potentially affecting the precision needed for professional creative work. Finally, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, the lower refresh rates of these devices can result in less smooth gameplay and motion rendering compared to laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" 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.
Build Quality
5.1/10
6.5/10
The MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$380
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
The MSI Thin GF63 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" offers a solid combination of CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, adequate screen quality and favorable portability due to a lighter weight; however, its performance in speaker and build quality are lower, affecting multimedia experience and durability. Conversely, the MSI Thin GF63 comes with a more powerful CPU and advanced GPU, making it more suitable for demanding applications and even light gaming, but trades off battery life and has a slightly inferior portability score due to a higher weight.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation.
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
6.7/10
7.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Thin GF63 to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Thin GF63 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
"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 15.6" 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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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