If you need high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming, and you prioritize screen quality with better color accuracy, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is a superior choice, although it is slightly more expensive and heavier, which makes it less portable. It also offers a larger and higher resolution OLED display, more storage, and longer battery life. However, if you're looking for something lighter and less expensive with decent gaming capabilities, the MSI GF65 Thin provides good value, albeit with less storage, lower resolution, and shorter battery life. It has a higher refresh rate display which is good for fast-motion gaming, but its overall performance and screen are not as advanced as the Aero 16. 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 Gigabyte Aero 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte Aero 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
6.5/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers a more powerful CPU and more RAM, which result in smoother multi-tasking and better performance for demanding applications, along with a high-quality screen that's ideal for detailed visual work, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to more travel-friendly laptops. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin provides moderate performance suitable for everyday tasks, with decent portability and longer battery life, though it may fall short in screen quality and isn't as well-equipped for heavy-duty tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
6.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU compared to the MSI GF65 Thin's RTX 3060, which significantly enhances gaming and 3D capabilities; however, its screen refresh rate is lower at 60Hz, whereas the MSI GF65 has a higher refresh rate of 144Hz, which can provide a smoother gaming experience. Additionally, the Aero 16 has a superior CPU, OLED screen quality with higher resolution, and better color coverage, further supporting performance and visual experience for gaming and 3D work, though these features come at the cost of a higher price and slightly less portability.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
6.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 excels in engineering and design use due to its high-end Intel i7 processor, advanced Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, substantial RAM, and premium screen with exceptional color accuracy and contrast, suitable for detail-oriented tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
6.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aero 16 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
7.9/10
6.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is 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
8.4/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Gigabyte Aero 16 has a high-resolution display with superior brightness and panel quality, making it inviting for everyday tasks, while the MSI GF65 Thin's lower resolution and brightness deliver a less crisp and less vibrant experience. Engineering and design professionals would favor the Aero 16 for its wide color gamuts, ensuring accurate color representation, which isn't as pronounced on the GF65 Thin. Gamers and 3D designers would find both laptops lacking, but more so the Aero 16 due to its lower refresh rate, which doesn't support as smooth motion as desired, though both have limitations in resolution and panel type for this specific use.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 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
7.8/10
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 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
$1,260
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a price of $1,260 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
"The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a workstation laptop for light gaming. It's design is still muted, with a silver chassis alongside a black keyboard and trackpad that provides some contrast. The Gigabyte Aero’s full-size chiclet-style keyboard is enjoyable to type on thanks to its snappy feel and responsiveness. The 4K+ AMOLED display is good, but it could be better. It doesn’t handle true black very well and suffers from strong reflections and glare. The Gigabyte Aero excels at productivity performance and can keep up with other gaming laptops in 1080p. But it has very few ports and its refresh rate leaves a bit to be desired."
"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 Gigabyte Aero 16 or the MSI GF65 Thin
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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