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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gigabyte Aorus 5, at a premium price, offers a more powerful processor and graphics card, more storage and RAM, and a significantly larger battery, which coupled with its high refresh rate screen makes it suitable for intensive gaming and engineering tasks. The MSI GF63 Thin, being much less expensive, provides less power and storage capacity, making it a more budget-friendly option for general use and less demanding games. However, the reduced weight of the MSI makes it more portable compared to the heavier Aorus 5. 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 Aorus 5
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is rated better for general use than the MSI GF63 Thin primarily due to its superior CPU and GPU, which allow for better overall performance, and its higher quality screen that offers a better viewing experience. Additionally, it has more RAM for multitasking and a larger battery capacity for extended use, although it's less portable and has a lower battery life compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which may be lighter and more compact but falls short in performance and screen display.
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.0
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 360, which enables smoother visuals and gameplay. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin is equipped with the less capable Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics card and a standard 60 screen refresh rate, which provides an adequate but less fluid gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and GPU, more RAM, and a higher quality screen, which explains its better suitability for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower quality screen. Furthermore, the Aorus 5's larger battery could offer enhanced performance during longer work sessions, although it's also heavier and less portable than the lighter GF63 Thin, which may be easier to carry but might fall short on intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.6
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 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
7.3
6.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 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
8.0
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and bright visuals, which are great for general purposes and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate may not suit the fast-paced visuals needed for gaming and 3D applications. The MSI GF63 Thin provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and some technical software, but its color range and refresh rate might not satisfy professionals in design where color accuracy and fluid motion are crucial. Both laptops compromise on the smoothness of motion you would desire for immersive gaming or smooth 3D rendering, prioritizing display clarity and color over speed.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.5
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,359
$599
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has a price of $2,359 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has 5 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.
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How the Gigabyte Aorus 5 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aorus 5 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,359 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 10'' x 1.08'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.07 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 280 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Gigabyte Aorus 5
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Dig into reviews and images
Can Buy or Not
Vincent Chang | June 2022
"The Gigabyte Aorus 5 SE4 is a capable mainstream gaming notebook that will run the latest PC games with aplomb. However, it's not your stereotypical flashy gaming PC. Gigabyte has added some interesting tweaks. For example, the webcam placement and its Microsoft Azure AI tool — to automatically switch between power modes — are unusual for this genre. But more importantly, the pricing is fairly competitive and reasonable."
MSI GF63 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"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 Gigabyte Aorus 5 or the MSI GF63 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.
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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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