The HP Envy 17 is better suited for tasks that need a larger screen and slightly longer battery life, making it useful for productivity and general use, while its integrated graphics are less capable for demanding graphics tasks. The MSI Thin GF63, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, excels in gaming, 3D work, and machine learning, and its higher refresh rate display offers smoother visuals. The MSI is lighter and more portable, but it sacrifices some battery life compared to the HP. Both come with ample storage and memory, but for portability and graphic-intensive tasks, the MSI has an edge, whereas the HP might appeal if you prioritize screen real estate and battery endurance. 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 HP Envy 17
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the HP Envy 17.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.9/10
3.8/10
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 HP Envy 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The HP Envy 17 is not as well-suited for gaming and 3D tasks as the MSI Thin GF63 because it uses an Intel Iris Xe graphics which is less powerful than the MSI's Nvidia RTX 4050, and has a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz compared to the MSI's 144Hz. These factors contribute to the MSI laptop providing a smoother and more immersive gaming experience as well as better performance in 3D applications.
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The HP Envy 17 likely packs a higher resolution and brighter display than the MSI Thin GF63, providing crisper and more vivid visuals for general use and detailed design work. The inclusion of wider color gamuts in the HP Envy 17's display makes it more suitable for professional engineering and design applications where color accuracy is critical. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they don't offer the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion, though the basic requirements for resolution and panel type are met.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The HP Envy 17 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
7.2/10
6.5/10
The HP Envy 17 has good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Envy 17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
7.4/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and HP Envy 17 are both good for engineering and design.
The HP Envy 17 is suited for engineering and design owing to its large screen, high-resolution IPS display which is beneficial for detailed work, and a capable CPU with integrated graphics; whereas, the MSI Thin GF63 is also apt for these fields due to its robust CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU that excels in handling graphics-intensive tasks, though it has a smaller display, which adds to its portability advantage. While both laptops are equipped with ample RAM for multitasking, the MSI Thin GF63 stands out for its higher refresh rate screen which is an advantage for design fluidity, and the HP Envy 17 offers a touchscreen that may be preferable for some users in creative workflows.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
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 HP Envy 17 and MSI Thin GF63 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
7.5/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for software development.
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
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Thin GF63 and HP Envy 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Envy 17 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
"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 HP Envy 17 or the MSI Thin GF63
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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