For better performance in intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning applications, opting for the HP Omen 15 is advisable due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen processor and superior Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card. However, it is also heavier and slightly bulkier, which may affect portability. The HP Omen also has a larger storage and more RAM, which enhances multitasking and data-intensive applications. The MSI GF65 Thin is less expensive, lighter, and slimmer, making it more portable, but comes with less storage and RAM, and a slightly less powerful Intel processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics. If battery life is a critical factor, the HP Omen has a larger battery capacity, potentially offering longer usage times between charges. Choose the HP Omen for higher performance needs, or the MSI GF65 for better portability and cost savings. 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 Omen 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the HP Omen 15.
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
318.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The HP Omen 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The HP Omen 15 is favored for general use due to its higher RAM and CPU which leads to smoother multitasking and computing performance, coupled with a significantly better battery life and screen quality as it has a superior contrast ratio and color space coverage, contributing to a more vivid and clear visual experience. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin, while being more portable owing to its lighter weight, falls behind due to lower RAM, a less powerful CPU, shorter battery life, and inferior screen optics, making it less ideal for demanding tasks and extended use without a power source.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The HP Omen 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The HP Omen 15 offers superior gaming and 3D performance thanks to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, combined with a high refresh rate screen, which is essential for smooth, immersive gameplay. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin, while still capable, has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and generally lower performance, which makes it less ideal for the most demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.9/10
6.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Omen 15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The HP Omen 15 is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, a higher-end Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, and more RAM, which are very important for demanding engineering and design tasks, also featuring a superior screen quality for detailed visuals. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin, although less powerful with an Intel i5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, is lighter and slightly thinner, making it somewhat more portable for those on the move, but with less optimal screen brightness and color coverage which is less ideal for precision work.
Content Creation
7.8/10
6.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 15 is 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
7.6/10
6.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 15 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
7.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
318.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The HP Omen 15 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 HP Omen 15 stands out due to its higher resolution and brightness, providing clearer and more vibrant visuals, while the MSI GF65 Thin offers adequate quality, but with less impressive clarity and illumination. In engineering and design, the HP Omen 15's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, essential for precise work, compared to the MSI's fair color performance. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is crucial, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, meaning they may not deliver as smooth an experience as models designed specifically for these purposes.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The HP Omen 15 has 10 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.
Cost
$993
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The HP Omen 15 has a price of $993 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and HP Omen 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen 15 to have 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Omen 15 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"We consider around 1,260 Euros (~$1530) for a Ryzen 7 4800H, a GeForce RTX 2060, a 512 GB SSD and 16 GB dual-channel RAM to be a good offer that appeals to price-conscious gamers. Very high details are rarely a problem in the native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. Buyers will also be spoiled with a top-notch battery life that even beats most other notebook classes. If HP now improves the speed of the WLAN module, the stability of the case and the repeatedly criticized picture quality, the competition will have to dress extra warmly."
"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 HP Omen 15 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,095
Recommendations made
21,688
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.