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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the HP Pavilion 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin, consider your primary use. The HP Pavilion 15, being less expensive, offers basic computing with an entry-level processor and integrated graphics, suitable for general use like web browsing, office applications, and video streaming. However, the MSI GF63 Thin, priced slightly higher, comes with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics, making it a better fit for gaming, 3D applications, and more demanding tasks. The HP is lighter and thus more portable, while the MSI has a better display quality. Battery life is a factor to prioritize if you're often on the move, but specific information on the battery life was not provided. 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 Pavilion 15
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
6.0
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The HP Pavilion 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
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.
Content Creation
7.1
6.0
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Pavilion 15 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
6.6
6.0
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for software development, though the HP Pavilion 15 is somewhat better.
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
5.3
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The HP Pavilion 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF63 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, a laptop with a high-resolution, bright display and an IPS panel, like the MSI GF63 Thin, will provide crisper images and wider viewing angles compared to the HP Pavilion 15's poorer screen. Engineers and designers need accurate color representation, which is better catered to by the MSI's fair support for broader color gamuts, while the HP's display may not accurately portray colors. Gamers and those working with 3D will prefer the MSI for its fair-quality higher refresh rates, contributing to smoother visuals, whereas the HP falls short with a poorer refresh rate making it less suitable for these fast-paced activities.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The HP Pavilion 15 has an integrated GPU that's less suited for high-performance gaming and 3D applications and a screen with a lower refresh rate, making it fair for such tasks but not ideal. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin includes a dedicated Nvidia GPU and an IPS display with higher screen quality, offering a better experience for gaming and 3D, yet it's still classified as fair, possibly due to the limited refresh rate which is crucial for smooth gameplay.
Engineering and Design
6.2
6.0
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Pavilion 15 and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The HP Pavilion 15, with a lower-end processor and integrated graphics, is better suited for lighter engineering tasks and may struggle with more intensive design work, though its larger storage and higher RAM improve multitasking; its TN panel with lower resolution offers less viewing quality for design work. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin with a higher-end processor and dedicated graphics can handle more demanding engineering software and heavier design tasks, but offers less storage and RAM, which may limit project size or multitasking; its IPS panel with higher resolution provides better screen quality for detailed design work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The HP Pavilion 15 and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The MSI GF63 Thin and HP Pavilion 15 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$599
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The HP Pavilion 15 has a price of $600 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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How the HP Pavilion 15 and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Pavilion 15 | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2020 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.53" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | 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 | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
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 HP Pavilion 15 or the MSI GF63 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.
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