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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is a more budget-friendly option particularly suitable for general use, offering decent performance with its AMD Ryzen processor and integrated Vega graphics, which is good for day-to-day tasks and light multimedia activities. It is more portable due to its lighter weight and has a higher battery life for longer use on the go. Conversely, the MSI GF65 Thin, while pricier, boasts superior performance thanks to its Intel processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics card, making it a better choice for gaming, 3D applications, and more demanding engineering software but it is slightly heavier which impacts its portability, and typically has a shorter battery life which might require more frequent charging during intensive tasks. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is rated higher for general use because it offers a better balance for everyday tasks with more RAM, which aids multitasking, and superior battery life, making it more suitable for extended use without charging. Meanwhile, the MSI GF65 Thin, despite having a more powerful GPU for gaming and a high refresh rate screen, which might sacrifice battery life, and lesser RAM, it is less optimized for the general-use activities that benefit from energy efficiency and a longer-lasting battery.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate that can handle casual gaming and basic 3D tasks adequately, but its overall performance may not satisfy avid gamers or professionals. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin boasts a higher-tier GPU and faster screen refresh rate, offering smoother and more immersive gameplay and 3D rendering capabilities, which might justify its typically higher price for those prioritizing gaming and 3D performance.
Content Creation
7.4
6.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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
7.3
6.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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
6.4
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize a sharp and vivid display for everyday tasks, you may find the screen quality of both the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and MSI GF65 Thin to be adequate but not outstanding due to their basic panel type, resolution, and brightness levels. For engineering and design work, the significance of color accuracy means that the fair screen quality of these laptops could be a limitation as they don't offer the widest color gamuts necessary for the most precise work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the importance of a high refresh rate is key for smooth visuals; therefore, the poor screen quality of these laptops might make them less suitable for immersive gameplay or intensive 3D rendering tasks.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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.
Build Quality
6.0
6.7
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" both have only fair build quality, though the MSI GF65 Thin has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$741
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The MSI GF65 Thin stands out for engineering and design use with its higher-end Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU which excels in graphics-intensive tasks, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" uses integrated AMD graphics, less capable for such demanding work. Moreover, the MSI's display offers a higher refresh rate, beneficial for smoother visuals, but it's heavier and less portable compared to the slightly lighter and slimmer Lenovo, which may be a factor if frequent mobility is a concern.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$741 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.57 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.18" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.29" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 42 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 | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
MSI GF65 Thin
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" or the MSI GF65 Thin
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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