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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a larger screen and longer battery life for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is suitable, despite its relatively lower performance in gaming and 3D tasks. Conversely, the MSI GF63 Thin offers better performance for gaming and engineering tasks due to its dedicated GPU, albeit with a smaller display and shorter battery life. The Lenovo is bulkier, which affects portability, while the MSI is lighter and more portable. Both have similar storage capacity and memory, with the Lenovo having a bit more storage space. They are in a similar price range, so your decision should be based on your primary use case: general productivity and media consumption favor the Lenovo, while gaming and performance-demanding applications lean towards the MSI. 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 3 17"
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with a larger screen, more vibrant colors, and longer battery life is better suited for general use, especially when viewing content or working for extended periods without charging. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, while more portable and with a dedicated graphics unit for better multimedia performance, is held back by its shorter battery life and lesser screen color quality.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with its AMD Ryzen 5 integrated graphics is fair for engineering and design, offering a decent balance of CPU and GPU capabilities in a larger screen format, although it's less portable and has lower graphics performance compared to some dedicated GPUs. The MSI GF63 Thin, while more portable with its smaller size and featuring the Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, a dedicated GPU stronger for graphic-intensive tasks, comes with a smaller screen that might limit workspace for detailed engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.4
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
7.2
6.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
6.7
6.1
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's larger screen size and potentially higher resolution and brightness offer an engaging visual experience important for activities like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the MSI GF63 Thin may not match the Lenovo in terms of color accuracy and range, crucial for tasks requiring precise color representation like photo editing or CAD work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both laptops' screens may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which are key for smooth motion and responsiveness in dynamic visual content.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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.
Cost
$784
$599
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with an integrated AMD Vega 7 GPU offers modest gaming and 3D capabilities, better suited for less demanding games, while the MSI GF63 Thin steps up with a dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q which is more capable of handling a wider range of games and 3D tasks. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, limiting how smooth games can appear, but their GPU capabilities are the main differentiator, with the MSI likely offering a stronger gaming experience due to its better graphics hardware.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI GF63 Thin both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 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 | 8/10 | |
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 | 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 | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the MSI GF63 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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