The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is lighter and offers a higher resolution screen with a taller aspect ratio, which may be preferable for productivity tasks and web browsing. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 includes a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, making it better suited for gaming, 3D tasks, and machine learning. However, the MSI is slightly heavier and has a lower battery capacity. If you prioritize portability and battery life over performance, the Lenovo is the more cost-effective option. But if you need more power for demanding applications, the extra cost of the MSI may be justified. 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 Slim 5i
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i with its good screen quality, efficient CPU, and integrated graphics is suitable for engineering and design tasks that are less graphics-intensive, while the MSI Thin GF63, thanks to its more powerful CPU and dedicated high-end GPU, caters to more demanding engineering applications and tasks requiring significant graphical processing power. However, the Slim 5i offers a slightly better balance between portability and performance, with a higher portability score and longer battery life, compared to the GF63 which has a stronger focus on performance at a slight compromise to battery life and portability.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Thin GF63 offer displays that provide adequate clarity and brightness for daily tasks and multimedia consumption, but they may not stand out in terms of sharpness or color vibrancy. When it comes to engineering and design, the screens on these laptops may fall short for professionals who require precise color accuracy for critical work, as they don't offer the wide color gamuts needed for that level of detail. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are important, neither laptop meets the mark, as both lack the high refresh rates that contribute to smoother motion and a better viewing experience in these scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.6/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
$828
$1,150
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is praised for its longer battery life and high screen resolution, making it ideal for general use, while the MSI Thin GF63, with its more powerful CPU and dedicated graphics card, offers better performance for more demanding tasks but has a shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Thin GF63 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i or the MSI Thin GF63
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.
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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