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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" offers stronger performance with a more powerful processor and graphics card, which makes it more suitable for gaming, 3D work, and intensive engineering tasks. It also has a higher resolution and faster refresh rate display, more RAM and storage, and a larger battery, but it is heavier and may have shorter battery life during high-performance tasks. If you require high-end performance and better visual experience for demanding applications, the higher cost of the Lenovo might be justified. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin is more budget-friendly and is lighter in weight, enhancing its portability. Its hardware is less powerful, making it more appropriate for everyday tasks and less graphics-intensive gaming. If your work is more general in nature and you prefer a more lightweight machine that is easier on your wallet, the MSI could suit your needs. However, keep in mind that it comes with less storage and RAM, and lower screen resolution and refresh rate, which could affect the smoothness of visual tasks and multitasking capabilities. 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 Legion 5 15"
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
350.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" offers better performance for general use due to its superior CPU and double the RAM compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, making it more capable of handling multiple tasks and more demanding software. Additionally, the Legion has a higher resolution and more vibrant screen, but is less portable and has a similar battery life to the lighter MSI GF63 Thin, which may offer sufficient performance for less intensive tasks and is easier to carry around.
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.0
9.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 5 is better for gaming and 3D applications because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, enhancing visual fluidity and responsiveness. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin, with its Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics card and a lower 60Hz screen refresh rate, delivers a decent but less capable gaming and visual experience.
Engineering and Design
8.2
6.0
8.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
9.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 5's higher-quality CPU and GPU, more RAM, and superior screen resolution and quality make it very good for intensive tasks like engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin's modest specifications in these areas make it fair for the same purposes. Additionally, the Lenovo's premium features such as hardware ray tracing and DLSS support reinforce its fitness for demanding applications, whereas the lack of these in the MSI further explains its lower suitability for engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.4
6.0
8.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 5 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
7.3
6.0
8.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" 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
8.0
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" 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 Legion offers a sharper, brighter display with more accurate colors, making it superior for everyday tasks and media consumption, while the MSI GF63 Thin provides acceptable quality but lacks the same level of clarity and brightness. In engineering and design, where color accuracy across wider gamuts is critical, the Lenovo Legion's ability to cover a broad spectrum of colors is beneficial, while the MSI GF63's fair color coverage may suffice for less demanding tasks but not for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where a high refresh rate can significantly enhance the experience, both laptops may fall short, but the Lenovo Legion's better panel type and resolution provide a more enjoyable viewing experience compared to the MSI, despite neither being ideal for fast-paced gaming demands.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF63 Thin has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
6.5
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$999
$599
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has a price of $999 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has 4 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Legion 5 15" and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 5 15" | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$999 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.3'' x 0.95'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.3 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.33" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 350 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | September 2021
"The Lenovo Legion 5 15 is an affordable gaming laptop with a lot of power. The new AMD processor Ryzen 7 5800H offers plenty of performance and it is also very efficient. The combination with the fast 130W version of the GeForce RTX 3060 ensures high gaming performance. We also like the fast 165 Hz display with the 1080p resolution. The automatic graphics switching causes some problems with stutters, which are very annoying. If you do not need long battery runtimes, you should definitely deactivate the hybrid graphics mode in Lenovo's Vantage app. The Legion 5 15 is never silent."
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 Legion 5 15" 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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