Choosing between the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 and the MSI GF65 Thin, consider the following: the Lenovo offers better performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning, thanks to its superior graphics card and processor. It also has a larger, higher resolution screen with better color accuracy, which is beneficial for creative work and immersive gaming. However, the Lenovo is more expensive and has a shorter battery life, making the MSI more cost-effective and potentially better for longer use away from a power source. The MSI is also slightly more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller screen, which could be advantageous if you travel frequently. The Lenovo is the more recent model, with a better build and heat management, but it's heavier and thicker than the MSI, which might influence your decision if you prioritize portability. Both have ample connectivity options, but only Lenovo offers USB-C charging. Think about whether you need a machine optimized for intensive tasks and better display quality or if you prefer something more affordable and portable with ample battery life. 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 Slim 7 16"
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16".
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 offers superior CPU performance, more RAM, and a higher-quality screen, contributing to its very good standing for general use, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin, while more portable with a slightly lower weight, has a less powerful CPU, half the RAM, and a lower-quality screen, making it just fair for general use. Additionally, better battery life and portability contribute to the Lenovo's higher general use suitability, despite the MSI's advantage in storage capacity and its excellent heat management.
Gaming and AI
8.2/10
6.8/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 stands out in gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its superior graphics card, the Nvidia RTX 4060, and a higher refresh rate screen, which goes up to 240Hz, for smoother visuals in fast-paced games. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin is equipped with the Nvidia RTX 3060, which offers less graphics processing power, and the screen has a lower refresh rate of 144Hz, which may result in less fluid gaming and 3D experiences.
Engineering and Design
8.6/10
6.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" boasts a more robust CPU, double the RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, leading to a higher screen quality with better color coverage and brightness, making it more suitable for engineering and design tasks that demand high levels of graphical detail and processing power. However, the MSI GF65 Thin, being lighter and slimmer, may offer better portability and a quieter operating noise, which can be advantageous for users frequently on the move or in quiet environments.
Content Creation
8.3/10
6.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" is very 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
8.0/10
6.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" is very 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
8.7/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7's higher resolution and brighter display enhance everyday tasks like browsing or watching videos, making it more appealing for general use. For engineering and design, this laptop's wider color gamut ensures greater color accuracy, crucial for professional visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where motion clarity is key, the MSI GF65 Thin, despite its lower overall screen quality, may be preferred due to a potentially higher refresh rate, which the Lenovo lacks, making fast-paced visuals smoother even though the image sharpness and color fidelity are not as high.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 has 7 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
7.6/10
6.7/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,344
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 16" has a price of $1,344 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is a slim Legion notebook that is just as excellent with Nvidia & Intel. However, the Legion Slim 7i slightly sullied by lacklustre battery life. You get a slim aluminium chassis, great input devices, decent port selection, fast high-quality WQXGA display and great performance. Supporting Thunderbolt 4 is one advantage of the Intel/Nvidia model tested in this review. Moreover, this variant has slightly higher CPU performance as well as better GPU performance in certain applications (e.g. CUDA-based apps). The Lenovo Legion S7i is thin, premium and performant – but less efficient than its AMD counterpart."
"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 Legion Slim 7 16" 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.
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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