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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're seeking affordability and modest computing needs, the Lenovo V15 may be appropriate, with a lower price point but less powerful overall performance compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. The MSI, however, boasts better graphical capabilities and is more suitable for demanding tasks like gaming or graphic design, but comes at a higher cost and may be slightly less portable due to its weight. Keep in mind that investing more in the MSI could offer a more future-proof experience, while the Lenovo is more tailored for everyday tasks and lighter workloads, reflecting its lower cost. 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 V15
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- 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
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
231.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo V15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo V15 is favored for general use over the MSI GF65 Thin primarily because it offers a better balance of CPU performance, adequate RAM, and superior battery life for typical tasks, which is essential for a smooth general-purpose experience. While the MSI has a high-performance GPU suited for gaming and its screen has a higher refresh rate, the Lenovo excels in portability and longer battery life which are more critical for users with general computing needs without the requirement for intensive graphics.
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
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo V15 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Lenovo V15 comes with an integrated AMD GPU and a standard refresh rate screen which suffices for basic gaming and 3D tasks, but the MSI GF65 Thin boasts a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals, making it better suited for more intense gaming and 3D applications. While both have decent CPUs and good screen quality, the GPU and screen refresh rate on the MSI make it the superior choice for demanding gaming and 3D work.
Software Development
7.1
6.3
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo V15 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
5.4
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
231.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo V15 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.
The Lenovo V15's screen may not offer the visual clarity and brightness preferred for everyday tasks or multimedia consumption, making it less suitable for users who prioritize display quality. For engineering and design professionals, the V15 likely falls short in color accuracy and range, which are vital for precise work requiring true-to-life color representation. The MSI GF65 Thin, while having acceptable clarity and brightness for general purposes, might not satisfy gamers or 3D artists due to a lower refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion and immersive experiences.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo V15 has 8 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.
Cost
$579
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo V15 has a price of $579 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.3
6.7
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo V15 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The MSI GF65 Thin is rated better for engineering and design tasks primarily due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which are critical for graphic-intensive applications. In comparison, the Lenovo V15 has a less capable AMD Ryzen 5 5500U integrated GPU and a lower-quality TN panel, which makes it fair for such uses but less optimized for demanding engineering and design software.
Content Creation
7.3
6.8
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo V15 to be 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo V15 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.7
6.7
The Lenovo V15 and MSI GF65 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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How the Lenovo V15 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo V15 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$579 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.78'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.1" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.3" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 38 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 231 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 4.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 480p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo V15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | April 2022
"The strengths of the Lenovo V15 G2 AMD lie in its expandability of the RAM and allowing you to use two SSDs, in its performance that goes beyond everyday applications thanks to AMD's hexa-core CPU and Vega-7 iGPU, in its good keyboard, and its relatively robust case. In addition, the battery life of the office laptop is also acceptable, and the device stays cool and relatively quiet."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
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 V15 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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