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Updated January 12, 2024·
When considering the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 versus the MSI Thin GF63, think about what you need from your laptop. The Surface Laptop Go 3 is known for its lightness and portability, making it ideal for students or professionals who are always on the move. Its build quality and screen are typically well-regarded for general use, but its lower price can mean less powerful internals, which may slow you down in more demanding tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 is geared towards gaming and thus offers higher performance suitable for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning. However, this increased power usually comes at the expense of battery life and portability due to its larger size and weight. So if portability and price are your top priorities, you might lean towards the Surface. But if you require stronger performance and don't mind a larger, heavier machine with reduced battery life, the MSI could serve you better. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
- Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1536 x 1024
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The MSI Thin GF63 offers better gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, which are very important for such tasks, compared to the integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and lower refresh rate on the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3. While the Surface Laptop Go 3 includes a decent processor and quality screen for general use, the GF63's superior GPU and CPU, along with the benefits of a high refresh rate display and higher quality resolution, give it an edge in more graphics-intensive activities.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.5
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is considered fair for engineering and design use primarily due to its moderate processor and integrated graphics, which may not handle heavy design software as effectively, despite its high-quality touchscreen and portability.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.8
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks and detail-oriented engineering applications that benefit from sharper images and accurate color representation. However, its screen lacks the high refresh rate sought by gaming and 3D applications, which is key for smooth motion and a better visual experience during fast-paced activities. The MSI Thin GF63, while providing adequate resolution and brightness for casual use and engineering tasks, also falls short for gaming and 3D work due to a lower refresh rate, which compromises the fluidity of motion on screen.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
6.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
$800
$880
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $800 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $880.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.4
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its lighter weight and longer battery life, is more portable and suitable for on-the-go usage, yet its lower-powered CPU, smaller screen, and lesser RAM make it less capable for heavy multitasking or intensive tasks compared to the MSI Thin GF63. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 has higher RAM, a more powerful CPU, better screen resolution, and a dedicated graphics card which enhances its performance for general use but comes with the tradeoff of being heavier and having shorter battery life, making it less convenient for frequent travel.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1
7.2
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$800 | $880 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 337 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
MSI Thin GF63
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jeffries | November 2022
"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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the MSI Thin GF63
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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