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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize versatility and higher performance, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out with its flexible hinge that allows it to be used as both a laptop and a tablet, paired with stronger processing power suitable for intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming. However, it is heavier and typically much more expensive, which could affect both budget and portability. The MSI Thin GF63, on the other hand, offers a more affordable entry into gaming and general use with decent performance, while being slightly lighter and easier to carry. Its lower price reflects compromises in screen resolution and versatility, but it still handles everyday tasks and less demanding games well. 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 Studio 2
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
- The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2.
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.4
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
503.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for general use, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 excels in general use with its higher RAM and superior screen quality, including higher resolution and touchscreen capability, which enhances multitasking and interactive tasks, albeit with lower battery life and less portability compared to some other laptops. The MSI Thin GF63, while still good for general use, has a lesser amount of RAM and standard screen quality, but it offers better battery life and is lighter, making it a more portable option.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.9
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Thin GF63 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is equipped with a Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, making it suitable for gaming and 3D tasks; however, the MSI Thin GF63, though it has a slightly less powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, compensates with a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which can provide a smoother visual experience in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 stands out for engineering and design with its superior CPU, more RAM, and a higher-end GPU, all crucial for demanding tasks, along with a higher resolution screen with touch support, benefiting precise work and creative projects. While the MSI Thin GF63 offers a solid CPU and GPU for engineering tasks at a potentially lower price point, it has less RAM and a lower resolution, non-touch display, which may affect multitasking and detailed design work but is lighter and possibly more portable for on-the-go use.
Content Creation
8.4
7.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
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
8.2
7.2
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
64.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 is very good for software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 is good.
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
7.9
6.8
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2400 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
503.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Surface Laptop Studio 2 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness that enhances everyday tasks like web browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design purposes, this laptop's screen supports broad color gamuts, ensuring that designers and engineers see accurate colors when working on detailed projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Studio 2's lower refresh rate might make fast-paced visuals less smooth, while the MSI Thin GF63, despite having a fair screen for everyday tasks and creative work, may not provide the level of detail and color accuracy professionals require, nor the optimal gaming experience due to a similar refresh rate limitation.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 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
8.5
6.5
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has very 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
$3,300
$1,150
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 has a price of $3,300 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
14.4in
SIZE
15.6in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and MSI Thin GF63 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,300 | $1,150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 9.1'' x 0.86'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.72" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.06" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 64 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 503 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The new Surface Laptop Studio with its foldable display is supposed to replace the old Surface Book and the overall impression is good after our review. The build quality and the materials are top-notch, the performance utilization of the two components is solid and the device does not show any major flaws in terms of display or speakers, either. The folding mechanism leaves a sold impression as well, but it remains to be seen how it will hold up over the years. The so-called presentation mode is also not ideal since it covers the whole keyboard."
MSI Thin GF63
See more
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 Studio 2 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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