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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI GF63 Thin, a lower midrange priced laptop. If you prioritize performance and are engaged in more graphics-intensive activities, the Katana 15 may justify the higher cost. However, for everyday tasks and moderate use, the GF63 Thin may be the more economical choice without sacrificing too much performance. Note that the GF63 Thin may have a slightly longer battery life for typical usage. 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 MSI GF63 Thin
- Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
6.0
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
249.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
4.2 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 is better for general use than the MSI GF63 Thin mainly because it comes with a more recent and powerful CPU and double the RAM, which significantly improves performance. Additionally, the Katana 15 has a higher quality display with a better contrast ratio and a screen that refreshes images more quickly, along with a larger storage capacity, all of which contribute to a more seamless and enjoyable user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.6
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 provides a superior gaming and 3D experience compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, mainly because of its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, which is more recent and sophisticated than the MSI GF63's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q. Further enhancing the gaming experience, the Katana 15 boasts a higher screen refresh rate, offering smoother visuals during fast-paced scenes, which is a key advantage over the GF63 Thin's lower refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
6.0
7.7
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 delivers better performance for engineering and design use with its newer and faster CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, which although lighter and more portable, falls behind in all these crucial performance areas. Additionally, the MSI Katana 15's screen offers higher refresh rates and contrast, enhancing visual work, while the MSI GF63 Thin's dimmer display and lower screen quality might be less suitable for detailed design tasks.
Content Creation
6.0
7.4
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 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
6.0
7.0
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 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
6.1
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
249.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The MSI Katana 15 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the MSI GF63 Thin and MSI Katana 15 have displays that meet basic requirements with sufficient resolution and acceptable brightness, allowing for comfortable web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. However, for engineering and design tasks, these models lack wide color gamuts which are crucial for accurate color reproduction and details in visuals, limiting their effectiveness for professionals who rely on color precision. Lastly, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion and fast-paced graphics are key, the lower refresh rates on these laptops can result in a less immersive and responsive experience compared to models with higher refresh rates.
Build Quality
6.5
7.2
The MSI Katana 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
$599
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The MSI GF63 Thin has a price of $599 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.2 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI GF63 Thin to have good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the MSI GF63 Thin and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI GF63 Thin | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2019 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.1 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-10300H | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.25 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 249 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 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
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."
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the MSI GF63 Thin or the MSI Katana 15
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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