For general use such as web browsing, office work, or light photo editing, the MSI Modern 14 is more than capable with better battery life and higher portability, making it suitable for on-the-go tasks. It provides a smooth experience for everyday activities at a budget-friendly price. However, if you are looking to perform more demanding tasks like intensive gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI GF65 Thin outperforms with a dedicated high-performance graphics card and a faster refresh rate display, although it is typically more expensive and less portable due to its larger size and weight. Keep in mind that the MSI GF65 Thin may have a shorter battery life, which could be a drawback if you need to use it away from power outlets frequently. 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 GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the MSI Modern 14.
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Modern 14 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin is less suited for general use than the MSI Modern 14 mainly because it has a shorter battery life and is heavier, making it less portable, yet it's equipped with a more powerful GPU which is not a priority for non-gaming tasks. In comparison, the Modern 14 offers more memory (RAM) for multitasking, a higher screen pixel density for sharper visuals, and better portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, though both have similar CPU performance and storage capacity.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
6.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers good gaming and 3D capabilities due to its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth and immersive visual performance. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 has a more modest AMD Vega 7 integrated GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks despite its adequate screen quality and CPU.
Software Development
6.3/10
7.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Modern 14 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
6.8/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Modern 14 laptops offer screens with adequate resolution and brightness, but they might not have the most vibrant panel types compared to higher-end models. Engineering and design professionals may find the color accuracy limited, as neither laptop boasts wide color gamuts necessary for precise color work. Gamers and 3D developers will likely notice a lack of fluidity in fast-paced scenes due to the lower refresh rates, even though the resolution and panel quality are passable for less demanding visual tasks.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$748
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The MSI GF65 Thin has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
The MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers better CPU and GPU performance suitable for engineering and design due to its Intel i5-10500H processor with Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics compared to the MSI Modern 14's AMD Ryzen 5 with integrated Vega 7 graphics. The GF65 also has a larger screen and higher refresh rate which benefits design work, though the Modern 14 is more portable and has better battery life, making it suitable for less intensive tasks.
Content Creation
6.8/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Modern 14 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.
Build Quality
6.7/10
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Modern 14 to have 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI GF65 Thin and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the MSI GF65 Thin or the MSI Modern 14
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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