The MSI GF65 Thin suits gamers and those needing a laptop with a stronger graphics card, such as for rendering or gaming, thanks to its Nvidia RTX 3060. However, it has a shorter battery life and is slightly heavier than the MSI Prestige 15. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15, with its Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q, is not as well-suited for intensive 3D tasks but benefits from a longer battery life, making it more portable, and comes with a higher amount of RAM for multitasking. It's also targeted more towards business professionals and is newer, running Windows 11 out of the box. Both are similar in price and have comparable storage and screen size, but if portability and battery life are more important than gaming or 3D capabilities, the Prestige 15 would be the better choice. 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 Prestige 15.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 15 is considered better for general use because it offers more RAM for multitasking, a higher-quality screen, and a lighter build which, combined with its longer battery life, enhances its portability compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. While the GF65 Thin has a good CPU and excellent heat management, its heavier weight and shorter battery life make it less ideal for users who prioritize mobility and extended use away from power outlets.
Content Creation
6.8/10
7.5/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 15 is 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.
Software Development
6.3/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Prestige 15 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
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 15 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI GF65 Thin's screen may be less suitable for gaming and 3D because it doesn't offer the high refresh rate needed for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios. The MSI Prestige 15, with its higher resolution and better color accuracy, is more appropriate for engineering and design where fine detail and color representation are critical. However, for general use, both laptops provide adequate screen quality, with the Prestige 15 potentially offering a bit more clarity and vibrancy due to its superior screen characteristics.
Battery
4.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 has 7.5 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
6.7/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 has 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.
The MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Prestige 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI GF65 Thin, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3060 and a high screen refresh rate of 144Hz, is suitable for gaming and 3D applications, allowing for smoother on-screen motion and better gaming performance. In comparison, the MSI Prestige 15 comes with an Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, which still delivers fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks but may not be as fluid or visually responsive as the former.
Engineering and Design
6.7/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
6.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin features a more powerful GPU which is better for graphically intensive engineering and design tasks, although it has lower RAM which could limit performance in multitasking or memory-intensive applications compared to the MSI Prestige 15.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 15 and MSI GF65 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,044
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The MSI GF65 Thin has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI GF65 Thin and the MSI Prestige 15 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."
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the MSI GF65 Thin or the MSI Prestige 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.
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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