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Updated March 22, 2024·
If price is a major factor for you, the MSI GF65 Thin offers good performance for everyday tasks and gaming at a lower cost, but it may not handle intensive tasks as well as the more expensive MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio. The Stealth is designed for high-end performance that's suitable for 3D work, machine learning, and demanding engineering applications. It also typically has features that justify its higher price, like better build quality, more powerful components, and a higher resolution screen. However, the Stealth is often heavier and may have shorter battery life, making the GF65 Thin more portable. 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
- Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers decent processing power and sufficient memory for everyday tasks, but its lower screen quality and shorter battery life make it less ideal for prolonged use compared to the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which boasts a more powerful CPU, higher RAM, superior screen quality for better visuals, longer battery life for extended use, and is designed with better portability in mind despite potentially being more expensive. While both models provide adequate storage and reasonable keyboard and speaker quality, the Stealth 18 AI Studio likely maintains quieter operation and more effective heat management due to its advanced design.
Gaming and AI
6.8
8.9
6.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers decent graphics and smooth visuals for gaming thanks to its capable GPU and high refresh rate screen, making it suitable for many gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio boasts a more powerful GPU and superior screen qualities that cater to the most demanding gaming and 3D rendering tasks with enhanced detail and fluidity.
Engineering and Design
6.7
9.1
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
6.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers a solid CPU and enough RAM for engineering tasks, with a capable GPU for moderate design work but has a standard screen quality, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio packs a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU for demanding engineering software, alongside a higher-quality screen that benefits detailed design projects. While both are decently portable, the Stealth 18 AI has an edge in build quality, including a better keyboard and quieter operation, though this comes at a higher price point.
Content Creation
6.8
8.5
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very 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
8.2
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very 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
8.4
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI GF65 Thin's screen offers satisfactory resolution and brightness for daily tasks and applications used in general use and engineering, but its limited color gamut might not be ideal for color-sensitive work. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio's display, with higher resolution and wider color coverage, provides a more vibrant and accurate visual experience for engineering and design professionals who require precise color reproduction. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D uses due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smoother visuals that high-paced gaming and 3D rendering demand.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GF65 Thin has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.7
8.0
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very 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.
Cost
$1,100
$2,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI GF65 Thin has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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How the MSI GF65 Thin and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI GF65 Thin | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.1 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-10500H | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 262 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
MSI GF65 Thin
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NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"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."
Get a great deal on the MSI GF65 Thin or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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