If your focus is on gaming or graphics-heavy tasks, the MSI GF65 Thin with its more powerful graphics card would be the better option despite its higher price and older processor. However, for general use and multitasking, the MSI Thin GF63 offers more memory, a newer processor, and comes with Windows 11, making it a more cost-effective choice for day-to-day activities and future-proofing with the latest operating system. 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 Thin GF63.
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
262.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Thin GF63 is rated better for general use primarily because it packs a stronger CPU and double the RAM of the MSI GF65 Thin, enabling smoother multitasking and faster performance in day-to-day tasks. Additionally, the GF63 was released more recently with Windows 11 Home, which may contribute to improved overall user experience compared to the older GF65 Thin that comes with Windows 10 Home.
Engineering and Design
6.7/10
7.5/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
6.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF65 Thin with an Intel i5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, and lighter RAM, offers competent performance for engineering tasks and design work, though it may slightly trail behind the MSI Thin GF63, which boasts a newer generation Intel i7 processor, Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, and double the RAM, allowing for more robust handling of demanding software.
Content Creation
6.8/10
7.4/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 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
8.7/10
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 Thin GF63 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
144Hz
262.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for content creation, and software development.
The MSI GF65 Thin and GF63 models offer screens with decent resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks, but they may lack the vibrancy and wider color range that professionals in engineering and design require, making them less suitable for high-precision color work. Both models are not ideal for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and a less immersive experience. Furthermore, while the resolution and panel types of these models are acceptable for general use, they may not provide the sharpness and clarity demanded by high-end gaming or detailed 3D work.
The MSI Thin GF63 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI GF65 Thin, with an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, isn't as capable in gaming and 3D tasks as the MSI Thin GF63 which has a more advanced Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, leading to better graphics handling. Despite both having the same screen refresh rate, the MSI Thin GF63's superior CPU also contributes to an enhanced performance in gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI GF65 Thin.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The MSI GF65 Thin has 4.5 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Thin GF63 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.7/10
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and MSI Thin GF63 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,100
$1,150
$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 Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI GF65 Thin and the MSI Thin GF63 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 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 MSI GF65 Thin or the MSI Thin GF63
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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