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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is less expensive and offers twice the storage space of the MSI GF63 Thin, making it a more budget-friendly option. It also has a touch screen and a longer battery life, which are beneficial for general use. However, the MSI GF63 Thin, while more expensive and having less storage, comes with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which is better suited for 3D rendering, machine learning and gaming, despite its shorter battery life. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15".
Key differences
General Use
7.4
6.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
341.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" boasts a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, which translates into better performance for general use, and it has a higher battery capacity for longer usage away from a power source, as well as a brighter screen for improved visibility. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin comes with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card which is beneficial for some applications but has a shorter battery life and a dimmer screen, which may limit its utility in various settings outside of gaming or graphically-intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.7
6.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.3
6.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
7.3
6.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
6.5
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
341.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 and MSI GF63 Thin have displays that may not have the highest resolution or brightness, which can make them less than ideal for users who prioritize sharpness and visibility under various lighting conditions, impacting their performance for general tasks. For engineering and design, while these laptops offer fair screen quality, professionals may find the color accuracy limited as they don't fully cover advanced color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which are crucial for precise color work. Regarding gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rate on both laptops is lower than what is preferred by gamers and those working with fast-moving visuals, leading to less smooth imagery and potentially impacting the overall experience.
Battery
11.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
7.6
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has an AMD Ryzen 7 integrated GPU which is less powerful compared to the dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU in the MSI GF63 Thin, this makes the latter a better choice for gaming and 3D tasks. However, both laptops have the same screen refresh rate and resolution, making them fairly matched in display abilities for quick-paced visuals necessary in gaming and 3D applications.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$599
$599
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a price of $599 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.2'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.08 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.18" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i5-10300H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57 Wh | 51 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 341 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | August 2021
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
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."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" or the MSI GF63 Thin
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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