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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro tends to be a little more expensive but offers a stronger performance for engineering tasks with its more powerful processor and graphics card. It also has a larger and better-quality screen, higher storage capacity, and more RAM, making it well-suited for intensive applications and multitasking. However, the MSI GF63 Thin is slightly less costly, lighter, and has a marginally higher portability score, which could make it a preferable choice if you're prioritizing carrying your laptop around easily over having top-end performance. The MSI's battery life is significantly shorter than the Lenovo's, so if you need your laptop to last longer on a single charge, the Lenovo might better suit your needs. If gaming is your focus, the Lenovo's hardware supports intensive gaming while the MSI does not, although for general use both laptops are well-matched. 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 Pro
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro.
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
409.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is rated higher for general use because it has a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality screen with superior resolution, brightness, and color coverage, which are very important for a satisfactory general use experience. While the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter and slightly more portable, it falls short in battery life and screen quality, impacting its overall utility for general use applications.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.0
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and MSI GF63 Thin are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro offers a decent GPU suitable for moderate gaming and 3D work, while its high screen refresh rate enhances smooth visuals; however, the MSI GF63 Thin's stronger GPU delivers better performance in gaming and 3D tasks, although its lower screen refresh rate may not be as smooth for fast-paced games. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI prioritizes gaming with its superior graphics capabilities at the expense of a less fluid display compared to the Lenovo.
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.0
6.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is better suited for engineering and design due to its superior CPU, double the RAM for better multitasking, and a more powerful GPU for rendering tasks, along with a higher resolution and brighter screen that benefits detailed work. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower quality display, making it less optimal for demanding engineering software and detailed graphics work, although it is slightly more portable and less noisy.
Content Creation
7.5
6.0
6.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.4
6.0
6.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.8
6.1
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
409.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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 Pro has a high-resolution display and bright screen, making it suitable for general use and engineering where clarity and color accuracy are crucial. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal, as these activities benefit from smoother motion. On the other hand, the MSI GF63 Thin provides acceptable quality for both general use and engineering with its decent resolution and color reproduction, but again, its refresh rate doesn't support the high-speed visuals preferred in gaming and 3D applications.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has 10 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 Pro 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.
Cost
$516
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a price of $516 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and MSI GF63 Thin both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and the MSI GF63 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro | MSI GF63 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$516 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.3 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS | Intel i5-10300H | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | RTX 3050 (35 W) | GTX 1650 Max-Q | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 4.25 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 409 nits | 249 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | White | Red | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
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 Pro 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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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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