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The MSI Thin 15, previously known as the MSI GF63, is showcasing some impressive specs for the price range, which not many laptop brands are offering in the current market. For what seems to be the ‘ultimate deal’ for a budget gaming laptop on paper has been getting mixed reviews from consumers after usage. In this article, we’re going to check out this model of the MSI Thin and give our own takes on what we think of the package.
Let’s first check out the MSI Thin 15 features:
- It as an impressive 144Hz refresh rate with 15.6″ Full HD Display (1920 × 1080). The 144Hz makes a big difference over the 60Hz when it comes to gaming.
- 16GB DDR4 RAM. There are 8GB cheaper options, but I would recommend upgrading to at least 16GB especially for gaming and video editing tasks.
- 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. 512GB is usually the minimum now, especially for a gaming laptop. You will want to add an external hard drive or update the SSD yourself if you need more file space. 512GB can be tight when using the laptop to store large gaming downloads.
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Graphics (4GB GDDR6) with ray tracing support. Even though this is only 4GB, you’re getting the 3050 RTX which is great at this price point. It can handle video editing and gaming. You won’t be playing games like cyberpunk in high res but it handles well in mid to lower settings with most games without lag.
- 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400H Processor optimized for gaming, productivity, and creative tasks.
- Lighter, portable design with great keyboard for easy travel. While I can’t say it’s particularly thin, it is much lighter compared to most gaming laptops on the market.
MSI GF63 Thin 15 Gaming Laptop
- Refresh rate of 144Hz, 15.6" FHD & 512GB SSD.
- 4GB NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU.
- 11th Gen i5-11400H with 16GB RAM.
- Lighter design with great keyboard.
I was very impressed by this laptops specs at this price point. On paper, it looks like an unbeatable deal. This particular model has the 11th gen I5 processor paired with the RTX 3050 GPU allowing it to run most games smoothly with great visuals which are aided by the 144Hz refresh rate. So, great screen, very good entry level GPU for the price and decent processor. There are higher spec options available, and they're also competative.
Two of my favorite features about this laptop are its lightweight and keyboard. It weighs around just 1.86kg, which is great for a budget gaming laptop. In fact, I struggled to find a lighter one at this price point. The keyboard is very unique too, I really like the feel and feedback from the buttons. Alot of people have mixed feelings on the keys and quality which we can review in a moment. But, typing on the MSI thin felt easy and enjoyable for me, thanks to the larger buttons and responsiveness.
But there are some trade offs, MSI are known for screen problems and looking at this laptop display I can't help but worry about the duability. The screen does appear to flex easily and the hinges looks small with alot of empty space underneath. Many people have reported the hinges breaking on their model, I can only hope MSI have fixed this issue in newer builds.
Battery life is also lacking, which is expected for a gaming laptop but don't expect this to be any different, it only has a 45w output and it lacks a usbc charger which is a shame. The 45w is very low for gaming tech however this still manages to play games well. Just don't expect to play longer than an hour without charge.
Overall: We think the MSI Thin 15 is an excellent value budget gaming laptop, giving you an entry level start into gaming and a solid base for apps with video editing. Just note the build quailty is in question and we're still waiting to see how durable this laptop will be over time.
Lightweight design (around 1.86kg) – one of the lightest gaming laptops in its price range, making it highly portable.
Responsive keyboard – larger buttons with satisfying feedback make typing and gaming comfortable.
Strong value specs – 11th Gen Intel i5 + RTX 3050 GPU + 144Hz display deliver smooth entry-level gaming at a budget price.
Build quality concerns – screen flex and small hinges raise questions about long-term durability.
Weak battery life – only about an hour of gaming without a charger, plus no USB-C charging support.
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Thanks for reading, I hope this review of the MSI Thin 15 gaming laptop helped you! If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop, make sure try our Laptop Finder Quiz. Otherwise, check out our similar tech reviews on the links below.
