The MSI GF63 Skinny is the most recent in an extended line of gaming laptops for MSI. Operating at round £649 within the UK and beginning at $695 (with extra configurations accessible) within the US, it’s a gaming laptop computer for customers on a funds, with fewer bells and RGB-light-whistles than some players could also be used to, however at its core it’s nonetheless a fairly useful machine.
Regardless of its prime operate as a gaming laptop computer, the MSI GF63 Skinny doesn’t look misplaced at work or within the classroom, which does give it an additional degree of performance. For creatives, nevertheless, the MSI GF63 Skinny falls a bit of brief, lagging behind in terms of fundamental enhancing capabilities. For video enhancing, customers may wish to take a look at our information to the perfect laptops for video enhancing. And whereas it’s a very good laptop computer for college students who wish to stability written work with gaming, you’ll be able to take a look at the information to the perfect scholar laptops for extra choices.
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Key specs
| CPU: | Intel Core i5 Processor, eleventh Gen |
| GPU: | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop computer GPU |
| RAM: | 8GB RAM (Max 64GB, DDR4-3200) 2 Slots |
| Display: | 15.6” FHD |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Ports: | 1x Kind- C USB 3.2 Gen1, 3x Kind-A USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x HDMI (4K at 30Hz), 1x Ethernet Port, 1x Mic in, 1x Headphone out |
| Dimension: | 359 x 254 x 21.7mm |
| Weight: | 1.85kg |
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Design and construct
The MSI GF63 Skinny has a particular look and extra restricted customisation choices than most gaming laptops; you’ll be able to have any colors you want, as long as they’re black and crimson. It additionally doesn’t scream “gaming laptop computer”, which implies it will possibly usefully serve double responsibility as a piece or college laptop computer with out elevating eyebrows.
The crimson edges on the keys are a stylistic plus to me, though at occasions the important thing font generally is a little difficult to learn; in isolation, for instance, O and D look very related, so it’s not precisely a keyboard to be taught to sort on. The keyboard is a fairly commonplace non-numpad structure though there’s an additional row to the precise, that includes delete/insert, dwelling, finish, web page up and web page down. Mixed with the operate key these additionally management display screen brightness, keyboard brightness and quantity.
Whereas acclimating to the laptop computer, I repeatedly hit House as an alternative of Backspace, took a number of screenshots (because the Print Display key has taken the place of the Delete key) and spent a number of time faffing about with the operate key after I wished to vary brightness or quantity. I’m not totally sure why no less than a few of these capabilities weren’t alt choices on the largely empty F-row and even on their very own keys outright.
The trackpad is a really unusual measurement and has a texture that I can’t fairly place however don’t love; there’s a bit of an excessive amount of friction there. It’s not essentially the most responsive trackpad on this planet and if I used to be going to do a number of gaming on this PC I’d positively use a mouse.
The ability button is a cutout on the skinny aluminium coating on the bottom and I just like the non-standard angles of it. I’d love a fingerprint scanner, however that’s probably not an choice for many funds fashions. Whereas the bottom feels comparatively strong, I’ve one main situation with it: there’s a sharpness to the perimeters which rubs on my wrists when typing from some angles. It initially appeared like a small situation, however it might in all probability be a dealbreaker when it got here to issues like essay writing. In the direction of the top of penning this assessment, I thought of wrapping the perimeters in electrical tape.
On the plus aspect, they’ve been comparatively beneficiant with ports; with three USB-A ports and a USB-C port, there’s in all probability sufficient house to plug issues in, though given that you just’ll in all probability need an exterior mouse (and probably an exterior keyboard) chances are you’ll want an extension set.
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Display and sound
Some of the distinctive positives of the MSI GF63 Skinny’s display screen is its huge viewing angle. It’s straightforward to view from nearly any angle, with little or no color change, making it snug to share between individuals at completely different angles. The brightness isn’t breathtaking, however it’s useful, and it holds up okay in vivid daylight. Realistically, nevertheless, it’s extra sensible for enhancing an essay within the shade than battling demons on the seaside. The display screen hinge is sweet and strong, so no less than it’ll keep on the angle you prop it at.
The digicam is fairly unusual however streamers will wish to put money into one thing a bit extra high-def. With vivid lights behind me, every little thing shortly turned a silhouette, though that’s true of most traditional webcams.
Audio-wise, nevertheless, the MSI GF63 Skinny actually falls down. The audio system on their very own are extraordinarily quiet and muffled on most frequencies; the mid-range is crushed, there’s nearly no treble (which is bizarre for a laptop computer) and general the sound is extremely compressed. There’s an virtually full lack of stereo data besides within the very restricted bass and a few areas of mid, which is perplexing. At full quantity (which continues to be very quiet), vocals begin turning into clearer however all dynamics are gone. I put the laptop computer onto a tough floor to see if it improved issues, however past a really slight enchancment the sound was nonetheless very disappointing. Acoustic music held up barely higher than pop, however with completely no bass and no punch. Basically, it’s like listening to tunes by means of the wall in your neighbour’s stereo.
One small, reasonably saving grace is the inclusion of Nahimic, an audio tuning software program. Whereas, with a number of work, it managed to make the audio system sound satisfactory, the dynamics remained poor and the music was extraordinarily compressed; these audio system merely can’t take care of any actual dynamic vary. Nahimic’s ‘encompass sound’ impact did increase the stereo discipline, however added some very odd reverb; nearly all of the enhancements had been by means of the equaliser, however it nonetheless solely takes the sound to ‘okay’. One other attention-grabbing function lets you put a Bluetooth speaker behind you to create a encompass sound impact for movie-watching, however when you wished good sound you’d be utilizing exterior audio system anyway. For players with out headphones, it additionally has a sound tracker, which visualises encompass sound audio for video video games, permitting you to see if one thing’s sneaking up behind you.
General, if you wish to have some music on very quietly within the background whilst you work or wish to make voice calls in a quiet place, the MSI GF63 Skinny has you lined. For the rest, you’re going to need exterior audio system or headphones.
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Options
The MSI GF63 Skinny comes loaded with a number of items of software program, a lot of which you’ll wish to eliminate virtually instantly. A free two-month trial of Norton is included, which is an pointless factor as Home windows 10 and 11 have their very own in-built antivirus, however essentially the most irritating inclusion, to me, is Microsoft Groups; not that it’s put in, however that it’s set as a startup program: why? Groups is a type of applications that no one makes use of of their very own accord, and its classification as an important on a gaming laptop computer is pointless.
On a extra constructive be aware, the laptop computer additionally contains the MSI-exclusive MSI centre, permitting customers to tweak the laptop computer’s efficiency and setup for various video games and usages. As talked about above, it additionally contains the Nahimic app, permitting customers to tweak the comparatively mediocre sound system into one thing extra aurally pleasing.
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Efficiency
| Cinebench R23: | Multi-core: 8,560 | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| Geekbench 6: | Multi-core: 6,289 | Single-core: 2,069 |
| PCMark 10: | Complete: 5,486 | Row 2 – Cell 2 |
| 3D Mark | Evening Raid: 30,316 (common gaming laptop computer: 30,512 | Row 3 – Cell 2 |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 | Fireplace Strike: 10,045 (common gaming laptop computer: 2,656) | Row 4 – Cell 2 |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | Time Spy: 4,220 (above workplace laptops, however beneath gaming laptops) | Row 5 – Cell 2 |
Gaming
The MSI GF63 Skinny is a strong alternative for gaming when you don’t thoughts operating extra intensive video games on decrease graphics settings. I performed a number of informal video games akin to Energy Wash Simulator on the best attainable graphical settings, and aside from the followers turning into louder, the video games ran easily with out criticism. There have been some lengthy loading screens on greater video games akin to Bethesda’s Starfield and Age of Empires IV, however it held up surprisingly properly. The MSI GF63 Skinny positively holds its personal in opposition to commonplace workplace laptops in terms of gaming, however falls down when it’s in comparison with different specialist gaming laptops and gaming PCs.
Inventive
Whereas I used to be capable of open, set up and use Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, I’ve my suspicions that this isn’t the best machine for them. Inflating a comparatively easy picture on Illustrator required a good few seconds to course of, as did making use of textures. Essentially the most notable warning signal, nevertheless, was that Puget’s benchmarks did not run in any respect, regardless of a number of makes an attempt. Contemplating that Photoshop suggests customers have 16GB, there may not be sufficient reminiscence to hold out advanced design duties on the bottom 8GB mannequin of the MSI GF63 Skinny.
MSI GF63 Skinny assessment: Battery life
The battery life on the MSI GF63 Skinny is satisfactory given the value; it runs at between 4 and 5 hours per cost, relying on use, with battery life significantly decrease (two to a few hours) whereas operating video games. The actual situation, nevertheless, is the cost velocity; the MSI GF63 Skinny expenses extremely slowly, which implies you’re tied to an influence socket if it’s essential do one thing for longer than a number of hours, decreasing its viability to non-gamers; a coffee-shop writing laptop computer this ain’t.
Ought to I purchase the MSI GF63 Skinny?
To begin with, severe players ought to look elsewhere. However for the extra informal gamer (who already owns an honest set of audio system or headphones), the MSI GF63 Skinny is right. It handles informal video games like Energy Wash Simulator and The Sims 4 with ease and is snug sufficient operating bigger video games akin to Age of Empires IV and Murderer’s Creed: Odyssey. There are a number of different gaming laptops at related costs, such because the ASUS TUF Gaming F15, which is available in at round £700 for roughly the identical spec, and the Acer Nitro 5, at round £800 for the same spec. Whereas there are a number of flaws within the design, the MSI GF63 is general a very good deal until you’re going to be performing some severe gaming, and even then it’s usable when you don’t thoughts the graphics being a bit of decrease high quality.
