MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue
What Buyers Say
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
The MSI laptop offers excellent value for its price, with many users praising its powerful RTX 3060 graphics and solid gaming performance for titles like Diablo 4 and Call of Duty. However, several reviewers report significant issues including poor battery life (2 hours or less), high temperatures during gaming, and a difficult upgrade process due to a warranty sticker. While the performance is generally good for the cost, reliability concerns and the need for immediate RAM upgrades are common themes.
Pros
- Powerful RTX 3060 graphics
- Great value for the price
- Good gaming performance
- Expandable RAM and storage
- Runs modern games smoothly
Cons
- Poor battery life (2 hours or less)
- High temperatures during gaming
- Difficult upgrade process
- Warranty sticker blocks upgrades
- Screen quality is poor
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue
The MacBook Air M4 is widely praised for its speed, lightweight design, and excellent battery life, making it a strong upgrade from older models. Users highlight its performance in photo and video editing, quiet operation, and improved keyboard. Some concerns include limited storage options and the high cost of Apple's SSD upgrades, but most find the overall value compelling.
Pros
- Fast performance for photo and video editing
- Lightweight and highly portable design
- Excellent battery life
- Quiet operation with no fan noise
- Improved keyboard feel
Cons
- Limited internal storage options
- High cost of Apple SSD upgrades
- Only two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports
- Sky Blue color barely distinguishable from silver
- macOS can be user-unfriendly with non-transparent controls
Scores
Specifications
| MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE | Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 10500H | Apple M4 ★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 2 | 10★ |
| Frequency | 2.5 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060★ | Apple (10-Core) |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 8 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6★ | Unified |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 8 GB | 24 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 | LPDDR5★ |
| Storage 1 | 512 GB | 1 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | NVMe SSD★ |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6" | 13.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 px | 2560 px★ |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz★ | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | — | 500 nits★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | — | 2★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | 0 |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6E★ |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3★ |
| Ethernet | — | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.90 kg | 1.24 kg★ |
| Battery | — | 54 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 10 | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
- Strong social proof (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong gpu (80th percentile)80th %ile
- Below average ram (13th percentile)13th %ile
- Below average port selection (23rd percentile)
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue
- Strong social proof (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong portability (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Below average affordability (27th percentile)
Pricing
MSI GF65 15.6" Thin 10UE 2021, Xeon Platinum 8160M, 8GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 3060, Black
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue
No current pricing available
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 8 usage categories and 15 of 28 specs.
