Main points
- The GF63 has a more subdued design with a brushed aluminum finish and a black and silver color scheme.
- The GF63 comes with similar processor options as the Nitro 5, but it offers a wider range of graphics cards, including the RTX 3050 Ti and the RTX 3060 Max-Q.
- The GF63 starts at a slightly higher price of around $899 for the base model with an i5-11400H processor and an RTX 3050 graphics card.
In the realm of affordable gaming laptops, two contenders stand out: the Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI GF63. Both offer impressive specs and features at competitive prices, making them popular choices among gamers on a budget. But which one is the better pick? To help you make an informed decision, we’ll pit the Acer Nitro 5 against the MSI GF63 in a comprehensive comparison.
Design and Build Quality
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 sports a sleek and aggressive design with sharp angles and a black and red color scheme. It’s made from a combination of plastic and metal, providing a sturdy yet lightweight construction.
MSI GF63: The GF63 has a more subdued design with a brushed aluminum finish and a black and silver color scheme. It’s also made from a combination of plastic and metal, but it feels slightly heavier than the Nitro 5.
Display
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 comes with a 15.6-inch IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a 3ms response time. This provides smooth and responsive gameplay with minimal ghosting or tearing.
MSI GF63: The GF63 also features a 15.6-inch IPS display, but with a slightly lower 120Hz refresh rate and a 5ms response time. While it’s not as fast as the Nitro 5’s display, it still offers a solid gaming experience.
Performance
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 is powered by either an Intel Core i5-11400H or an i7-11800H processor, paired with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or 3060 graphics. This combination provides ample performance for most modern games at high settings.
MSI GF63: The GF63 comes with similar processor options as the Nitro 5, but it offers a wider range of graphics cards, including the RTX 3050 Ti and the RTX 3060 Max-Q. This gives it a slight performance edge over the Nitro 5 in more demanding games.
Storage and Memory
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 comes with up to 1TB of NVMe SSD storage and up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. This provides fast load times and plenty of memory for multitasking and gaming.
MSI GF63: The GF63 also offers up to 1TB of NVMe SSD storage, but it has a slightly higher maximum RAM capacity of 32GB. This makes it a better choice for users who need more memory for heavy workloads.
Battery Life
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 has a 57Wh battery that provides up to 5 hours of mixed usage. While this is not particularly impressive, it’s still sufficient for short gaming sessions or work sessions away from an outlet.
MSI GF63: The GF63 has a slightly smaller 51Wh battery, which results in slightly shorter battery life of around 4-5 hours.
Connectivity and Features
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 features a wide range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. It also has a built-in webcam and microphone.
MSI GF63: The GF63 offers similar connectivity options to the Nitro 5, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port. However, it lacks a built-in webcam.
Price and Value
Acer Nitro 5: The Nitro 5 starts at around $799 for the base model with an i5-11400H processor and an RTX 3050 graphics card. The higher-end models with i7 processors and RTX 3060 graphics cards can cost up to $1,299.
MSI GF63: The GF63 starts at a slightly higher price of around $899 for the base model with an i5-11400H processor and an RTX 3050 graphics card. The higher-end models with i7 processors and RTX 3060 graphics cards can cost up to $1,399.
Which One Should You Choose?
The Acer Nitro 5 and MSI GF63 are both excellent budget-friendly gaming laptops that offer a great balance of performance, features, and price. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
If you prioritize a fast display with a high refresh rate, the Acer Nitro 5 is the better option. If you need more graphics power or memory, the MSI GF63 is a better choice. And if you need a laptop with a built-in webcam, the Nitro 5 is the only one that offers it.
Popular Questions
Q: Which laptop has a better battery life?
A: The Acer Nitro 5 has a slightly longer battery life than the MSI GF63.
Q: Which laptop has a better keyboard?
A: Both laptops have good keyboards with responsive keys and RGB backlighting. However, some users prefer the feel of the Nitro 5’s keyboard over the GF63’s.
Q: Which laptop has better speakers?
A: The MSI GF63 has slightly better speakers than the Acer Nitro 5, providing louder and more immersive audio.
Q: Which laptop is more portable?
A: The Acer Nitro 5 is slightly lighter and thinner than the MSI GF63, making it more portable.
Q: Which laptop has better customer support?
A: Both Acer and MSI offer good customer support, but some users have reported better experiences with Acer’s support team.