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MagyarGetting ready for back to school season? Here are some of the best MSI laptops that can be your perfect companion for studies, creativity, and leisure
Introduction
Back to school season is upon us once again and that means shopping for new laptops that can take on the vagaries of the new academic year. With Intel announcing the new 10th generation Comet Lake processors and NVIDIA refreshing its mobile GPU lineup, there has never been a better time to go laptop shopping. But with the myriad of choices available for just about every budget, selecting one can get pretty daunting.
MSI has been a pioneer in gaming and content creator laptops for many years now. The company has offerings across almost all price ranges with a slew of configuration options to ensure your academic needs are taken care of and that you are getting the maximum bang for your buck.
In this article, we will discuss several MSI products in the GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series, which we feel will aptly address the needs of the coming academic year and also offer great gaming performance to help you unwind after a hectic day at school.
MSI GF Thin Series — Great power in a thin form factor
Grad school already has its own burdens, so why trouble yourself additionally with a very thick laptop in your backpack? Thin laptops usually compromise on component choice owing to chassis and thermal constraints. The MSI GF Thin series seeks to alter this paradigm.
The GF Thin series offers a variety of configurations and screen sizes, so not just your academic content but also your games and multimedia get the platform they deserve. Let's have a look at what this lineup has to offer.
MSI GF65 Thin
When it comes to thin notebooks, it is often a trade-off between style and substance. Not any more with the MSI GF65 Thin. With a thickness of just 0.85 inches and weighing just 1.86 kg, the GF65 Thin is your perfect portable companion for both work and play. All variants of the GF65 Thin are powered by the latest Intel 10th generation Core i7-10750H processor. Featuring six cores and 12 threads combined with boost speeds up to 5 GHz, the Core i7-10750H offers the required horsepower to ensure a smooth computing experience at all times — whether you are on battery or plugged-in.
More and more applications are becoming increasingly GPU-aware these days, so a simple integrated graphics solution won't cut it anymore. Keeping the present and near-immediate needs of students in mind who would probably be working with domain-specific software and would also like their device to help them unwind after a grueling day at college, MSI is offering the GF65 Thin in both NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants.
Both the RTX 2060 and GTX 1660 Ti variants offer high refresh rate displays with the GTX 1660 Ti models going up to 144 Hz making them perfect for competitive fragging sessions after school. All GF65 Thin models come with a 15.6-inch IPS-level FHD panel and sport thin bezels for an immersive viewing experience.
Class work is all about assignments and that means a lot of research and collecting data. The GF65 Thin offers a choice of 512 GB and 1 TB NVMe SSDs in the default configuration. So, whether you are collecting material for finalizing your much anticipated thesis or need space for your ever-increasing games library you can be rest assured of having access to fast, copious storage with scope for further expansion.
The MSI GF65 Thin offers easy maintenance, decent port selection that also includes a couple of USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C ports, ability to expand memory and storage, Nahimic 3 enhanced audio with dual 2 W speakers, and all the latest networking options. A 51 Wh battery helps the GF65 Thin keep pace with the vagaries of school life.
If you are after a thin and light laptop that perfectly suits your curricular and gaming needs without breaking the bank, the MSI GF65 Thin ticks all relevant boxes.
Current promo prices start from:
- MSI GF65 THIN 9SEXR-249 Gaming Laptop (GeForce RTX 2060, 9th Gen Core i5-9300H, 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 120 Hz) for only US$949 (valid from 28 August-September 6)
- MSI GF65 THIN 9SEXR-250 Gaming Laptop (GeForce RTX 2060, 9th Gen Core i7-9750H, 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 120 Hz) for only US$1,049 (valid from 28 August-September 6)
- MSI GF65 THIN 10SDR-675 Gaming Laptop (GeForce GTX 1660Ti, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 1 TB NVMe SSD, Full HD 144 Hz) for only US$1,299 (valid from 27 August-27 September)
- MSI GF63 THIN 10SCXR-485 Gaming Laptop (GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD) for only US$899 (valid from 27 August-27 September)
MSI GF75 Thin
For those who need a larger screen while still reaping the benefits of the thin chassis and affordability of the GF Thin series, the MSI GF75 Thin is an easy recommend. The GF75 Thin sports similar features as the GF65 Thin but offers a few added niceties. You get the same high-performing Core i7-10750H and now a GPU choice between the RTX 2060 and the GTX 1650. The 17.3-inch FHD displays in the GF75 Thin series are available in both 120 Hz and 144 Hz options, which make for a smooth viewing experience.
MSI GL Leopard Series — Unhindered performance for work and play
What if you need more performance than what the majority of the choices offer in the market? When subjects become more demanding, you need a laptop that can measure up to the task at hand without breaking a sweat. The MSI GL Leopard series is capable of handling demanding workloads while also measuring up to a very capable mobile gaming machine. Similar to the GF Thin series above, there are a slew of configuration options available with the GL Leopard, so let's check them out.
MSI GL65 Leopard
The MSI GL65 Leopard gets an upgrade to the 10th generation Core i7-10750H. On the GPU side of things, you get a choice between the RTX 2060 and RTX 2070 in the RTX series, and the GTX 1650, GTX 1650 Ti, and GTX 1660 Ti in the GTX series. All models in the GL Leopard series offer 144-Hz 15.6-inch FHD IPS-level panels that nearly cover the entire sRGB color gamut. Other useful features include default memory configurations up to 16 GB DDR4-2666, SteelSeries RGB keyboard, and Nahimic 3 audio.
MSI has endowed the GL65 Leopard with a fairly decent port selection that includes both HDMI and mini-DisplayPort-outs. This, combined with the powerful RTX 2070 GPU, enables connecting up to two 4K external displays for maximum productivity and gaming.
The RTX 2070 is also powerful enough to offer excellent ray tracing and DLSS performance resulting, in smooth, immersive, and cinematic gaming experiences.
Current promo prices start from:
- MSI GL65 Leopard 10SCXR-031 Gaming Laptop (GeForce GTX 1650, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 120 Hz) for only US$929 (valid from August 28-September 6)
- MSI GL65 Leopard 10SEK-022 Gaming Laptop (GeForce RTX 2060, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 1TB HDD + 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 144 Hz) for only US$1,269 (valid from August 28-September 6)
MSI GL75 Leopard
The MSI GL75 Leopard offers all the goodness of the GL65 Leopard but with a 17.3-inch 144 Hz display with near-100% sRGB coverage, making it an ideal choice for those who could use the additional screen real estate. The inclusion of the Core i7-10750H CPU and the RTX 2070 GPU option means that the GL75 Leopard can easily sail through even demanding workloads, making it ideal for students who work on extensive number crunching, simulations, and the likes.
The default configuration includes both a 512 GB M.2 NVMe SSD as well as a 1 TB HDD, which provides an ideal combination of speed and storage space for both work files and games. If you are after a powerful laptop that does not disappoint in work or play, the MSI GL75 Leopard is your best bet.
In the Notebookcheck review, the GL75 Leopard also has very low fan noise that is nearly inaudible under light loads, which helps during the times you need to absolutely focus on the task at hand or when you are in the library. The laptop is also cool to touch and does not heat up unexpectedly, allowing for a very comfortable long-term usage.
Current promo prices start from:
- MSI GL75 Leopard 10SDR-011 Gaming Laptop (GeForce GTX 1660Ti, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 1 TB HDD + 256 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 144 Hz) for only US$999 (valid from August 27-September 22)
- MSI GL75 Leopard 10SFK-029 Gaming Laptop (GeForce RTX 2070, 10th Gen Core i7-10750H, 1TB HDD + 512 GB NVMe SSD, Full HD 144 Hz) for only US$1,449 (valid from August 28-September 6)
MSI Prestige Series — A content creator's best friend
Design, content creation, and allied disciplines are much sought after fields these days. While gaming laptops are powerful enough from a specifications point of view, those into content creation need much more than merely ticking off items on a spec sheet. Content creation workloads can be very demanding and also require certain characteristics such as the availability of a color-accurate display and fine-grain control over adjusting system modes and resources. Content creator laptops also need to have a good design aesthetic while also being easily portable and highly durable.
This is where the MSI Prestige 14 and Prestige 15 come in.
MSI Prestige 14
The Prestige 14 instantly stands out from the sea of other similar laptops out there. It comes with a fully metallic finish and is available in several color options including Carbon Grey, Pure White, and Rose Pink. With an ultra-slim design that is just 0.63 inches thick and weighs a mere 1.28 kg, the Prestige 14 is sure to turn heads on campus.
A slew of configuration options that include the Intel 10th generation Comet Lake-U series chips such as the Core i5-10210U, Core i7-10510U, and Core i7-10710U are available. All variants feature the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU for hardware acceleration in popular content creation apps such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and the likes.
The Prestige 14 is well-equipped for an ultrabook and even comes with two Thunderbolt 3 ports that enable fast data transfers.
Though the 16 GB RAM (dual channel, LPDDR3-2133) is soldered, the Prestige 14 offers easy maintenance to swap out the NVMe SSD and the Wi-Fi if need be.
The factory-calibrated True Pixel display that comes in both FHD and UHD options is perhaps one of the Prestige 14's strong points. Notebookcheck's tests found that there was very minimal need to re-calibrate the display. MSI True Tone allows for an excellent, color-accurate viewing experience for critical design workflows both indoors and outdoors. The screen is also devoid of any measurable PWM, which means working for long hours does not cause any eye strain or headache.
To understand more about the importance of having color-accurate displays in content creator laptops, check out the following article: Laptops 101: Understanding what goes into selecting an ideal laptop display for content creators
MSI Prestige 15
If you need the slim profile that the Prestige 14 offers but could use a slightly larger screen, the Prestige 15 definitely merits consideration. The Prestige 15 offers similar CPU and GPU configuration options as the Prestige 14 and comes with the added flexibility of expandable RAM. Once again, MSI has equipped the Prestige 15 with an excellent True Pixel display that has the potential to offer highly accurate color reproduction for your masterpiece.
Creation often involves extensive collaboration. The Prestige 15 features a 180-degree lay-flat hinge that allows effortless sharing and discussions of your design ideas.
Notebookcheck's testing found that the Prestige 15 with 4k panel really lives up to its claims of offering 100% sRGB and 100% AdobeRGB coverage along with an average delta E of less than 2. The slightly larger chassis also helps in better long-term sustained performance without the ills of thermal throttling. Similar to the Prestige 14, the Prestige 15 has fairly low noise emissions and manageable temperatures even under load.
Whether you are student of design or a content creator on the move, the MSI Prestige 15 offers the right combination of power, portability, performance, and affordability to ensure your creations get the platform they deserve.
Conclusion
MSI is offering upgraded versions of the popular GF Thin, GL Leopard, and Prestige series this year.
The GF Thin is for those who need a thin and light laptop that offers a good mix of performance and affordability while also being fully capable of catering to the demands of most school or college requirements.
The GL Leopard takes things a notch higher and is perfect for those who need a lot more power for demanding workloads and competitive gaming.
The Prestige series is made with the needs of mobile content creators in mind and features a beautiful design aesthetic combined with a very lively and color-accurate True Pixel display along with the required performance to boot.
Back to school season is the perfect time to evaluate your requirements for the coming academic year and plan your laptop purchases. With an assortment of laptops targeted at each price point and use case, you can count on MSI to be your best companion for a productive college year.
