MSI Thin 15.6" vs Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4
MSI Thin 15.6", Core i5-13420H, 32GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 2025, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Sky Blue
What Buyers Say
MSI Thin 15.6", Core i5-13420H, 32GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
The MSI Thin Gaming Laptop features a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU and a 144 Hz display, which users appreciate for smooth gaming. However, battery life during gaming is a concern, and details on keyboard customization and warranty coverage are unclear from the Q&A. Overall, it offers solid performance for its price but lacks clarity on some features.
Pros
- Dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU
- 144 Hz display refresh rate
- Solid performance for price
Cons
- Poor battery life during gaming
- Unclear keyboard customization options
- Unclear warranty coverage details
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 Thin 15.6" | Apple MacBook Air 13.6" M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i5 13420H | Apple M4 ★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 8 | 10★ |
| Frequency | 3.4 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050★ | Apple (10-Core) |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 6 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6★ | Unified |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 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 | 1 | 2★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | 0 |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ethernet | 1 x RJ-45 | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 2.22 kg | 1.24 kg★ |
| Battery | — | 54 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI Thin 15.6", Core i5-13420H, 32GB, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050, Gray
- Strong gpu (83rd percentile)83rd %ile
- Strong ram (72nd percentile)
- Strong port selection (68th percentile)
- Below average affordability (0th percentile)0th %ile
- Below average portability (33rd 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 (28th percentile)
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 6 of 8 usage categories and 12 of 29 specs.