Buzz
The MSI GL65 laptop is a low-budget gaming notebook for anyone in need of excellent performance on a tight budget. However, to attain the low price, users will have to make several compromises. So, what are these compromises? Let's delve into the specifics in the review below.
Exquisite Design on the MSI GL65 Laptop
Typically, most gaming laptops nowadays weigh under 2kg. Although housing some seriously impressive specs inside, the MSI GL65 bucks that trend. Nevertheless, its 2.3kg frame certainly isn't unwieldy, and you can still carry it around when necessary.
However, the MSI GL65 laptop isn't one of them. Nonetheless, its 2.3kg frame is certainly not overly bulky, and you can still carry it around when needed.
Perhaps due to its low price, the machine's design isn't particularly emphasized. For most users, the all-black finish may seem a bit dull.
However, it's undeniable that sometimes you'll find subtle touches to liven things up a bit.
The MSI GL65 boasts very good build quality. The lid is sturdy enough to protect the screen, with just the right amount of flex to absorb any sudden impacts.
Striking Keyboard with Red Backlighting
Users can upgrade to an RGB custom keyboard on the MSI GL65 laptop. However, for budget-saving purposes, the GL65 model reviewed in the accompanying article comes standard with an all-red backlighting layout.
Customizing individual keys overall proves useful on the GL65. Because overall, everything feels a bit cramped.
The number pad lacks enough space, and there's no gap to separate the arrow keys, which can be quite frustrating.
Despite the aforementioned issues, the keyboard serves its purpose well. You have deep key travel and comfortable typing experience.
However, it would still be better if the keys were larger and had more spacing.
Overall, the trackpad of the machine is of decent quality, although it's slightly skewed to the left. This could be quite inconvenient for right-handed users.
Powerful Performance on a Reasonable Budget
The MSI GL65 laptop comes with a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 chipset, supported by 16GB of DDR4 RAM. Graphics are handled by Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU, with 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
You can try optimizing performance through MSI's Dragon Center app, upgrading to the 'Turbo' option for resource-intensive games.
Overall, the gaming benchmark of the MSI GL65 laptop is impressive. It even outperforms both the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and the Razer Blade 15 in select tests, despite both competitors having higher-end graphics cards.
The MSI GL65 also performs well in general performance benchmarks. MSI remains competitive neck and neck with the Zephyrus G14 in most tests. However, it falls short in multicore performance.
This means the GL65 is fully capable of running deep creative applications. But this isn't the best gaming laptop choice for such tasks.
MSI's cooling system operates very efficiently, keeping the GL65 consistently cool under pressure.
Overall, there are no instances of heat buildup causing congestion or issues during prolonged gaming sessions. The only downside is that the machine's cooling fan can be quite loud.
Here is a detailed review of the MSI GL65 laptop. Overall, it remains a worthwhile purchase for budget-conscious gamers. However, make sure to consider your own needs before making a decision.
