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Have you ever wondered what the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD is capable of achieving in terms of performance? You need not wonder anymore because this review is all about that. From our research, ✅MSI GF63 Gaming laptop won the best gaming brand of 2018. 2 years onwards, we consider it the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD.
As a Taiwanese brand, MSI is known for quality gaming laptops and has a long list of laptops with different capabilities.
In this review, we feature seven different high-performance machines that contested for the position of the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD.
Best MSI Laptop Under 1200 USD
Comparison table of the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD
| S/N | Product | Image | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSI GF63 Gaming Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.1lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 2 | MSI GF75 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 17.3" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.86lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 3 | CUK MSI GF65 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Atom x5 E8000 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 16GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.1lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 4 | MSI GV62 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 128GB SSD + 1TB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.8lbs Battery life: Up to 5hrs |
| 5 | MSI Modern 14 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 14" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 4.1lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 6 | MSI GF65 Laptop(8GB, 512GB SSD) |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 512GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 5.29lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 7 | MSI GL63 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i7 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 8.69lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
1. MSI GF63 Thin Gaming Laptop -Best MSI Laptop Under 1200 USD
For good reasons, the GF63 Thin 9SC066 Gaming laptop is the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD.
Beyond the fact that gaming laptops are uniquely designed with great performance capabilities, GF63 is in a class of its own.
It’s very suitable for gamers who’re not willing to spend so much on gaming laptops.
Design
It comes in a sleek, compact and solid chassis which is finished smoothly in brushed aluminium.
It’s both thin and very powerful.
Also, the fiery red MSI logo is firmly stamped on the lid which is made of plastic.
Notwithstanding, it neither feels plasticky nor cheap.
However, the body registers every fingerprint and you’d have to keep a microfibre cloth close to wipe down.
Screen
Furthermore, it’s equipped with a spectacular 15.6″ 1920 x 1080 display.
The visual output is satisfying, crisp, clear and sharp.
Also, it has razor-thin frames surrounding the display.
This offers you more real estate, meaning that with less, you get to enjoy more screen space.
Keyboard
Going further, the black island-style keyboard comes with a brilliant red trimming surrounding each key.
Also, it comes with backlight for better typing experience in dim environments.
Although the backlight colour is red, it doesn’t feel distracting.
This is except you have a strong dislike for the red colour itself.
Furthermore, the keys are somewhat shallow with 1.4mm travel.
However, the trackpad feels cheap although it responds well to touch and taps.
Overall, you’ll enjoy your typing experience.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
GF63 enjoys an efficient power source, thanks to the powerful 9th generation Intel 6-Core i7 processor.
Also, you have the super-power of NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1660Ti graphics to help you power through your games.
Supporting this is a 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage.
The way the storage boots speedily is phenomenal.
Generally, startup and loading are superb.
Whatever you need to do on the GF63, it won’t break a sweat or fail on you.
Considering that this is a gaming laptop, it’s prone to overheating under extreme gaming conditions.
To take care of that, you’d have to make use of the cooler booster feature to eliminate or reduce this if you’re an ardent gamer.
Also, there’s a good selection of ports for connecting to external devices.
Weight
It’s relatively lightweight at 4.10lbs.
Battery
Although the battery is designed for up to 7hrs usage, you may get an hour or two less than that in actual use.
PROS
- Solid build
- Beautiful keyboard with backlight
- Powerful processor and graphics card
- Great memory and storage space
CONS
- Cheap-feeling trackpad
- Overheats without the cooler booster.
Overall, GF63 is perfect and able to do all you want it to do and is the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD.
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2. MSI GF75 -2nd Best MSI Laptop Under 1200 USD
Following closely on the heels of the GF63 is MSI GF75 Thin Gaming laptop.
It’s the next best MSI laptop under 1200.
Besides the massive screen, there’s a lot more to love about this beautiful MSI model.
Design
The design follows the traditional red theme of MSI laptops.
Besides, it’s sleek and compact with the feel of a premium product.
Also, it’s really cool to look at with the brushed aluminium chassis design.
However, you wouldn’t want to use this for too long on your laps.
This is because of the uncomfortable edges jutting out under the chassis.
Other than that, the design is brilliant.
Screen
The screen is a massive 17.3″ 1920 x 1080 IPS-level display that’s really exciting to work on.
With an aspect ratio of 16:9 and 100% RGB, you’re in for a beautiful viewing experience.
Colours pop and provide clear contrasts on the screen for your viewing pleasure.
Moreso, the viewing angles are wide enough to offer you a completely immersive experience.
Keyboard
It’s equipped with a full-size keyboard that makes typing easy and comfortable.
However, the angular design might pose a bit of challenge for your wrists when you type for a long time on it.
Besides that, you’d completely enjoy the keyboard and trackpad.
Also, the keyboard lights up really nicely with the traditional red backlight.
Hence, you’re able to see the keys clearly even in the dark.
If you’re not a lover of red colour, you’d find the red theme annoying.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
GF75 comes fully equipped with the amazing Intel Core i7-9750H processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 GPU for a powerful performance.
Furthermore, it has a massive 16GB RAM and the super-fast 512GB NVMe SSD.
It boots and renders at the speed of light.
With a maximum memory of 64GB, you may upgradeable the RAM if you wish to.
Also, it features the innovative Cooler Boost 5 technology with dedicated GPU and CPU heat pipes.
Hence, there’s improved thermal management.
This implies the laptop cools faster for an improved gaming experience.
Weight
It weighs 4.85lbs, relatively lightweight considering the screen size and performance features.
Battery
Battery life is stated as up to 7hrs of varied usage.
However, typical of most gaming laptops, having the game and brightness settings at maximum would reduce the battery life.
PROS
- Relatively lightweight
- Huge screen with good resolution
- Fast processor
- Good memory and storage
- Effective heat management
CONS
- Angular shape with bottom jutting out
Basically, this laptop is powerful and is capable of handling anything you want it to do.
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3. MSI GL63
The next best MSI laptop under 1200 USD is the beautiful MSI GL63 thin laptop.
Design
Although GF63 is a relatively older model, the red and black aesthetic isn’t bad to look at.
It’s clean but also prone to smudges from fingerprints.
Also, it sports a plastic lid, on the exterior as well as the sides.
Furthermore, the lid also features a brushed aluminium finish.
However, the chassis/lid may flex a little bit.
Screen
You’d definitely enjoy gaming and other productive tasks on the beautiful 15.6″ matte Full HD 1920 x 1080 display.
Whatever you do on it, the colours pop and contrasts really well.
It features an anti-glare and has a wide view.
Also, it has a refresh rate of 60Hz.
However, the brightness leaves a lot more to be desired.
Keyboard
Furthermore, it features a full-size keyboard with a dedicated number pad.
The keys are quiet in operation, soft and provide good feedback.
However, you’d have to apply a little pressure to actuate rightly.
In addition to that, the plastic precision touchpad has physical click-buttons.
Although the click buttons are stiff, it responds well to touches, taps and gestures.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It draws power from the 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor for it’s super-performance.
This particularly offers more than 20% better performance than processors from previous generations.
Also, this is supported by the astounding performance of NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650 GPU which is based on Turing architecture. Also, it comes equipped with 8GB RAM and the super-fast 256GB NVMe SSD.
Hence, all your beloved games would run smoothly at even the highest settings without any problem.
Most game laptops tend to warm up or become hot under extreme gaming.
MSI GL63 comes with an excellent thermal management.
It features seven heat pipes to effectively dissipate heat so that you can enjoy the best gaming performance.
In addition, there are various ports options to choose from for connectivity and Windows 10 OS for maximum productivity.
Weight
It’s quite the heavyweight champ at 8.69lbs.
Battery
The battery life is up to 4hrs varied use.
PROS
- Responsive and smooth keyboard
- Fast processor and GPU
- Quiet operations
- Good heat management
CONS
- It collects fingerprints/smudges easily.
- Poor trackpad
- Relatively heavy
Regardless, the GL63 is a great option and one of the best MSI laptops under 1200 USD.
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4. CUK MSI GF65
We also rate this powerful CUK MSI GF65 one of the best MSI laptops under 1200 USD.
Design
The design is sleek, compact and beautiful to look at.
It features a thin and light aluminium brushed lid and keyboard deck.
These tie in to give the laptop a futuristic feel.
Also, the smooth chassis collects fingerprints easily so you’d have to keep your microfibre cloth close by.
Although the angular cut of the laptop might graze your wrists while typing intensely, you’d still enjoy the feel of the sturdy laptop.
Screen
Furthermore, it’s equipped with a clear and sharp 15.6″ Full HD 1920 x 1080 IPS display.
The super-thin frames surrounding the screen ensures you have the widest view possible on the display.
Keyboard
The keyboard is near-perfect in use with the right amount of clicks and pressure.
Also, we’d have to highlight the trademark red backlight of MSI which is also included in this model.
It makes typing in the dark easy and comfortable without having to strain your eyes to identify the keys.
However, it doesn’t have a dedicated number pad.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
This model comes also with the 9th generation Intel 6-Core i7-9750H processor and a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GPU for an absolutely powerful performance.
Essentially, you have a good combination of speed, portability and efficiency all packed in this laptop.
Also, it comes fully equipped with 16GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD to power your gaming experience and productivity.
Furthermore, you have Audio Boost amplifiers inbuilt to increase the audio detail and clarity of the laptop by up to 30%.
Additionally, it comes with a dedicated thermal solution with up to 6 heat pipes to reduce heat.
In addition to that, it has Windows 10 OS as well as a good range of ports (2 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x microphone, 1 x headphone, 1 x RJ45).
Weight
It’s relatively light in weight for a gaming laptop at 4.10lbs.
Battery
The battery life is expected to take you through up to 7hrs of productivity and gaming.
PROS
- Powerful and super-fast in loading
- Excellent audio
- Great screen
- Good heat management
CONS
- Tends to warm up under intense gaming activities
- No dedicated numeric pad
- The angular edge of the laptop might graze your wrists while typing
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5. MSI GV62
Yet another beautiful laptop that qualifies as one of the best MSI laptops under 1200 USD is MSI GV62 8RD-034 Thin and Light Gaming Laptop.
Design
GV62 is part of the Steel series.
The cover comes with a brushed aluminium design that’s cool to look at and handle.
Furthermore, it’s portable, sleek and attractive.
Overall, it feels solid and looks good.
Screen
It’s equipped with 15.6″ Full HD IPS level display.
The colours pop and contrast nicely.
Also, it has good-enough viewing angles to provide a comfortable viewing experience.
Keyboard
GV62 is equipped with red backlit keyboard which is customizable.
The keys are responsive and have tactile feedback including support for multiple key inputs.
Also, the edge of the keys glows warmly in red colour which is also the colour of the backlight.
You’ve got to love the colour red to love MSI.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It runs on the incredible Intel 6-Core i7-8750H and NVIDIA GeForce GTX1050Ti.
Basically, it runs every game really well which is what it’s primarily designed for.
Also, it comes equipped with 8GB DDR4 memory with 2 sockets for you to upgrade if you have to.
With a maximum memory capability of 32GB, there’s no end to what you can achieve with this laptop.
In addition, it features a 128GB SSD as well as 1TB additional HDD.
Hence, all your storage needs are well taken care of.
To help with heat management and better CPU performance, GV62 has the Cooler Boost technology included.
Also, it boasts of great audio performance with the Nahimic 3.
Furthermore, it’s pre-installed with Windows 10 64 bit for all your productivity needs.
Weight
It’s not too heavy at 4.8lbs.
Battery
The battery is expected to last up to 5hrs but intense gaming might slash that expectation in half or less.
PROS
- Powerful GPU and CPU
- Smooth keyboard and trackpad
- Beautiful screen
- Fantastic audio
CONS
- The fans might become loud under intense gaming
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6. MSI Modern
Next up is MSI Modern 14 A10M-460 14″ Ultra Thin and Light Professional Laptop. It’s one of the best MSI laptops under 1200 USD available in the market.
Design
The laptop looks and feels great in form.
Firstly, you cannot but notice the good build quality, from the lid to the deck.
Secondly, the chassis is super-thin and light.
About the only grouse with the design would be the hinge that creaks under pressure.
Screen
This model features a clear 14inch Full HD IPS-Level 1920 x 1080 display.
Also, the display is surrounded by very thin frames which gives you better real estate for a more enjoyable experience.
In addition, the colours and image quality are fantastic and vibrant in output.
This could be attributed to the exclusive MSI True Color Technology which provides you with different colour mode to suit your preferences.
Keyboard
Going further, this modern laptop is fully equipped with a very comfortable keyboard with a great layout.
Although the touchpad leaves a lot more to be desired, it doesn’t significantly take away from the overall typing experience.
Also, the white backlight comes in really handy when you have to type in dimly-lit environments.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It’s powered by the new 10th generation Intel 6-Core i5 10210UUMA processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics card which provides better performance than integrated graphics.
Furthermore, it has 8GB RAM and 512GB NVMe SSD.
The super-fast SSD is particularly designed for you to create on-the-go.
We love how rendering and startup are super-fast.
Annoyingly, it comes with a couple of applications pre-installed.
This can of course, easily be uninstalled if you don’t have use for them.
It has only 1 fan that becomes loud under pressure.
Incorporating 2 fans instead of 1 could have been used for better results.
Also, thermal management leaves much to be desired as the laptop tend to heat up.
Furthermore, it comes with Windows 10 Pro OS as well as ports for connecting externally such as 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, Bluetooth, etc.
Weight
This is the lightest at 2.62lbs.
Battery
The battery is spectacular at up to 10hrs.
As a matter of fact, the battery life is the best on this list.
PROS
- Super-light and slim
- Excellent battery life
- Solid keyboard and trackpad
- Efficient processor
- Good screen quality
CONS
- Poor heat management
- Comes with bloatware
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7. MSI GF65 (8GB 512GB)
This second GF65 model is another brilliant machine that we consider one of the best MSI laptops under 1200 USD.
Design
The design of the GF65 follows the tradition of other MSI gaming laptops.
It’s portable and easy on the eyes.
Although it’s mostly plastic, it appears sturdy and durable.
The thin and light design makes it easy for you to enjoy all your favourite games on the go.
Screen
Furthermore, it features a 15.6″ FHD 1920 x 1080 IPS-level display.
The screen clarity is fantastic, in addition to the great viewing angle.
The screen is fully maximised with ultra-thin frames around it.
Furthermore, the screen-to-body ratio is fantastic.
Therefore, you have the illusion of enjoying a much bigger screen.
Keyboard
Similarly, the keyboard is smooth, satisfying and easy to work with.
Typical of most MSI laptops, it comes with a single red backlight.
Disappointingly, it doesn’t have a separate number pad.
Also, the deck is plasticky and attracts smudges so you have to constantly clean it up.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
GF65 comes with the incredible Intel Quad-Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GTX 1660 GPU.
For core gamers, you’d find the ray tracing of GF65 absolutely phenomenal.
However, the system can become bothersome when it heats up in use and the fans can get annoyingly loud when trying to compensate.
Also, you have 8GB upgradeable RAM and 512GB SSD to work with.
You can upgrade the RAM up to 64GB to meet your needs.
In addition, it has Windows 10 OS and ports for external connectivity.
Weight
It weighs 4.1lbs, pretty lightweight and easy to carry around.
Battery
The battery life is expected to take you up to 7hrs of varied use.
PROS
- Fast processor and GPU
- Beautiful screen
- Good keyboard
CONS
- No dedicated number pad
- Might warm up in use
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Conclusion -Best MSI Laptop Under 1200 USD
Overall, MSI is a force to reckon with in the gaming laptop circles.
Their range of laptops, particularly the 7 featured here are reliable, powerful and beautiful.
As the best MSI laptop under 1200 USD, you may want to give the MSI GF63 a second look before it runs out of stock.
Click this link to purchase ✅MSI GF63 Gaming laptop on Amazon today.
