For better performance in 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, the MSI Pulse GL66 with its more powerful graphics card is a solid choice, though it has less battery life and storage capacity than the Acer Swift X 16, resulting in you needing to plug in and possibly expand storage more often. If portability and screen quality are more vital for general use or engineering tasks, including better color accuracy and higher resolution, the Acer Swift X 16 stands out with its larger, higher-resolution screen and longer battery life, but you'll have slightly less raw performance for gaming or complex computations. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Swift X 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
The MSI Pulse GL66 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16, with its higher-resolution screen and longer battery life, outshines the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, while still offering good portability and heat management. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 excels in performance with a stronger GPU, but is hindered by its shorter battery life and less vibrant screen, making it less optimal for tasks outside of specialized applications like gaming or intensive graphics work.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Acer Swift X 16 outshines the MSI Pulse GL66 for engineering and design tasks mainly due to its superior screen quality, offering higher resolution and color accuracy which are crucial for detail-oriented work. While the MSI Pulse GL66 has a more powerful GPU which is beneficial for demanding graphics tasks, the Swift X 16 provides a better balance of performance and display features, along with lesser weight making it more portable, although both have sufficient CPU and RAM for engineering software.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Swift X 16 is very good for software development, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift X 16 likely boasts a high-resolution display with vivid colors and ample brightness, making it suitable for activities like browsing, video streaming, and document editing, which are common in general use. For engineering and design, its ability to produce accurate colors across various spectrums like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB is essential for tasks like photo editing and CAD work. However, its lower refresh rate could result in less fluid visuals, affecting the gaming and 3D experience where fast-paced action requires quicker screen updates for smooth gameplay.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability, though the Acer Swift X 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,250
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
The MSI Pulse GL66 and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift X 16 features an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU with a higher screen refresh rate, which may offer smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Pulse GL66 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU but a lower refresh rate, potentially delivering better graphics performance at the cost of screen fluidity. Both have capable CPUs and quality IPS screens, but the MSI's CPU generally performs better in compute-intensive tasks, despite the Acer having a higher resolution and refresh rate that can enhance the visual experience.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.4/10
The Acer Swift X 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Swift X 16 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
"The MSI Pulse GL66 has a lot of potential for improvement. Although the RTX 3060 is only able to use 105 watts, we still liked the gaming performance, particularly since this also makes the Pulse comfortably efficient but not slow by any means. Neither the dark display with its lame response times, nor USB 2.0 or the lack of Thunderbolt will please real gamers. The use of a sticker factory seal, which is at least questionable, also won't inspire any enthusiasm. It is obvious that the laptop is really designed for price-conscious gamers."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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