The ASUS Vivobook 15X is more affordable and offers good general performance, which could be suitable for everyday tasks and some light gaming. It's also quite portable and has a reasonable battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, while more expensive, provides significantly better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software, making it a better choice for intensive tasks and gaming. However, the MSI has a shorter battery life and is heavier, which could make it less convenient to carry around. Both laptops have IPS screens with similar resolution and size, but the MSI has a higher refresh rate which is better for fast-motion content like gaming. 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 ASUS Vivobook 15X
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is only fair.
The Asus Vivobook 15X has a less powerful, integrated GPU and a lower screen refresh rate which makes it only fair for gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a high-end Nvidia RTX GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, allowing for smoother visuals and better performance in gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, the MSI has a more capable CPU and better screen quality, further enhancing its gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
7.5/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a modest AMD CPU with integrated graphics, while the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a higher-end Intel CPU and a dedicated Nvidia GPU, making the latter better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks. Additionally, the MSI's double the RAM enhances its ability to handle complex projects smoothly, and the higher screen refresh rate benefits design fluidity despite both having similar screen quality; however, this power comes at the cost of reduced portability due to the MSI's extra weight and bulk compared to the lighter, thinner ASUS.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 15X for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you prioritize a crisp and vibrant display for everyday tasks like web browsing or document editing, both the ASUS Vivobook 15X and the MSI Pulse GL66 offer screens that are adequate, with acceptable resolution and brightness, making them suitable for general use. However, for professionals in engineering and design who require precise color representation, the fair color gamut coverage of these laptops means colors may not be as accurate as desired for specialized work. Furthermore, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these devices can lead to less fluid visuals, and while the resolution and panel types are decent, they may not satisfy the needs of users seeking the smoothest gaming or 3D rendering experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15X 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
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 15X and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability, though the ASUS Vivobook 15X has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$525
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a price of $525 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS Vivobook 15X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 15X has a less powerful CPU and half the RAM of the MSI Pulse GL66, making it less suitable for demanding tasks, but offering a longer battery life makes it more convenient for extended use away from power sources. While both have similar screen quality and are reasonably portable, the MSI has superior performance, better keyboard quality, and is built for more intensive tasks, at the expense of shorter battery life and being somewhat heavier..
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.2/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS Vivobook 15X are both good for content creation.
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
6.9/10
7.0/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to be good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 15X is only fair.
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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.4/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS Vivobook 15X 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 ASUS Vivobook 15X and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
"All in all, my day on the Vivobook had its ups and downs. It is a really pretty and well-built device, and it had all of the functionality I needed to get me through my browser-based workload. But the speakers weren’t my favorite, and the battery life was just too short."
"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 ASUS Vivobook 15X or the MSI Pulse GL66
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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