If you prioritize higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Pulse GL66 is better suited due to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, though it's more expensive and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook 16 costs less and offers longer battery life, which makes it a solid choice for general use, and it has a larger storage capacity out of the box. The Vivobook is lighter and slightly more portable than the Pulse GL66, and it also comes with a number pad and white backlit keyboard, enhancing its suitability for productivity tasks. 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 16
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Good for gaming and AI
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
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 16 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, making it better for gaming and 3D applications compared to the ASUS Vivobook 16, which has a less powerful integrated AMD Ryzen Vega 8 GPU and a 60Hz screen refresh rate. While the ASUS model might have a slight screen quality advantage, these factors are secondary to the superior graphics performance and smoother visual experience provided by the MSI laptop for gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
295.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for software development, and content creation, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen for general use, and gaming and AI.
If you prioritize a clear and vibrant display for everyday tasks, the ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 may not impress you due to their average resolution and brightness; they'll suffice but won't excel. For engineering and design tasks, where accurate colors are crucial, both laptops have limitations as they don't cover a wide color gamut, meaning colors might not be as true-to-life as professional-grade laptops. And for gaming or 3D work, the lower refresh rates of these screens can result in less fluid movement, which is less ideal for fast-paced visuals that benefit from higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 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.
Cost
$669
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has a price of $669 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 16 with its larger screen, higher-resolution display, longer battery life, and lighter weight is excellent for general use where portability and screen quality are key; on the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, with its high-performance CPU and powerful GPU, also suits general use but leans towards users who may engage in occasional gaming or graphic-intensive tasks, albeit with less battery life and a bit more weight.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS Vivobook 16 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 16, with its AMD Ryzen CPU, Vega 8 GPU, and a larger, high-quality screen, is well-suited for engineering and design tasks requiring good visual detail and processing power. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a more powerful Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU combination and is preferred for tasks involving intensive graphics work like 3D modeling, though it is slightly heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 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
7.3/10
7.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.4/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 and ASUS Vivobook 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Vivobook 16 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, Yannick Khong | May 2023
"The ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a budget Windows laptop. It's available with various AMD Ryzen 5000 and 7000 U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. You can only get 8GB of RAM; however, there's an empty SO-DIMM slot if you want to upgrade it. It has an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. Ports include three USB-As, one USB-C, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports charging but no video output."
"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 16 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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