For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 16X, typically priced lower than the MSI Pulse GL66, is suitable for tasks like web browsing and office applications. If you require stronger performance for engineering work or 3D rendering, the MSI Pulse GL66 may better meet your needs despite being slightly pricier. The Vivobook is lighter and more portable with a longer battery life, favoring users on the go, while the Pulse has better heat management and a higher-quality keyboard, appealing to gamers or intensive users. Both offer similar storage and memory, with the differences coming down to your specific needs related to portability, battery life, and performance requirements. 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 16X
Very good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.2/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI, though the ASUS Vivobook 16X is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X offers a more recent Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen resolution, making it suitable for high-fidelity 3D gaming and applications, although it has a lower screen refresh rate of 120Hz compared to the MSI Pulse GL66, which has a 144Hz refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X outperforms in engineering and design largely due to its more advanced CPU, superior GPU, and higher quality screen, offering a wider color spectrum and better color accuracy, which is essential for detailed design work.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
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 16X and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Vivobook 16X is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 16X offers brighter and sharper visuals with better screen clarity than the MSI Pulse GL66, which makes documents and websites easier to read and enhances overall viewing comfort. In engineering and design, the Vivobook 16X's screen displays a wider range of colors which is crucial for precision work that requires accurate color representation, while the Pulse GL66 has more limited color reproduction. However, for 3D work and gaming, the Pulse GL66's screen, despite its fair resolution and panel quality, lacks a high refresh rate that's essential for smooth motion, which is also a drawback of the Vivobook 16X for these particular tasks.
Cost
$1,200
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X offers a balance for general use with its capable CPU and RAM, sufficient storage, a high-quality screen, and extended battery life, all packaged into a fairly portable design. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 provides similar CPU and RAM benefits, great keyboard and speaker quality, with an emphasis on gaming aesthetics, but it has a shorter battery life and is slightly less portable.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.0/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 5 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
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 16X 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 16X 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 16X and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
"I think the ASUS Vivobook 16X is fantastic. Great performance, decent battery life, good keyboard and trackpad, and a massive screen – just that the screen quality itself is kinda subpar. If you’re okay with the screen, then I think this is an okay laptop. However, I’d like to see a price drop."
"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 16X 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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