If you prioritize performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning or gaming, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers stronger processing and graphics capabilities. However, it does come at a higher price and reduced battery life compared to more budget-friendly options. If you prefer a balance of affordability, better battery life, and sufficient performance for general use, the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 may be a more appropriate choice, albeit with less power for heavy computational tasks. Additionally, the ASUS model is lighter and more portable, which could be a deciding factor if you're often on the move. 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 Go 15
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 has lesser CPU performance and RAM, which can slow down multitasking and everyday tasks, while its TN panel screen offers lower quality visuals compared to the MSI Pulse GL66’s IPS display. Additionally, the MSI Pulse GL66 includes a more powerful processor and graphics card, more RAM for efficient performance, and a higher-quality screen, though it is less portable and has shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
5.5/10
7.2/10
3.5/10
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 Go 15 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.4/10
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15, with its Intel Celeron N4020 processor and Intel UHD Graphics 600, is less suitable for engineering and design given its lower performance compared to the MSI Pulse GL66, which boasts a much stronger Intel i7-11800H CPU and Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, necessary for demanding tasks like 3D modeling and rendering.
Content Creation
5.7/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 is poor.
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
5.9/10
7.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 is poor.
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
5.2/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 has a display that lacks in resolution and brightness, which affects clarity and visibility, making it less suitable for any tasks where screen detail is crucial. For engineering and design, its limited color gamuts mean that it cannot accurately represent a wide spectrum of colors, an essential factor for precision work. When it comes to 3D gaming, its lower refresh rate could lead to less fluid motion, and the less than ideal resolution and panel type may not provide the immersive experience desired by gamers.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 has 7 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability, though the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$240
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook Go 15 has a price of $240 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
"The Asus Vivobook Go 15 is a good option if you’re looking for one device to tackle a bunch of smaller problems. For simple school studies, portable evening entertainment or distractions, and getting household admin or light office workloads out of the way, it’s a great little package with respectable battery life, and a great contender for the advent of cloud gaming."
"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 Go 15 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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