A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers an OLED screen and is suitable for general use with a high-quality display for color accuracy, making it a good choice for creative professionals who prioritize superior screen quality. It also has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for those who need to work on the go. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 features a faster refresh rate and a more powerful graphics card, which is better for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering simulations. The MSI is also equipped with an ethernet port for more reliable internet connection, which the ASUS lacks. If portability and screen quality are your top priorities, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 may suit your needs; if you require stronger performance for engineering tasks or gaming, consider the MSI Pulse GL66. 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 Zenbook Pro 15
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.2
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 delivers a better gaming and 3D experience than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 because it features a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz compared to the ASUS's RTX 3050 Ti and 60Hz refresh rate. While both have high-quality screens, the GPU and refresh rate are critical for gaming performance, giving the MSI an edge for smoother visuals and more detailed graphics during play.
Software Development
7.5
7.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is somewhat better.
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
7.6
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
346.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 surpasses the MSI Pulse GL66 with a higher resolution and brightness, alongside a superior panel type that offers crisper images and vibrant colors, making it more suitable for everyday tasks and multimedia consumption. In the realm of engineering and design, the Zenbook's advantage lies in its wider color gamuts, providing more accurate color representation for tasks like photo editing and graphic design where color precision is crucial. However, when it comes to 3D applications and gaming, the MSI's likely higher refresh rate would be more beneficial for smooth visuals, although both laptops may fall short in screen quality for these specific tasks due to lower rates compared to specialized gaming displays.
Battery
12.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,109
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has a price of $1,109 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
346.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
12.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 is favored for general use due to its balance of a high-quality CPU, sufficient RAM, and a vibrant screen, all packaged in a lightweight design with long battery life. Similarly, the MSI Pulse GL66 is also suited for general use as it offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, and an excellent display, with the added benefit of greater storage and efficient heat management, although it is slightly less portable and has lower battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, excels in design tasks thanks to its high-quality OLED screen, which is ideal for color-sensitive work, but its less powerful GPU may limit its performance on very intensive 3D tasks compared to the MSI Pulse GL66. The MSI Pulse GL66 offers a stronger Intel i7 CPU and a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, providing better performance for engineering software, but with an IPS screen that doesn't quite match the color representation of the ASUS, making it a slightly less optimal choice for detailed visual design work.
Content Creation
7.7
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,109 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.41 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.37" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 346 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a strong CPU, chassis, and display. One of the most popular 15.6-inch prosumer or multimedia laptops out there is the Dell XPS 15. Thus, comparisons between it and the Asus Zenbook Pro 15 are inevitable. Asus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that XPS users are still missing out on including 1080p OLED and an AMD Ryzen CPU which help separate the Zenbook Pro 15 from the XPS 15. It also integrates a numpad and a few more port options albeit at the cost of a larger chassis size."
MSI Pulse GL66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | April 2022
"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 Zenbook Pro 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.
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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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