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Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability and a vibrant display are important, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a high-resolution OLED touchscreen and longer battery life; however, it is heavier and more expensive. For those who prioritize gaming performance and a high refresh rate display, the MSI Pulse GL66 may be a better and more affordable choice, though it has a shorter battery life and doesn't feature a touchscreen. Both have similar processors and RAM, but the ASUS provides twice the storage capacity. Overall, choose the ASUS if creative work is a priority and the MSI if you prefer gaming and want a more budget-friendly option. 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 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- The MSI Pulse GL66 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.3
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
8.6
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X stands out for engineering and design with a high-resolution OLED touchscreen for superior color accuracy and contrast, paired with a capable Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and Intel i7 processor, but it's heavier and less portable than the MSI Pulse GL66. Though the MSI Pulse GL66 also supports demanding tasks with its powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a similar Intel i7 processor, it offers a lower screen resolution and lacks a touchscreen, which might be preferable for design work where screen quality is a priority.
Content Creation
8.5
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
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
8.2
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
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
8.3
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels in general use and engineering with its high-resolution display and bright screen, enhancing clarity and detail, while its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for design tasks. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D work, where fluid motion is key. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers a fair experience in everyday and professional use with acceptable resolution and brightness, but like the ASUS, lacks a high refresh rate, reducing its effectiveness for gaming and 3D applications.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.2
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers an OLED screen which generally has better color accuracy and contrast for 3D work compared with the MSI Pulse GL66's IPS display, but the MSI has a higher screen refresh rate advantageous for gaming. While the Zenbook Pro 16X carries an Nvidia RTX 3060 which supports essential gaming and 3D features, the Pulse GL66 includes a more powerful RTX 3070 GPU that leads to superior gaming performance.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.4
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
Cost
$1,300
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
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 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.
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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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