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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell G15 5520 is typically less expensive than the MSI Pulse GL66 and offers more storage. While both laptops have a similar screen size, the Dell has a higher refresh rate which can result in smoother visuals, important for gaming and fast-paced video content. In terms of battery life, the Dell lasts longer on a single charge, which is beneficial for on-the-go use. The MSI however, features a more powerful graphics card, which could provide better performance in 3D tasks, machine learning, and intensive gaming. It's also lighter in weight, making it more portable than the Dell. If budget and battery life are priorities, and you need ample storage, the Dell might suit you well. But if you're looking for better graphics performance for demanding applications and prefer a lighter laptop, the MSI could be the better 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 Dell G15 5520
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
251.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use, though the Dell G15 5520 is somewhat better.
The Dell G15 5520 offers a balance suitable for general use with its ample storage, high-quality screen, and very good keyboard, but it has drawbacks like average battery life and portability. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 also supports general use with its powerful CPU and high-quality screen, while being more portable due to its lighter weight, though it has less storage capacity and shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Dell G15 5520 excels in engineering and design due to its higher-powered CPU, substantial internal storage, and a display with solid color coverage and brightness, making it ideal for CPU-intensive tasks and detailed visual work. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers a more powerful GPU and is lighter for better portability, although its screen quality and overall performance for engineering software are still very good, but not on par with the Dell when it comes to raw processing power and storage offerings.
Content Creation
7.9
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for content creation, though the Dell G15 5520 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the Dell G15 5520 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
7.1
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 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 Dell G15 5520's high resolution and bright display offer crisp and clear images, making it suitable for tasks like browsing and watching videos; however, for gaming and 3D applications, its slower refresh rate could hinder the smoothness and responsiveness required for those activities. The MSI Pulse GL66, with similar fair screen quality for everyday tasks due to a decent display, may fall short in providing the wide color gamut needed for precision in engineering and design work. Both laptops, with lower refresh rates and less vibrant color reproduction, are less optimal for immersive gaming experiences and creating high-quality 3D content that demand high refresh rates for fluid motion and broad color ranges for lifelike visuals.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 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
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability, while the Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.7
7.2
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Pulse GL66 are touted for gaming and 3D because both have high-performance GPUs, essential for rendering complex graphics smoothly, and high refresh rates which make for more fluid visuals in fast-paced games. The Dell has a slightly higher refresh rate and a capable CPU enhancing performance further, while the MSI sports a more powerful GPU and good screen quality for vibrant images, although its refresh rate is slightly lower than the Dell's.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Dell G15 5520 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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How the Dell G15 5520 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell G15 5520 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.55 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.06" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.74" | 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 | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 251 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell G15 5520
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Dell G15 (2022) is a 15.6-inch budget gaming laptop, and is great for gaming. You can configure the laptop with powerful Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and various NVIDIA dedicated GPUs, all of which deliver a smooth gaming experience at 1080p. There's also a QHD 240Hz display option if you want better visuals, though you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti to get good frame rates. It doesn't get overly hot or loud under load, and there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU. Unfortunately, the 120Hz panel has a slow response time, causing noticeable ghosting, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate."
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 Dell G15 5520 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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