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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Eluktronics RP-15 offers better 3D and machine learning performance due to its more advanced GPU, making it suitable for heavier tasks like gaming and engineering work. It also has a higher resolution screen with better color coverage, which is great for creative work and entertainment. However, the MSI Pulse GL66 has a higher keyboard quality which might be preferable if you do a lot of typing. The RP-15 provides slightly longer battery life for typical usage, but it's heavier, impacting its portability. Both are gaming-oriented, costing similarly, with enough power for general use and serious workloads. Choose the RP-15 for better performance and screen quality or the GL66 for a lighter device with a better keyboard experience. 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 Eluktronics RP-15
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.8
7.2
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Eluktronics RP-15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Eluktronics RP-15 is somewhat better.
The Eluktronics RP-15, with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, is better suited for demanding 3D tasks and smoother gaming visuals compared to the MSI Pulse GL66, which includes the slightly less powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz. Although both have quality IPS displays and potent CPUs, the RP-15's GPU and refresh rate edge may provide a more fluid and immersive experience in intensive scenarios.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Eluktronics RP-15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Eluktronics RP-15 boasts a higher resolution screen and a more advanced GPU, making it stand out for engineering and design tasks that benefit from detailed visuals and robust rendering capabilities. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, while also capable with substantial processing power and graphics capabilities, offers a lower screen resolution and slightly older GPU, factors that may affect the intricacy of visual work but comes with a lighter build enhancing portability.
Screen Quality
8.0
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Eluktronics RP-15 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 Eluktronics RP-15 has a panel with higher resolution and brightness, offering clearer and more vibrant visuals, whereas the MSI Pulse GL66's display, while fair, might be less sharp and dimmer. In engineering and design, the RP-15's superior color gamut ensures more accurate color representation which is crucial for detailed work, contrasting with the Pulse GL66's adequate but less precise color range. When it comes to 3D and gaming, the RP-15's lower refresh rate can lead to less fluid motion compared to higher refresh rate screens, despite its higher resolution and color accuracy not being fully utilized in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Eluktronics RP-15 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.3
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
350.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Eluktronics RP-15 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
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.
Content Creation
7.6
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Eluktronics RP-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.
Software Development
7.4
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Eluktronics RP-15 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to have good portability, while the Eluktronics RP-15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
7.4
The MSI Pulse GL66 and Eluktronics RP-15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Eluktronics RP-15 has a price of $1,399 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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How the Eluktronics RP-15 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Eluktronics RP-15 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.7'' x 1.05'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.97 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.67" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | 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 | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 62 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 350 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 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 Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Eluktronics RP-15
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Dig into reviews and images
Hardware Canucks
Eber Anthony | October 2020
"To conclude, I’m genuinely impressed with Eluktronics and what they have been able to deliver with the RP-15. You see this is all about maximizing performance, cooling, and giving users the most flexible I/O, and then wrapping it into a chassis that doesn’t feel super cheap. Let’s also not forget the price point, I think they have really nailed it in that department."
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 Eluktronics RP-15 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Eluktronics
Eluktronics is a relatively new American gaming laptop company, founded in 2011. They are a reseller for the Taiwanese brand Clevo, who manufacture laptops exclusively and ship them to resellers like Eluktronics who customize them. Eluktronics laptops generally have great hardware specifications for the money, including the CPU, GPU, and RAM. They also feature a relatively clean design by gaming laptop standards, with few logos and discreet colors.
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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