The Gateway 14.1" is a budget-friendly option that's less expensive and suitable for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is pricier but offers superior performance for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering work. The MSI also likely has better build quality, heat management, and a higher-quality screen but is heavier, making the Gateway easier to carry around. 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 Gateway 14.1"
Very good portability
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
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6/10
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has limited multitasking and slower processing capabilities due to its lower RAM and basic Intel Celeron processor, while its also low storage might prove insufficient for many users; furthermore, while being lightweight and very portable, it has a low-keyboard quality and poor heat management might affect comfort and performance.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
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
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.5/10
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 Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop, with its basic Intel Celeron processor, basic integrated GPU, and low RAM, lacks the necessary power for demanding engineering and design software, whereas the MSI Pulse GL66's higher-end Intel i7 processor, advanced Nvidia RTX GPU, and greater RAM make it well-equipped for such intensive tasks, also offering a higher screen quality for detailed work. While the Gateway may be lighter and thus more portable, its inferior screen, keyboard, and speaker quality, as well as operating noise, don't suit the rigorous requirements of engineering and design environments, unlike the MSI which although heavier, provides a better overall experience for these professional applications.
Content Creation
5.8/10
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
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8/10
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
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
6.0/10
6.8/10
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Gateway's display offers sufficient clarity and vibrancy because its resolution and brightness meet basic needs, while the MSI Pulse GL66 provides similar advantages. However, in engineering and design tasks where precise color representation matters, both laptops fall short as their color gamut coverage may not adequately display the full spectrum needed for professional work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both laptops' displays do not support high refresh rates, which is crucial for smooth motion and sharp visuals that enhance the gaming experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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
Very Good
Good
14.1in
SIZE
15.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
"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 Gateway 14.1" or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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