If you need a laptop for heavy tasks like gaming or engineering software, the HP Omen's higher price reflects its likely superior performance, but if budget is a concern and you're doing more general computing, the MSI Pulse could offer a balanced mix of performance and value. The HP Omen may also offer better build quality and features, while the MSI is more cost-effective. If you're often on the move, the HP Omen's portability is a plus, but it may come with shorter battery life, so for extended use away from power, the MSI might be more practical. 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 HP Omen Transcend 14
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
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a balance of powerful CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and everyday productivity, with a high-quality screen that enhances the viewing experience; additionally, its portability and longer battery life make it ideal for on-the-go use. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66, while still good for general use, emphasizes stronger performance for demanding applications at the expense of heavier weight and shorter battery life, but with decent heat management and lower operating noise, it's suited for users who prioritize performance over mobility.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI, though the HP Omen Transcend 14 is somewhat better.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and the MSI Pulse GL66 both come equipped with high-end GPUs and fast screen refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth, detailed gameplay and 3D rendering. While both laptops feature capable CPUs and good screen quality, it's their graphics processing power and swift display performance that set them apart for gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a high-end CPU, ample RAM, and a superior GPU, all of which are essential for demanding engineering software and design tasks, along with excellent screen quality for precise visual work. While the MSI Pulse GL66 also provides a robust CPU and sufficient RAM for such tasks, it may not match the HP in GPU performance or screen quality, but gains points for its more portable design and comfortable keyboard, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize mobility alongside computing power.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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
8.1/10
7.0/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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
8.6/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 boasts superior resolution and brightness, making it an excellent choice for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, where color accuracy is critical, and it supports wide color gamuts essential for design professionals. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66's screen quality is adequate for general tasks and engineering, but it doesn't stand out in any specific area, and its poor refresh rate similarly hampers gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
11.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability, though the HP Omen Transcend 14 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,699
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a price of $1,699 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
"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 HP Omen Transcend 14 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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