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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you prioritize a lightweight and versatile computer with good battery life for everyday tasks and occasional creative work, the HP Spectre x360 14 is an excellent choice, as it also offers a touchscreen with a 2-in-1 design for tablet-like use. However, if gaming or demanding tasks such as 3D rendering or complex computations are important to you, the MSI Pulse GL66 would be more suitable due to its higher performance hardware, although this usually means it will have reduced battery life and increased weight, making it less convenient 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 HP Spectre x360 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 overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.7
7.3
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with its high-quality screen, long battery life, and lightweight design, is an excellent choice for those who prioritize portability and general productivity, while the MSI Pulse GL66, although less portable, offers a more robust CPU and RAM setup, making it suitable for more demanding tasks but with a trade-off in battery life and portability. Both laptops have substantial storage, comfortable keyboards, competent speakers, but under heavy use, the HP might be quieter and cooler compared to the more performance-oriented MSI.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a high-quality screen and versatile form factor which suits engineering and design tasks, complemented by a strong CPU and RAM configuration, while its GPU handles less demanding work smoothly. On the other hand, the MSI Pulse GL66 delivers stronger GPU performance crucial for intensive engineering software, though it may sacrifice some portability and screen versatility compared to the HP.
Content Creation
8.7
7.2
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 Spectre x360 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
8.4
7.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 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
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 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 Spectre x360 14 offers a high-resolution and bright display, making it sharp and easy to view in various lighting conditions, which is important for general use and detailed engineering work; plus, its color accuracy benefits professionals in design. Conversely, the MSI Pulse GL66 has a display that might not be as sharp or vibrant, but it is adequate for everyday tasks and non-specialized engineering applications. Neither laptop excels in gaming or 3D performance because of the lower refresh rates, affecting the smoothness of fast-paced visuals critical in these areas.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.8
7.2
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to be good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with a less powerful graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate, is less suited for high-end gaming and 3D applications in comparison to the MSI Pulse GL66, which is equipped with a more advanced GPU and higher refresh rate, providing smoother visuals and better performance in graphic-intensive tasks. While both laptops have quality displays and capable processors, the MSI's stronger gaming-oriented hardware makes it a better choice for those specifically looking for a laptop to handle demanding gaming and 3D workloads.
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How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Spectre x360 14 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,630 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.45 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.35" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.68" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | 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 | 9 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 68 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 384 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 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 | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 2160p | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Spectre x360 14
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
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 HP Spectre x360 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.
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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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