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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for gaming or 3D tasks, the MSI Pulse GL66 with its RTX 3070 graphics card is a strong choice over the Lenovo LOQ 16 which is equipped with an RTX 4050. However, the Lenovo boasts better battery life, making it a more suitable option if you need to work on the go without frequent charging. The Lenovo also has a slightly larger screen and higher resolution which can be beneficial for tasks that benefit from more screen space like engineering work or editing. Both laptops have the same amount of RAM and storage, but the MSI might be slightly less portable due to a heavier build. Keep in mind the Lenovo might be a more cost-effective solution if budget is a concern. 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 Lenovo LOQ 16
- Good overall display quality
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Software Development
7.5
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo LOQ 16 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
7.2
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Lenovo LOQ 16 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo LOQ 16's display offers high resolution and brightness, which enhances visibility and clarity for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate can detract from the smooth visuals critical for gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Pulse GL66, with a display that provides adequate resolution and brightness might not stand out for general activities or professional design, yet its fair quality might not fully satisfy the color precision needs of engineers and designers. Both models, falling short on high refresh rates, aren't ideal for the fluid motion required in high-end gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo LOQ 16 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
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability, while the Lenovo LOQ 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$740
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo LOQ 16 has a price of $740 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 offers a higher screen resolution and longer battery life making it great for general use where screen clarity and not being tethered to a power outlet are valued, while the MSI Pulse GL66 boasts a more powerful main processor and GPU, as well as a better contrast ratio, which could be preferred in tasks that demand more computing power, even though it is slightly heavier and has a shorter battery life. Both laptops have the same amount of RAM and similar screen sizes, key factors for multitasking and content visibility, but differ in portability and battery life, so users should weigh these aspects based on whether performance or mobility is their priority.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.2
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo LOQ 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and has a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, while the MSI Pulse GL66 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU but also offers the same 144Hz refresh rate, making both suitable for smooth gaming and 3D applications, though the MSI model may deliver better graphics performance due to its GPU.
Engineering and Design
7.9
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 16 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo LOQ 16 edges out in engineering and design use because it has a more recent main processor and a higher tier GPU which are crucial for intensive tasks, plus a screen with better color accuracy and higher contrast, enhancing visual detail work. The MSI Pulse GL66, while still capable with a strong CPU and GPU, falls slightly behind the Lenovo in terms of screen quality, but it does offer superior portability and less operating noise, which may be beneficial for users who move around frequently and work in noise-sensitive environments.
Content Creation
7.6
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo LOQ 16 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Lenovo LOQ 16 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 Lenovo LOQ 16 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo LOQ 16 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$740 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.9'' x 1.02'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.92" | 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 | 60 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.3/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo LOQ 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | September 2023
"Gaming laptops with an RTX 4060 are available starting from about 1,000 Euros (~$1,060), even in 16-inch format. For the supposedly affordable Lenovo LOQ 16 (1,500 Euros, ~$1,591), the manufacturer particularly saves in the equipment and materials compared to the more expensive Legion series. In addition, the LOQ is slightly heavier and more bulky. What remains is anything but a laptop full of difficult compromises. Instead, this is a more than solid gaming laptop that focusses on the 3D performance.Q is slightly heavier and more bulky."
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 Lenovo LOQ 16 or the MSI Pulse GL66
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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