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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI Pulse GL66, consider your primary use. The ThinkPad is more compact and durable, excellent for business and travel, with longer battery life, while the MSI offers superior graphics and processing power, better suited for gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive tasks. If you value a lightweight machine for productivity on-the-go, the ThinkPad is the better fit. On the other hand, if you need high performance for demanding software and games, the MSI will serve you better, though it will be bulkier and have a shorter battery life. 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 ThinkPad X13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Pulse GL66
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, delivers smooth general-use performance, and its high-quality screen, long battery life, and lightweight design make it highly portable. Meanwhile, the MSI Pulse GL66's equally capable CPU and RAM handle general tasks easily, but its gaming-oriented hardware means it's less portable and has a shorter battery life, even though it excels in screen quality and heat management for more demanding applications.
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.2
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while having a capable CPU and good screen quality, falls short on gaming and 3D tasks due to its less powerful GPU and standard screen refresh rate. The MSI Pulse GL66, on the other hand, excels in these areas with a stronger GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, providing a smoother and more immersive gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.5
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its high-quality CPU and ample RAM, handles engineering software efficiently, and its superior screen quality makes it ideal for design tasks, while the MSI Pulse GL66's powerful GPU boosts performance in graphical applications, though it is less portable due to its larger size. Both laptops offer quality keyboards for comfortable typing, but the ThinkPad is generally quieter, whereas the Pulse's better speakers are more suited for multimedia.
Content Creation
8.2
7.2
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.2
7.0
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
6.9
6.8
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
If you prioritize a vibrant and sharp display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13's superior panel type, resolution, and brightness make it the preferred choice. For those engaged in engineering or creative design work, the ThinkPad's wider color gamuts ensure more accurate colors which are essential in these fields. However, for gaming and 3D rendering, the MSI Pulse GL66, despite its lower overall screen quality, might be a more suitable option due to its higher refresh rate, leading to smoother visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
8.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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.
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Key similarities
Cost
$1,138
$1,130
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a price of $1,138 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,130.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,138 | $1,130 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.87 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.88" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-11800H | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | Radeon 780M | RTX 3070 (85 W) | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 321 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 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 | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
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 ThinkPad X13 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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