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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize higher performance for tasks like engineering applications, 3D rendering, or intensive gaming, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers a more powerful processor and graphics card which will handle these tasks better. It also includes more RAM and storage space, has a higher screen refresh rate suitable for smoother visuals, and a keyboard with RGB lighting. However, it's also heavier and more expensive than the MSI GF63 Thin. In contrast, the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter, making it more portable, and comes at a lower cost, but it has less storage, less RAM, and lower performance capabilities, particularly for demanding software or gaming. 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 MSI GF63 Thin
- The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the MSI Pulse GL66.
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
6.0
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
249.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
4.2 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 stands out for its superior CPU and double the RAM compared to the MSI GF63 Thin, enhancing its performance for general use. Additionally, the Pulse GL66 boasts a higher quality keyboard, better speaker quality, and more efficient heat management, while the GF63 Thin offers greater portability due to its lighter weight and marginally better battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.2
4.2/10
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
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF63 Thin is equipped with a less powerful Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which limits its gaming and 3D capabilities compared to the MSI Pulse GL66, which boasts a more advanced Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card and a higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, rendering it more fluid and responsive for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.0
7.5
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The MSI GF63 Thin is fair for engineering and design due to its adequate CPU and GPU (Intel i5-10300H, Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q) and its standard screen quality, but it falls short on higher performance needs due to lower RAM and storage. In contrast, the MSI Pulse GL66 is rated higher for these tasks because of its superior CPU and GPU (Intel i7-11800H, Nvidia RTX 3070), doubled RAM, and greater storage capacity, accommodating more demanding software and workloads.
Content Creation
6.0
7.2
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
6.0
7.0
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
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
6.1
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
249.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
245.0 nits
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the MSI GF63 Thin and MSI Pulse GL66 have displays with limited brightness and resolution, which may affect the viewing experience in bright environments or when sharpness is a priority. Those interested in engineering and design may find that these laptops' screens don't cover a wide range of colors, which is crucial for accurately previewing designs or engineering models. Gamers and 3D artists would be disadvantaged by the lower refresh rates of these laptops, leading to less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experiences in fast-paced games and 3D simulations.
Build Quality
6.5
7.4
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$599
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI GF63 Thin has a price of $599 and the MSI Pulse GL66 costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.2 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 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
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GF63 Thin and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the MSI GF63 Thin and the MSI Pulse GL66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI GF63 Thin | MSI Pulse GL66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$599 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2019 | March 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.1 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-10300H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.25 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 249 nits | 245 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
MSI GF63 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | January 2020
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
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 MSI GF63 Thin or the MSI Pulse GL66
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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