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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Pulse GL66 and MSI GP66 Leopard are similarly priced and share some specifications such as processor, RAM, and storage. The GL66 is slightly more portable due to lower weight, but the GP66 Leopard has a more powerful GPU and a better battery capacity, offering longer usage per charge. Both have keyboards with number pads and RGB backlit keys, geared towards gaming. If battery life and high-end gaming performance are priorities, the GP66 Leopard is a better choice. However, for those who prioritize ease of carrying and still require strong performance for general use and engineering, the GL66 might be enough. 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 Pulse GL66
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.8
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI GP66 Leopard is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Screen Quality
6.8
7.5
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI GP66 Leopard has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI GP66 Leopard's display offers sharper images and better brightness than the MSI Pulse GL66, delivering a more vibrant and clear viewing experience. Engineers and designers would prefer the GP66 Leopard for its wider color gamut, giving more accurate color reproduction necessary for their work. However, both models fall short for gaming and 3D tasks as they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and responsiveness in fast-paced visual environments.
Build Quality
7.4
8.0
The MSI GP66 Leopard 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
General Use
7.3
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The MSI Pulse GL66 is well-suited for general use as it offers a solid combination of a high-performance CPU, sufficient RAM, quality IPS screen, and is fairly portable with a reasonable battery life. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard also has a robust CPU and ample RAM, but it stands out with a better screen brightness and color coverage, potentially at the expense of a slightly heavier build and lower portability rating, making it more suited for users prioritizing screen quality and performance over ease of carry.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The MSI Pulse GL66 and the MSI GP66 Leopard are equipped with high-performance CPUs and GPUs like the Intel i7 and Nvidia RTX 3070/3080, along with ample RAM, making them suitable for demanding engineering and design applications which require significant processing power and graphics capabilities. While both have quality IPS screens, the GP66 Leopard boasts a brighter display and higher color coverage, enhancing visual precision for design tasks, but it's less portable due to being slightly heavier and larger than the GL66, which may be a consideration for users who frequently move with their laptops.
Content Creation
7.2
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Software Development
7.0
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
4.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 5 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to have good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,399
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,399 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
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How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | MSI GP66 Leopard |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i7-11800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 65 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 | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 245 nits | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
MSI Pulse GL66
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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."
MSI GP66 Leopard
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | December 2021
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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