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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers superior gaming performance with a higher-end graphics card, which is better for demanding tasks and gaming, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Thin GF63 is lighter and offers better portability and battery life, making it a good choice for general use and on-the-go productivity, although it might not handle intensive tasks as well. If gaming or heavy 3D tasks are less of a priority, the MSI Thin GF63’s benefits in price and portability may outweigh the MSI Pulse GL66’s performance edge. 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 for gaming and AI
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
- The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the MSI Pulse GL66.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for content creation.
The MSI Pulse GL66 and MSI Thin GF63 have screens with resolutions and brightness levels that suffice for typical tasks like browsing and watching videos, making them suitable for general use. However, their limited color gamut coverage means that professionals in engineering and design who require precise color accuracy might find them lacking. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates of these models can lead to less smooth visuals, which could be a significant drawback for users focused on these areas.
Build Quality
7.4
6.5
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair 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
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
The MSI Pulse GL66 with its robust CPU and top-tier GPU is great for general use and also offers a backlit keyboard for ease of use in various lighting conditions, but it's slightly heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI Thin GF63, which also provides strong performance and has a slightly better battery life and higher screen brightness, making it well-suited for general use while being more portable.
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.9
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Pulse GL66 to be good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Thin GF63 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and 3D tasks due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and its screen's high refresh rate of 144Hz, which delivers smoother visuals critical for fast-paced games. Meanwhile, the MSI Thin GF63, while also suited for gaming and 3D with its high refresh rate screen and capable Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, offers a more recent CPU and a higher screen brightness, suggesting improved image quality for gaming visuals.
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The MSI Pulse GL66 is equipped with a higher-end Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks that require extensive graphics processing, while the MSI Thin GF63, with a newer CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, offers a more recent processor generation but less powerful graphics capability, significant for engineering applications but potentially less optimal for graphics-intensive workloads. Both laptops provide ample RAM and quality IPS screens, essential for multitasking and clear visual representation respectively, but the balance between processing power and graphics performance will be a deciding factor depending on the specific engineering and design software requirements.
Content Creation
7.2
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 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
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 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
4.5 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 has 4.5 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Thin GF63 and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good 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 Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
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How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | MSI Thin GF63 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i7-12650H | |
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 | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 51 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 | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
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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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."
MSI Thin GF63
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jeffries | November 2022
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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