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Updated March 22, 2024·
When deciding between the MSI Pulse GL66 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider your primary usage. The Titan offers superior performance for demanding tasks, making it ideal for gaming, 3D rendering, and intensive engineering software, but it is bulkier and drains the battery faster, impacting portability and convenience during travel or long work sessions away from power outlets. On the other hand, the Pulse, while more affordable and easier to carry, may not handle heavy applications as smoothly but is still adequately capable for general use and moderate 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 Pulse GL66
- Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
8.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers solid CPU performance and ample RAM for everyday tasks, along with a decent screen and reasonable portability, but the battery life leaves something to be desired. The MSI Titan 18 HX, on the other hand, delivers superior CPU and RAM capabilities, and a higher quality screen ideal for more demanding applications, at the cost of being less portable and having shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.2
9.4
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers solid gaming and 3D performance with a capable GPU and high screen refresh rate, suitable for most gamers. However, the MSI Titan 18 HX outshines it with an even more powerful GPU and an equally impressive refresh rate, providing a superior experience for high-end gaming and demanding 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.5
9.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The MSI Titan 18 HX, with its more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and superior GPU, excels in demanding engineering and design tasks and provides a better screen quality for precise work, whereas the MSI Pulse GL66, while capable, is less powerful but offers greater portability and potentially less operating noise, appealing to users who prioritize mobility and a quieter work environment. Despite these differences, both laptops come with decent keyboard and speaker quality which contributes to their overall user experience.
Content Creation
7.2
9.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent 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
7.0
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
6.8
9.2
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Pulse GL66 may have a screen that is satisfactory for tasks like browsing and productivity due to its adequate resolution and brightness, but its color accuracy might not be ideal for precision tasks like engineering and design, which require a wider color gamut for detailed work. The MSI Titan 18 HX likely excels in screen quality for both general use and professional design tasks because of its high resolution, superior brightness, and extensive color range coverage, enabling vibrant and accurate visuals crucial for fine-detail work. However, both laptops might fall short for gaming and 3D applications where a high refresh rate is critical for smooth motion; their screens may not refresh quickly enough to provide a seamless experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Good
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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.
Cost
$1,399
$4,949
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,399 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,949.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the MSI Titan 18 HX compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | MSI Titan 18 HX |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $4,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 7.93 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 15.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 12.08" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 128 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 4096 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 245 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 5.1/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 10/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 Titan 18 HX
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | January 2024
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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