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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Pulse GL66 is a more budget-friendly option with good performance, especially for general use, and includes hardware ray tracing capabilities. It's lighter and slightly more portable than the Razer Blade 18, which might be important if you plan to carry it around frequently. However, the Razer Blade 18 offers a larger and higher-resolution display, significantly better performance suitable for intensive 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks, and it also features a longer battery life. It comes at a higher cost and is heavier, hence less portable. So, if the top-tier performance and screen real estate justify the higher price and weight for you, go with the Razer. If you're looking for a balance between price and performance with greater portability, the MSI could be your pick. 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 Razer Blade 18
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3
8.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for general use, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 stands out for general use with its higher RAM, a more powerful latest-generation CPU, and superior screen quality including resolution, brightness, and color coverage when compared to MSI Pulse GL66. However, the MSI Pulse GL66 offers more portability due to its lighter weight and smaller screen, although both laptops have similar battery life, which is marked at around 4 hours for typical usage.
Gaming and AI
7.2
8.9
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 excels in gaming and 3D applications due to its more advanced Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a very high screen refresh rate, which provide enhanced graphics performance and smoother visuals compared to the MSI Pulse GL66 that has a capable but less powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU and a lower screen refresh rate. The Razer Blade 18 also features a superior CPU and higher quality screen, contributing to its excellent gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5
9.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Pulse GL66 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design due to its potent Intel i9 processor, double the RAM, and more advanced Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, which together provide better performance for demanding tasks than the MSI Pulse GL66's Intel i7 processor, less RAM, and older Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU. Additionally, the Razer's superior screen quality, with higher resolution and color coverage, is preferable for detail-oriented work, although it's less portable and noisier which might affect use in quiet environments.
Content Creation
7.2
8.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 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
7.0
8.5
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 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
8.9
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When choosing between the MSI Pulse GL66 and the Razer Blade 18 for general use, the Razer Blade 18 stands out with a higher resolution and brightness, giving you sharper images and better visibility in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design tasks, which demand accurate colors, the Razer Blade 18 also excels with a wider color gamut, ensuring more precise color representation. However, neither laptop is ideal for gaming and 3D work because they have lower refresh rates, limiting the smoothness and responsiveness needed for fast-paced visuals.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability, while the Razer Blade 18 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Razer Blade 18 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
$10
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,399 and the Razer Blade 18 costs $10.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 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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How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the Razer Blade 18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | Razer Blade 18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $10 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 6.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i9-13950HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 91.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 245 nits | 524 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 6.2/10 | |
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 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
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 | 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."
Razer Blade 18
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | March 2023
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the Razer Blade 18
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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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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