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Updated March 13, 2024·
When choosing between the MSI Pulse GL66 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, consider that the MSI will likely offer better performance for gaming or intensive tasks due to stronger graphics capabilities, but it may be bulkier, making it less ideal for frequent travel. The Lenovo ThinkBook, while typically more expensive, is designed for business users with a focus on portability and a sleek design, but it might not handle high-performance tasks as well as the MSI. Battery life usually favors more efficient, less powerful machines, so the Lenovo may also last longer on a charge than the MSI. 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
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.3
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The MSI Pulse GL66, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, excels in demanding tasks and gaming, offering a vibrant screen but at the expense of portability and battery life; in contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x strikes a balance with good processing power, portability, and longer battery life for everyday tasks, though it may not handle intense workloads as smoothly. Both laptops have adequate storage and decent keyboards, but you'll find the MSI noisier and warmer under heavy use, while the Lenovo maintains a quieter operation with more manageable heat.
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.6
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66 primarily stands out for gaming and 3D use due to its superior graphics card and higher screen refresh rate, which are critical for smooth and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while having a decent processor and screen quality, doesn't match the MSI's GPU performance and refresh rate, making it less ideal for high-end gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.2
8.0
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
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
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the MSI Pulse GL66 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x boasts a display with high resolution and brightness, along with an IPS panel type that ensures clear and vivid images, making it excellent for general use and detailed engineering work. Its very good screen quality for engineering is also attributed to its broader color range, accommodating professional design needs. However, its suitability for gaming and 3D tasks is limited due to a lower refresh rate that can't match the smoother visuals demanded by these applications.
Battery
4.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has 8 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,130
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,130 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
7.5
7.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for engineering and design.
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, as well as a high-quality screen, making it well-equipped for demanding engineering software and design tasks that require significant processing power and detailed visual output. While the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x delivers quality performance in a more compact form, with a good keyboard and quieter operation, making it suitable for on-the-go engineering work, although it may not handle intensive graphics tasks as efficiently as the MSI.
Build Quality
7.4
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Pulse GL66 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the MSI Pulse GL66 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,130 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 245 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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