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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
The MSI Pulse GL66 offers stronger performance for 3D tasks and engineering software due to its potent GPU, making it a solid choice for gaming or intensive processing tasks despite its shorter battery life and heavier build. Contrastingly, the XPG Xenia 14 trades off some performance for remarkable portability and a longer battery life, suitable for general use and on-the-go productivity with a more favorable price point. Neither are touchscreen, but the Xenia 14 gives you a higher screen resolution with better colors, which could be more enjoyable for media consumption and general use. Choose the MSI for performance-heavy tasks or the XPG for value and mobility. 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 engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the XPG Xenia 14
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.2
6.1
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for gaming and AI, while the XPG Xenia 14 is only fair.
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.
Engineering and Design
7.5
6.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Pulse GL66 is good for engineering and design, while the XPG Xenia 14 is only fair.
The MSI Pulse GL66, with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, delivers robust performance suitable for demanding engineering software and design programs, though it trades off some portability and has considerable operating noise. In contrast, the XPG Xenia 14 leans towards better battery life and portability with its lighter build, while offering satisfactory performance for engineering tasks with its Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics, at the expense of a more modest screen size and refresh rate.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
245.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a better screen than the XPG Xenia 14 for gaming and AI, while the XPG Xenia 14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
The MSI Pulse GL66's screen may not present colors as vividly as needed for precise engineering work or provide the visual clarity and responsiveness required for high-end gaming, but it offers a decent resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks. The XPG Xenia 14 provides sharper image quality and wider color coverage, making it ideal for professionals who need color accuracy for design, yet its refresh rate falls short for immersive gaming experiences. Both laptops have display attributes that suit general use, but specialized tasks like gaming or detailed design work highlight their respective shortcomings in refresh rate and color fidelity.
Battery
4.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The MSI Pulse GL66 has 4 hours of battery life. The XPG Xenia 14 has 10 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
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The XPG Xenia 14 has excellent portability, while the MSI Pulse GL66 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,399
$800
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Pulse GL66 has a price of $1,399 and the XPG Xenia 14 costs $800.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
245.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The XPG Xenia 14 and MSI Pulse GL66 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
7.2
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The XPG Xenia 14 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
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The XPG Xenia 14 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The MSI Pulse GL66 and XPG Xenia 14 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 XPG Xenia 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Pulse GL66 | XPG Xenia 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,399 | $800 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.94'' | 12.2'' x 8.5'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 2.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 12.2" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-11800H | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
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 | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53 Wh | 53 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 245 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 9.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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."
XPG Xenia 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | July 2021
"The Xenia 14 is a top 14-inch laptop under 1 kg. ADATA isn't exactly known for its laptops and so we weren't expecting much from its first 14-inch Ultrabook. With that said, we're pleasantly surprised by how well the Xenia 14 looks and performs. Not only is it incredibly light, but it has a color accurate 16:10 display, high CPU and GPU performance, easy RAM and SSD serviceability, plenty of port options including Thunderbolt 4, and long battery life. It packs a lot of punch and features considering the size and weight to be better than even the LG Gram series."
Get a great deal on the MSI Pulse GL66 or the XPG Xenia 14
0
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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