Finally, an ultraportable Windows laptop I’d use at the office (even though it’s for gamers)

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The MSI Stealth 16 AI is on sale at Greatest Purchase for $2,030.
• It is a gaming laptop computer with highly effective {hardware} and a vibrant OLED show that is ultimate for each gaming and graphic design.
• Nevertheless, like its predecessor, it has a hungry battery and runs scorching.

The 2025 MSI Stealth 16 is the newest entry within the tech firm’s smooth gaming laptop computer collection. I am fairly conversant in the Stealth line, having reviewed several models prior to now. This model would not reinvent the wheel. In actual fact, it shares many similarities with its predecessor, the Stealth A16 AI+, to its profit and to a fault.

Additionally: The best laptops for graphic designers: Expert tested

First off: on the floor, I genuinely cannot inform the distinction between this mannequin and the earlier technology. The Stealth 16 measures 14″x 10.22″x 0.85″ inches — the very same dimensions because the A16. It even weighs the identical at 4.63 kilos. 

What’s humorous is I used to suppose that was actually heavy, however after carrying round chunky laptops, MSI’s system feels light-weight. Even with the ability adapter, I did not thoughts carrying it round city. By the best way, I issue that adapter into the general weight since you will want it readily available. Extra on that later.

Bringing again the classics

Just a few different nice design parts make their triumphant return. Taking place the record, you may have a full-size gaming keyboard. Every button has a 1.5mm journey distance, guaranteeing a snug typing really feel. Six encompass sound audio system are positioned at both finish under the keyboard for immersive audio. 

Certainly one of my favourite moments testing this laptop computer got here from listening to “Doomsday” by MF Doom. The lyrical stream from Doom sounded crystal clear and highly effective via the laptop computer’s audio system, filling my complete room together with his supervillainy. 

Above the keyboard is the 16-inch OLED show. At QuadHD+ (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) decision, it isn’t fairly 4K, nevertheless it’s shut sufficient — the display nonetheless delivers spectacular visible output. Colours are vibrant, the excessive decision delivers detailed pictures, and the 240Hz refresh charge ensures easy on-screen movement. 

Energy increase

Certainly one of my favourite issues about MSI laptops is how simple it’s to tweak their efficiency. On many Home windows 11 laptops, all you possibly can actually do is change the Energy mode within the Settings, however MSI Middle, its inner settings program is definitely fairly strong. Right here, you  can modify the pc’s output on the fly. For instance, enabling Excessive Efficiency and Discrete Graphics Mode delivers the perfect {hardware} outcomes.

Additionally: I tested Dell’s XPS successor, and it beat my $3,000 Windows laptop in almost every way

Inside my evaluate unit was an Intel Core Extremely 9 285H, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. It is a fairly good configuration, if I say so myself, and it reveals within the efficiency numbers.

Beneath is a listing evaluating MSI’s Stealth 16 with its predecessor, the Stealth A16 AI Plus, and the Dell Premium 16. You may discover that the newer mannequin has higher uncooked processing and rendering energy than the others, indicating it excels at dealing with heavy workloads and rendering complicated 3D graphics. 

There’s a little bit of a spot between the Stealth 16 and the A16 on PCMark 10, suggesting that the older mannequin has higher normal efficiency; it is in a position to hop between net pages and apps with out a lot concern. Nevertheless, I did not expertise any slowdown. This laptop computer ran nice in all places.

Having Dell’s machine could appear random, however you want to perceive that the Stealth 16 is not only a strong gaming laptop. It is also a strong graphic design laptop computer, too. For testing, I put in Blender, a free 3D creation app, and edited pictures on Pixlr. I am not a lot of an artist, however I did handle to create and render easy scenes starring Blender’s complicated monkey mannequin.

I had an analogous expertise with Pixlr, as I used to be in a position to edit 4K pictures with none main hiccups. The whole course of went easily. MSI’s laptop computer is a powerhouse in nearly each sense of the phrase. 

Additionally: I switched to the Dell 14 Premium for a week, and it makes even the XPS feel outdated

As highly effective because the laptop computer could also be, it has its limits. I ran a number of 4K YouTube livestreams as a part of my traditional 50-tab Chrome browser check. Every little thing ran superb when there have been solely three livestreams, though as soon as I hit six, I observed a slowdown. Livestreams have been gradual to load. It took a couple of seconds earlier than the Stealth 16 might play the video as regular.

Staying cool

Heavy workloads do trigger the Stealth 16 to warmth up a bit, however excessive temperatures have been by no means a problem. Warmth vents are strategically positioned above the keyboard, on the aspect of the laptop computer, and on the underside, so your palms are by no means susceptible to touching a scorching keyboard. In actual fact, the keys stayed good and funky your entire time. Sadly, this implies you possibly can’t place the pc in your lap; in any other case, your legs will probably be blasted by scorching air. 

This capacity to remain cool beneath duress is due to the Cooler Enhance 5 cooling system, which consists of two giant followers and 5 warmth pipes directing scorching air out via the vents. This method can be on the vastly extra highly effective MSI Raider 18 HX. 

Unsurprisingly, MSI’s Stealth 16 is just not designed to be away from its charger for lengthy. You possibly can push its endurance by enabling ECO-Silent and Built-in Graphics Mode within the MSI Middle app, and Greatest Energy Effectivity in Home windows, however even then, it should final round six hours on a single cost, relying on what you are doing. 

Like many gaming laptops with this type of {hardware}, it might have energy, nevertheless it lacks in stamina. For that cause, I would counsel this for customers who do not want an all-day battery type of laptop computer, however are superb with a couple of hour stints all through the day. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

The MSI Stealth 16 AI is on sale at Greatest Purchase for $2,030, which is an effective value for a laptop computer with this type of {hardware}. I like to recommend this system to anybody in search of an inexpensive gaming laptop computer that may also be used as a piece machine. In the event you like this laptop computer however need to avoid wasting money, its predecessor, the Stealth A16 AI+, could be very related and nonetheless related in 2025, retailing for $1,800.

If you’d like a extra powerful graphic design computer, I counsel the Alienware 18 Area-51. It’s a rather more highly effective gaming laptop computer that leaves each laptop computer I discussed to this point within the mud. I feel it is top-of-the-line for the 12 months. It’s, nonetheless, very costly; my evaluate unit value $3,200.