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 Finest Purchase for $2,030.
• It is a gaming laptop computer with highly effective {hardware} and a vibrant OLED show that is excellent 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 most recent entry within the tech firm’s modern gaming laptop computer collection. I am fairly acquainted with the Stealth line, having reviewed several models previously. This model does not reinvent the wheel. In truth, 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 assume that was actually heavy, however after carrying round chunky laptops, MSI’s gadget 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

A number of different nice design components make their triumphant return. Taking place the checklist, you could have a full-size gaming keyboard. Every button has a 1.5mm journey distance, making certain a cushty typing really feel. Six encompass sound audio system are positioned at both finish beneath the keyboard for immersive audio. 

One among my favourite moments testing this laptop computer got here from listening to “Doomsday” by MF Doom. The lyrical circulation from Doom sounded crystal clear and highly effective by means of the laptop computer’s audio system, filling my total room along 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, however it’s shut sufficient — the display nonetheless delivers spectacular visible output. Colours are vibrant, the excessive decision delivers detailed photographs, and the 240Hz refresh price ensures easy on-screen movement. 

Energy enhance

One among my favourite issues about MSI laptops is how straightforward it’s to tweak their efficiency. On many Home windows 11 laptops, all you’ll be able to actually do is change the Energy mode within the Settings, however MSI Heart, its inside settings program is definitely fairly sturdy. 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 overview 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.

Under is an inventory evaluating MSI’s Stealth 16 with its predecessor, the Stealth A16 AI Plus, and the Dell Premium 16. You will 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 common efficiency; it is in a position to hop between net pages and apps with out a lot situation. Nevertheless, I did not expertise any slowdown. This laptop computer ran nice in every single place.

Having Dell’s machine could seem random, however it is advisable to perceive that the Stealth 16 is not only a stable gaming pc. It is also a robust graphic design laptop computer, too. For testing, I put in Blender, a free 3D creation app, and edited photographs 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 typical 50-tab Chrome browser check. All the pieces ran advantageous when there have been solely three livestreams, though as soon as I hit six, I observed a slowdown. Livestreams had been gradual to load. It took a number 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 had been by no means a difficulty. 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 vulnerable to touching a scorching keyboard. In truth, the keys stayed good and funky the whole time. Sadly, this implies you’ll be able to’t place the pc in your lap; in any other case, your legs will probably be blasted by scorching air. 

This capability to remain cool below duress is due to the Cooler Increase 5 cooling system, which consists of two massive followers and 5 warmth pipes directing scorching air out by means of the vents. This method can be on the vastly extra highly effective MSI Raider 18 HX. 

Unsurprisingly, MSI’s Stealth 16 isn’t designed to be away from its charger for lengthy. You may push its endurance by enabling ECO-Silent and Built-in Graphics Mode within the MSI Heart app, and Finest Energy Effectivity in Home windows, however even then, it’s going to 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, however it lacks in stamina. For that cause, I might recommend this for customers who do not want an all-day battery sort of laptop computer, however are advantageous with a number of hour stints all through the day. 

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

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

In order for you a extra powerful graphic design computer, I recommend the Alienware 18 Area-51. It’s a way more highly effective gaming laptop computer that leaves each laptop computer I discussed up to now within the mud. I feel it is the most effective for the 12 months. It’s, nevertheless, very costly; my overview unit value $3,200.