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 superb for each gaming and graphic design.
• Nonetheless, 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 conversant in the Stealth line, having reviewed several models prior to now. This model would not reinvent the wheel. The truth is, 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 facility adapter, I did not thoughts carrying it round city. By the way in which, I issue that adapter into the general weight since you will want it available. Extra on that later.

Bringing again the classics

A couple of different nice design components make their triumphant return. Taking place the checklist, you’ve 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 under the keyboard for immersive audio. 

One in every 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 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 is not fairly 4K, nevertheless it’s shut sufficient — the display screen 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 in every of my favourite issues about MSI laptops is how simple it’s to tweak their efficiency. On many Home windows 11 laptops, all you may actually do is change the Energy mode within the Settings, however MSI Heart, 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 very best {hardware} outcomes.

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

Inside my evaluation 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 concern. Nonetheless, I did not expertise any slowdown. This laptop computer ran nice in all places.

Having Dell’s machine could appear random, however you should perceive that the Stealth 16 is not only a stable gaming pc. It is also a strong 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 the same expertise with Pixlr, as I used to be in a position to edit 4K pictures with none main hiccups. Your entire 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 regular 50-tab Chrome browser take a look at. All the pieces ran wonderful 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 couple of seconds earlier than the Stealth 16 may 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 arms are by no means vulnerable to touching a scorching keyboard. The truth is, the keys stayed good and funky your complete time. Sadly, this implies you may’t place the pc in your lap; in any other case, your legs can be blasted by scorching air. 

This capacity to remain cool beneath duress is due to the Cooler Increase 5 cooling system, which consists of two giant 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 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 Heart app, and Finest Energy Effectivity in Home windows, however even then, it can final round six hours on a single cost, relying on what you are doing. 

Like many gaming laptops with this sort of {hardware}, it might have energy, nevertheless it lacks in stamina. For that purpose, I might recommend this for customers who do not want an all-day battery sort of laptop computer, however are wonderful with a couple 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 sort of {hardware}. I like to recommend this gadget to anybody in search of an reasonably priced gaming laptop computer that will also be used as a piece machine. When you like this laptop computer however wish 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 far more highly effective gaming laptop computer that leaves each laptop computer I discussed to this point within the mud. I feel it is among the finest for the yr. It’s, nonetheless, very costly; my evaluation unit price $3,200.