MSI Stealth A16 AI+ and Stealth 18 HX AI: Pushing Boundaries in Gaming Laptop Performance

I can't get enough of this MSI Stealth A16 AI+ with an RTX 5070 Ti -- here's why

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. I once touted that RTX 5070 gaming laptops would be my new gold standard, but after using the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ with an RTX 5070 Ti, I may need to alter that statement. Testing out Nvidia's upper-mid-range laptop GPU has been a long time coming, and MSI's sleek, minimalist 16-inch laptop is just the machine to show off its performance. Paired up with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, there's not a lot this machine can't do. Anything I booted up could be seen in visual excellence with its glorious QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED panel, and its 240Hz refresh rate was put to good use in PC games thanks to DLSS 4 packing all those AI tricks. It's a slick, well-sized portable powerhouse that won't break the bank...as much as an RTX 5090 gaming laptop. If that wasn't enough, MSI has done a fantastic job with its satisfying keyboard with subtle yet lovely per-key RGB. There's plenty of key travel here, and there's even enough space for a number pad for productivity. Plus, the touchpad is well-sized and well-placed. While we already put the MSI Steath A16 AI+ (2024) on our radar last year, it's the upgraded RTX 5070 Ti that really delivers that next-gen feel -- whether you mainly use it as a creator or for those spruced up PC games. Now, I would've thought that these beefy internals with AI aiding all tasks would keep the Stealth A16 AI+, well, stealthy, but fans can make this one noisy machine during demanding tasks. Luckily, the impressive audio drowns this out, but it doesn't fix how hot it gets under the hood. I'm already counting it as one of the best gaming laptops of the year so far, but there are still a few more tests to be done. As a mid-range gaming laptop with a touch more power, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ pushes the limits. If you couldn't tell from the headline image, it was the minute I booted up Oblivion Remastered that I took a shine to the MSI Stealth A16 AI+. With its snappy performance, gorgeous visuals, excellent keyboard and slim design, I'd be happy spending hours playing Bethesda's latest (and more) on this machine. No, I would not say an RTX 5070 Ti could match the might of an RTX 4090 even in the laptop GPU side of things, as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed the base 5070 could do. But that shouldn't take away from what the Stealth A16 AI+'s combination of an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD can offer. I put the laptop through its paces with Cyberpunk 2077, Oblivion Remastered and Marvel Rivals, and once all settings were optimized, frames rates hit that 240Hz mark and graphics were on point. But first, a test without the magic of DLSS 4. There are no surprises when it comes to comparing it to the might of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 with an RTX 5090, or even the RTX 4090 model. I know. Looking at those FPS rates in Cyberpunk 2077, it's harder to believe that the Stealth A16 AI+ offers any kind of smooth gaming performance on paper. But this is with ray tracing set to Ultra in settings at 1440p without any DLSS switched on, and that's not the way gamers should use an RTX 5070 Ti-equipped laptop. But otherwise, with DLSS 4 and multi frame gen turned on, I was seeing frame rates skyrocket to over 120 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, which is an amazing feat for anyone after a gaming laptop that delivers stunning, high-quality details for a considerable amount less than an RTX 5090-equipped machine. I then threw on Marvel Rivals, where settings were maxed out and I was getting well over 200 FPS, which hardly comes as a surprise considering this game is made for fast-paced, competitive play. And in the Oblivion Remaster, settings were also at max, and I was getting a steady, smooth 80-100 FPS depending on the situation. Of course, it isn't just about gaming, as the Stealth A16 AI+ is also a laptop for productivity and content creators -- as you can tell from the results below. Even compared to You're getting very close to the previous ROG Strix Scar 18 here, and that cost above $3,900. But it also shows that AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a commendable CPU despite the gap between its Intel rival, and that 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD definitely help in the handbrake test. The Stealth A16 AI+ offers plenty of power and pushes mid-range gaming and performance further. For most, this will be enough, and its price isn't completely out of range. A 16-inch gaming laptop that's lighter than the M4 MacBook Pro 16-inch? That's right, and while it's still not as portable as popular 14-inch gaming laptops, like the 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, you bet I'm carrying around this beast in my laptop bag without worrying about an aching back. It's an incredibly slim and sleek 16-inch gaming laptop, and I'm a big fan of its unibody all-black design with its premium-feeling magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis. There are smudges that appear, but it's not nearly as noticeable as on more plasticky material. Its sturdy frame means it's easy to lift up the lid to its gorgeous display, and while I wouldn't call it "lightweight," it's still light and compact enough to slip into a bag and carry while traveling. There's also the right number of ports, even if I wish there were an extra USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 support. Having two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI 2.1, an Ethernet and a USB-C with PowerDelivery (PD) 3.0 and DisplayPort support offers what I need in a gaming laptop to connect PC peripherals. If you prefer a larger display on a slim laptop that isn't cumbersome like an 18-inch gaming laptop, the Stealth A16 AI+ has the design you're after. Speaking of displays... I'm very much enjoying many gaming laptops leaning towards OLED panels with (more often than not) 240Hz refresh rates, as the A16 AI+'s 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) screen is a treat for playing games, watching the latest shows and scrolling through websites. From the jaw-dropping ray tracing in Oblivion Remastered to watching the gritty crime thriller Havoc on Netflix, the display captures accurate colors and sharp details for all my viewing needs. Waking up in the dungeon cell in Oblivion to see light bouncing off cobbled walls and a torch shining on rusted shackles in a true delight. As for Havoc, there wasn't one drop of blood I didn't notice on Tom Hardy's face throughout the movie, and that says a lot considering all the action that takes place. Getting ready for Marvel's Thunderbolts, I also threw on the final trailer and was greeted with the dark, hardcore vibes of the not-so-superhero team coming out of an elevator, and the shadowed shot of The Void shows a great shade of black that subtly shows the outline of the villain's face. Just as expected out of an OLED panel. A big shoutout to MSI paring up with SteelSeries to deliver a comfortable per-key RGB gaming keyboard and a sturdy feeling touchpad. Each key flutters with an array of colors, but aren't obnoxiously bright either, which is very much aligned with the whole "Stealth" theme MSI is going for. The board offers enough key travel and each key is satisfying to press, and and I could easily use this laptop in an office without disturbing anyone around me, as key presses are near-silent. No thock sounds here, as some gamers would like, but that's where the best gaming keyboard come in. There's a lot going for the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, but when it comes to thermal management and those noisy fans, it could use a bit of work. I'm glad MSI partnered up with SteelSeries Nahimic to offer satisfying audio, thanks to its two 2W speakers and four 2W woofers, as you'll hear this laptop from a mile away without sound blasting from it. From booting it up and downloading files to launching a demanding AAA title, the Stealth A16 AI+ will spin those fans like it's about to take off. Of course, the latter brings the loudest decibels, but I'm surprised that even a quick install of an app can lead to an increase in noise coming from under the hood. And that's all despite the laptop coming with the latest in CPU and GPU technology, along with a big performance boost from AI. Luckily, those audio drviers to a marvelous job of drowning out those turbines. That's an exaggeration, as I have heard louder, but for a laptop at this price, I would have expected better noise management. Those fans speeds appears to be needed, though, as the Stealth A16 AI+ gets hot under the hood. While I'm not sure precise temperatures, it appears the centre on the keyboard gets a lot of the heat, but its the bottom that gets the hottest. I only noticed this when cranking up max settings in PC games. Perhaps its giant 99.9Wh cell battery is to blame? Either way, I never felt as if the laptop was going to melt, but it's always better for a machine to be cool rather than scorching. There are still a few more tests to be done, but I'm certain the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ will find a spot in the best gaming laptops you can grab in 2025, and possibly beyond considering the performance gains you're getting thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 Ti it boasts. At $2,899, it isn't exactly cheap, but its hugely more affordable than something like an RTX 5090-equipped Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (3,169) or ROG Strix Scar 18 ($4,499). And, with the power and premium features it offers, there's more than enough here to satisfy many gamers after a step up in performance. In any case, I won't be reaching for the highs of top-of-the-range laptops any time soon thanks to the Stealth A16 AI+ showcasing how "mid-range" has shifted for the better -- even if it is loud.

MSI Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 Laptop : Redefining Power and Portability

What if you could hold the future of computing in your hands -- without feeling like you're carrying a brick? The MSI Stealth 18 HX AI is rewriting the rules of what a high-performance laptop can be. Packed with innovative hardware like the Intel Core Ultra 9275HX CPU and Nvidia's monstrous RTX 5090 GPU, this machine promises to deliver desktop-level power in a package so slim it's almost hard to believe. Whether you're a gamer chasing ultra-smooth 4K visuals, a creator tackling complex 3D renders, or a professional juggling demanding workflows, this laptop claims to do it all without breaking a sweat. But is it really possible to combine such raw power with portability, or is this just another overhyped attempt at the impossible? In this exploration, ETA Prime uncovers what makes the MSI Stealth 18 HX AI stand out in a crowded field of high-performance laptops. From its stunning 4K mini-LED display and AI-driven optimization features to its advanced cooling system and robust connectivity options, this device is designed to cater to those who refuse to compromise. But beyond the specs and benchmarks, what's it like to actually use? Can it truly redefine the balance between power and portability, or are there trade-offs lurking beneath its sleek exterior? Let's delve into the details and see if the Stealth 18 HX AI is the future-proof powerhouse it claims to be -- or if it's simply too good to be true. At the heart of the MSI Stealth 18 HX AI lies the Intel Core Ultra 9275HX CPU, a 24-core, 24-thread processor capable of reaching speeds up to 5.4 GHz. This powerhouse is paired with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, which features 24 GB of GDDR7 VRAM and a maximum TGP of 175W. Together, these components deliver exceptional performance for a wide range of tasks, including: The laptop supports up to 96 GB of DDR5 RAM, clocked at 5600 MHz, making sure seamless multitasking and rapid data processing. Benchmark tests consistently highlight its capabilities, with impressive results in synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench 6 and 3DMark, as well as real-world gaming scenarios such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Horizon Zero Dawn. This combination of hardware ensures that the Stealth 18 HX AI is ready for the most demanding applications. The MSI Stealth 18 HX AI features an 18-inch 4K mini-LED display that stands out as one of its most compelling features. With a 16:10 aspect ratio, 120 Hz refresh rate, and HDR1000 certification, the display delivers stunning visuals characterized by vibrant colors, deep contrasts, and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. Whether you're gaming, editing videos, or streaming content, the screen ensures an immersive and visually rich experience. Complementing the display is a robust audio system that includes dual stereo speakers and four woofers. This setup provides rich, dynamic sound, making it ideal for gaming, media consumption, and virtual meetings. The combination of high-quality visuals and audio ensures that the Stealth 18 HX AI excels in delivering a premium multimedia experience. Gain further expertise in PC systems by checking out these recommendations. High-performance hardware generates significant heat, and the MSI Stealth 18 HX AI addresses this challenge with an advanced vapor chamber cooling system. Key features of this system include: This cooling system works in tandem with the MSI AI Engine, which dynamically adjusts fan speeds and performance settings based on workload demands. This ensures that the laptop remains cool and consistent, even during extended gaming sessions or intensive workloads. The result is a system that delivers sustained performance without compromising on reliability or comfort. The MSI Stealth 18 HX AI is equipped with a wide range of connectivity options, making it versatile for both professional and personal use. These include: These connectivity options ensure seamless integration with peripherals, external displays, and networks. Whether you're connecting to multiple monitors for productivity or transferring large files quickly, the Stealth 18 HX AI provides the tools you need to stay efficient and connected. The MSI AI Engine enhances the user experience by automating performance tuning and fan adjustments. This intelligent system adapts to your activities, whether you're gaming, editing, or running AI-assisted applications. Additionally, the pre-installed MSI Center software offers customizable performance modes, including: These features allow you to tailor the laptop's behavior to your specific needs, making sure that it performs optimally in any scenario. Despite its powerful internals, the MSI Stealth 18 HX AI maintains a slim and lightweight design, measuring just 23.99 mm in thickness. This makes it easy to carry, whether you're commuting or traveling. The durable build ensures long-term reliability, while the inclusion of advanced security features adds an extra layer of protection. These features include: These security measures provide fast and secure login options, enhancing both convenience and protection for users who prioritize data security. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU brings advanced gaming technologies to the MSI Stealth 18 HX AI. Features like ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) deliver: Whether you're exploring expansive open-world environments or competing in fast-paced multiplayer matches, the Stealth 18 HX AI ensures a smooth and visually stunning gaming experience. With support for the latest gaming technologies, this laptop is a top choice for gamers who demand the best.