I as soon as touted that RTX 5070 gaming laptops could be my new gold customary, however after utilizing the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ with an RTX 5070 Ti, I might have to change that assertion.
Testing out Nvidia’s upper-mid-range laptop computer GPU has been a very long time coming, and MSI’s glossy, minimalist 16-inch laptop computer is simply the machine to indicate off its efficiency. Paired up with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, there’s not rather a lot this machine can’t do.
Something I booted up could possibly be seen in visible excellence with its superb QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED panel, and its 240Hz refresh price was put to good use in PC video games because of DLSS 4 packing all these AI methods. It is a slick, well-sized transportable powerhouse that will not break the financial institution…as a lot as an RTX 5090 gaming laptop computer.
If that wasn’t enough, MSI has accomplished a implausible job with its satisfying keyboard with delicate but beautiful per-key RGB. There’s lots of key journey right here, and there is even enough house for a quantity pad for productiveness. Plus, the touchpad is well-sized and well-placed.
Whereas we already put the MSI Steath A16 AI+ (2024) on our radar final yr, it is the upgraded RTX 5070 Ti that actually delivers that next-gen really feel — whether or not you primarily use it as a creator or for these spruced up PC video games.
Now, I would’ve thought that these beefy internals with AI aiding all duties would preserve the Stealth A16 AI+, nicely, stealthy, however followers could make this one noisy machine throughout demanding duties. Fortunately, the spectacular audio drowns this out, however it does not repair how sizzling it will get underneath the hood.
I’m already counting it as one of the most effective gaming laptops of the yr up to now, however there are nonetheless a couple of extra exams to be accomplished. As a mid-range gaming laptop computer with a contact extra energy, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ pushes the bounds.
MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Cheat Sheet
- What’s it? A 16-inch gaming laptop computer packed with the newest specs — together with an RTX 5070 Ti.
- Who’s it for? Anybody trying to increase gaming and productiveness efficiency in a glossy, minimalist chassis.
- What does it value? The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ begins at $2,899 in the U.S., however a maxed-out model with an RTX 5090 will cost up to $4,299. There’s not one presently out there within the U.Ok., however there’s a Stealth A18 for £2,799 on Amazon.
- What can we like? The unimaginable efficiency in an upper-mid-range gaming laptop computer, its implausible 16-inch 1440p OLED show, delicate design and glorious-to-type-on keyboard.
- What don’t we like? For its highly effective internals, this laptop computer can get loud when put underneath any sort of stress, and it may possibly run sizzling when booting up demanding video games and apps.
MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Specs
Worth |
From $2,899 |
Show |
16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED, 240Hz refresh price |
CPU |
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
GPU |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti |
RAM |
32GB DDR5 |
Storage |
2TB |
Ports |
2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1x USB-C (with USB4/DisplayPort/Thunderbolt 4/ PD 3.0), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet |
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
Dimensions |
14 x 10.2 x 0.7 inches |
Weight |
4.6 kilos |
MSI Stealth A16 AI+: The ups
When you could not inform from the headline picture, it was the minute I booted up Oblivion Remastered that I took a shine to the MSI Stealth A16 AI+. With its snappy efficiency, beautiful visuals, wonderful keyboard and slim design, I’d be joyful spending hours taking part in Bethesda’s newest (and extra) on this machine.
Pushing mid-range energy
No, I wouldn’t say an RTX 5070 Ti may match the may of an RTX 4090 even within the laptop computer GPU aspect of issues, as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed the bottom 5070 may do. However that should not take away from what the Stealth A16 AI+’s mixture of an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD can provide.
I put the laptop computer by way of its paces with Cyberpunk 2077, Oblivion Remastered and Marvel Rivals, and as soon as all settings had been optimized, frames charges hit that 240Hz mark and graphics had been on level. However first, a take a look at with out the magic of DLSS 4.
Laptop computer |
Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing: Extremely 1440p no DLSS) |
Black Fantasy: Wukong (Cinematic 1440p no DLSS) |
Murderer’s Creed Shadows (Extremely excessive 1440p no DLSS) |
---|---|---|---|
MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (RTX 5070 Ti) |
13.67 FPS |
n/a |
n/a |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (RTX 5090) |
41.14 FPS |
44 FPS |
44 FPS |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (RTX 4090) |
36.77 FPS |
n/a |
32 FPS |
HP Omen Max 16 (RTX 5090) |
35.88 FPS |
40 FPS |
42 FPS |
There are not any surprises in terms of evaluating it to the may of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 with an RTX 5090, and even the RTX 4090 mannequin.
I know. Taking a look at these FPS charges in Cyberpunk 2077, it is tougher to consider that the Stealth A16 AI+ provides any variety of clean gaming efficiency on paper. However this is with ray tracing set to Extremely in settings at 1440p with none DLSS switched on, and that is not the way in which avid gamers ought to use an RTX 5070 Ti-equipped laptop computer.
However in any other case, with DLSS 4 and multi body gen turned on, I was seeing body charges skyrocket to over 120 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, which is an wonderful feat for anybody after a gaming laptop computer that delivers gorgeous, high-quality particulars for a substantial quantity lower than an RTX 5090-equipped machine.
I then threw on Marvel Rivals, the place settings had been maxed out and I was getting nicely over 200 FPS, which hardly comes as a shock contemplating this recreation is made for fast-paced, aggressive play. And within the Oblivion Remaster, settings had been additionally at max, and I was getting a gradual, clean 80-100 FPS relying on the state of affairs.
In fact, it is not simply about gaming, because the Stealth A16 AI+ can be a laptop computer for productiveness and content material creators — as you may inform from the outcomes beneath. Even in comparison with
Benchmark |
MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 / RTX 5070 Ti) |
HP Omen Max 16 (Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX / RTX 5090) |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (Intel Core i9-14900HX / RTX 4090) |
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX / RTX 5090) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Geekbench 6 single-core |
2953 |
3097 |
3026 |
3117 |
Geekbench 6 multicore |
15450 |
19822 |
17300 |
19553 |
Geekbench AI (ONNX GPU Quantized rating) |
17343 |
n/a |
15658 |
23227 |
Handbrake (transcoding 4K to 1080p – mm:ss decrease is healthier) |
03:10 |
02:48 |
02:54 |
02:15 |
You are getting very near the earlier ROG Strix Scar 18 right here, and that value above $3,900. Nevertheless it additionally reveals that AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a commendable CPU regardless of the hole between its Intel rival, and that 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD undoubtedly assist in the handbrake take a look at.
The Stealth A16 AI+ provides lots of energy and pushes mid-range gaming and efficiency additional. For many, this will likely be enough, and its worth is not utterly out of vary.
Minimalist for the win
A 16-inch gaming laptop computer that is lighter than the M4 MacBook Professional 16-inch? That is proper, and whereas it is nonetheless not as transportable as widespread 14-inch gaming laptops, just like the 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, you guess I’m carrying round this beast in my laptop computer bag with out worrying about an aching again.
It is an extremely slim and glossy 16-inch gaming laptop computer, and I’m an enormous fan of its unibody all-black design with its premium-feeling magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis. There are smudges that seem, however it’s not practically as noticeable as on extra plasticky materials.
Laptop computer |
Dimension |
Weight |
---|---|---|
MSI Stealth A16 AI+ |
14 x 10.2 x 0.7 inches |
4.6 kilos |
HP Omen Max 16 (2025) |
14 x 10.6 x 1.1 inches |
5.9 kilos |
MacBook Professional 16-inch (M4 Professional) |
14.0 x 9.7 x 0.6 inches |
4.7 kilos |
Its sturdy body means it is simple to raise up the lid to its beautiful show, and whereas I would not name it “light-weight,” it is nonetheless mild and compact enough to slide right into a bag and carry whereas touring.
There’s additionally the suitable quantity of ports, even when I want there have been an additional USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 assist. Having two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI 2.1, an Ethernet and a USB-C with PowerDelivery (PD) 3.0 and DisplayPort assist provides what I want in a gaming laptop computer to attach PC peripherals.
When you desire a bigger show on a slim laptop computer that is not cumbersome like an 18-inch gaming laptop computer, the Stealth A16 AI+ has the design you are after. Talking of shows…
Excellent visuals
I’m very a lot having fun with many gaming laptops leaning in direction of OLED panels with (most of the time) 240Hz refresh charges, because the A16 AI+’s 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) display screen is a deal with for enjoying video games, watching the newest reveals and scrolling by way of web sites.
From the jaw-dropping ray tracing in Oblivion Remastered to watching the gritty crime thriller Havoc on Netflix, the show captures correct colours and sharp particulars for all my viewing wants. Waking up within the dungeon cell in Oblivion to see mild bouncing off cobbled partitions and a torch shining on rusted shackles in a real delight.
As for Havoc, there wasn’t one drop of blood I did not discover on Tom Hardy’s face all through the film, and that claims rather a lot contemplating all of the motion that takes place.
Preparing for Marvel’s Thunderbolts, I additionally threw on the ultimate trailer and was greeted with the darkish, hardcore vibes of the not-so-superhero crew popping out of an elevator, and the shadowed shot of The Void reveals a fantastic shade of black that subtly reveals the define of the villain’s face. Simply as anticipated out of an OLED panel.
A pleasure to sort on
An enormous shoutout to MSI paring up with SteelSeries to ship a snug per-key RGB gaming keyboard and a sturdy feeling touchpad. Every key flutters with an array of colours, however aren’t obnoxiously vibrant both, which could be very a lot aligned with the entire “Stealth” theme MSI goes for.
The board provides enough key journey and every key’s satisfying to press, and and I may simply use this laptop computer in an workplace with out disturbing anybody round me, as key presses are near-silent. No thock sounds right here, as some avid gamers would really like, however that is the place the most effective gaming keyboard are available.
MSI Stealth A16 AI+: The downs
There’s rather a lot going for the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, however in terms of thermal administration and people noisy followers, it may use a bit of work.
Not so stealthy
I’m glad MSI partnered up with SteelSeries Nahimic to supply satisfying audio, because of its two 2W audio system and 4 2W woofers, as you will hear this laptop computer from a mile away with out sound blasting from it.
From booting it up and downloading recordsdata to launching a demanding AAA title, the Stealth A16 AI+ will spin these followers prefer it’s about to take off. In fact, the latter brings the loudest decibels, however I’m stunned that even a fast set up of an app can result in an enhance in noise coming from underneath the hood.
And that is all regardless of the laptop computer coming with the newest in CPU and GPU know-how, alongside with an enormous efficiency increase from AI. Fortunately, these audio drviers to a fabulous job of drowning out these generators. That is an exaggeration, as I have heard louder, however for a laptop computer at this worth, I would have anticipated higher noise administration.
Issues get spicy
These followers speeds seems to be wanted, although, because the Stealth A16 AI+ will get sizzling underneath the hood. Whereas I’m unsure exact temperatures, it seems the centre on the keyboard will get rather a lot of the warmth, however its the underside that will get the most popular.
I solely observed this when cranking up max settings in PC video games. Maybe its big 99.9Wh cell battery is responsible? Both method, I by no means felt as if the laptop computer was going to soften, however it’s at all times higher for a machine to be cool moderately than scorching.
MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Verdict
There are nonetheless a couple of extra exams to be accomplished, however I’m sure the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ will discover a spot in the most effective gaming laptops you may seize in 2025, and probably past contemplating the efficiency good points you are getting because of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 Ti it boasts.
At $2,899, it is not precisely low-cost, however its massively extra inexpensive than one thing like an RTX 5090-equipped Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (3,169) or ROG Strix Scar 18 ($4,499). And, with the ability and premium options it provides, there’s greater than enough right here to fulfill many avid gamers after a step up in efficiency.
In any case, I will not be reaching for the highs of top-of-the-range laptops any time quickly because of the Stealth A16 AI+ showcasing how “mid-range” has shifted for the higher — even whether it is loud.