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If you are looking for power and portability the MSI Stealth 16 Studio 16-inch gaming laptop is a great option. The hardware has been designed with gamers in mind, incorporating plenty of features into a very thin form factor. Many gaming laptops tend to be quite bulky with RGB components flickering everywhere. MSI has struck a great balance between subtle design and exceptional performance with the Stealth 16 Studio. It’s only 1.99KG which translates to 4.39 lbs., making it one of the lightest laptops in its class. The Stealth 16 is not only a powerhouse for gamers, but also a versatile machine for content creators and professionals. With a great display, excellent performance and plenty of gaming-centric features this laptop is ideal if you need power on the go. In this review, I’ll delve into the key features, performance, and my overall experience using the laptop.

Unboxing and setting up the MSI Stealth 16 Studio

The unboxing process is quick and simple, with everything you need in the box to get set up. In the package, you’ll find the laptop, power unit plus its cord, and a user manual. The laptop looks sharp straight out of the box with its Star Blue magnesium alloy finish. This model comes in grey and navy blue treatments. The build quality feels solid despite the thin form factor and is quite light.

The charging brick is large, adding around 1.5 pounds to the overall “on-the-go” package. The longest part of the setup was getting Windows 11 updated then I was off to the races.

Wide range of connectivity options on the Stealth 16 Studio

The Stealth 16 has a wide selection of modern input ports on both sides of the device. On the left side, you’ll find a 2.5-gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI 2.1 port, a MicroSD card slot and a USB type-C. On the opposite side, you’ll find a power connection port, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C input and 3.5mm audio jack.

Right from the unboxing and setup, I really liked the overall design and feel of the Stealth 16 hardware. It has a backlit keyboard with multi-colour zones and the touchpad is smooth. The keyboard is recessed a little flatter due to the slim design of the laptop but still feels great. Whether typing or gaming it was responsive and tactile enough that I wasn’t getting keystrokes not registering—even playing FPS games. SteelSeries teamed up with MSI for the keyboard design and it features “per-key RGB ambient lighting.” This lets you customize your experience from colourways to animation patterns. I like the inclusion of a shrunk-down “numpad”. It’s great for gaming and productivity. It’s also been sized in such a way that the central QWERTY keyboard keys remain large enough to type comfortably.

MSI Stealth 16 touchpad and fingerprint scanner

The Stealth 16 Studio has an extra large trackpad that has smart positioning for productivity and gaming. The glass touchpad offers a smooth and responsive-to-touch experience that was great for internet browsing, email and other multitasking. It is aligned to the centre of the keyboard, making it easier and more comfortable to use than offset trackpads. It also supports Windows multi-finger gesture controls so you can pinch to zoom and navigate. Along with this, it has a fingerprint scanner to the right of the touchpad for convenient and secure login.

Videoconference with the Stealth’s IR FHD camera

I’ve reviewed many webcams and laptop cameras, and I am happy to share the Stealth 16’s camera performs great. The built-in camera is capable of 1080p resolution at 30 fps and overall looks quite sharp. It also has an infrared camera for use with Windows Hello facial recognition system. It was effortless to log on and wake the laptop from sleep with just a glance. The Stealth 16 also has a physical webcam shutter for privacy, which is a great touch if you wanted the added extra layer of security.

Speaker system capability

The Stealth 16 Studio model features 6 speakers (2 woofers and 4 tweeters) that output great audio from a thin chassis. There are two upward facing near the laptop’s palm rests, two on the outside edges and the rest are across the bottom. The sound quality is quite good, especially considering the form factor, but I did find the sound “tinny” at times. In my testing, the audio highs were also quite sharp, and in comparison to the audio on my Macbook Pro the Stealth 16 leaves something to be desired. It still offers an audio experience that is good enough for most users on the go for most gaming and entertainment applications.

Display performance

The Stealth Studio sports a 16-inch FHD+, IPS-level display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. When it comes to higher-end games’ refresh rate and resolution, the monitor performance is quite good. Unfortunately, the colour gamut is a little washed out. The Stealth 16 is marketed as a device for creative professionals, but it falls short in the colour accuracy department. The FHD+ (1920 x 1200) monitor has a 240 Hz refresh rate which is great for gaming. When compared to other pro series laptops the colours aren’t as punchy as I would like to see. That being said, it does offer a good contrast ratio and excellent performance in games, especially in first-person shooters the action remains smooth.

MSI Stealth 16 hardware specifications

The Stealth 16 Studio offers excellent performance in an ultra-slim form factor. At the centre of the hardware’s architecture is a 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory. In terms of storage, the Stealth has a 1TB solid state drive offering plenty of space for games and more. The Studio 16 also packs 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card that can handle many of the AAA games at medium to high settings. If you’re looking for more seamless online gaming and HD streaming connections, the laptop features a hardwire GB LAN Ethernet input. If you opt for a wireless connection the Stealth has Intel’s Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i, ensuring an ulta high-speed internet connection. The hardware also has Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity for greater compatiblility with devices like mice, keyboards, headsets, and controllers.

Stealth 16 gaming performance

The Stealth 16 Studio really shines when it comes to gaming and media production. I tested the laptop with a few games like Fornite and Halo Infinite. It handled those titles requirments easily at 1080p resolution with high to ultra settings, playing smoothly without any stutter or major frame drops. The Stealth can handle a variety of AAA games at medium to high settings. The 240Hz refresh rate helps to keep gameplay smooth, particularly in titles like first-person shooters.

When playing games like Fortnite and Halo, I was able to get 4 hours out of the battery before needing to charge. While the colour accuracy may not be the best for creative professionals, like photographers, the display’s contrast ratio and performance in games is commendable. The Stealth 16 Studio provides an enjoyable gaming experience without compromising on portability, making it an ideal choice for gamers who need power on the go.

Final thoughts on the MSI Stealth 16 Studio

Overall, the MSI Stealth 16 Studio gaming laptop is a great option for those seeking a powerful and portable gaming machine. It has sleek design, impressive hardware specifications, and gaming-centric features make it a top contender in its class. Despite some minor drawbacks in the audio and display departments, the Stealth 16 offers a great gaming and creative workflow experience. If you’re looking for a laptop that balances power, portability, and performance, the MSI Stealth 16 Studio is a great piece of hardware that balances all of these features.

The MSI Stealth 16 Studio 16-inch Gaming Laptop is available now on bestbuy.ca along with a wide assortment of other gaming laptops.

Matthew Rondina
Matthew Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things tech related since the start of the digital era. He shares his passion for technology in his day job as a teacher and via multiple media platforms. As a long-time veteran of the video game and tech industry, he's covered interactive entertainment and esports on the web, in video series, podcasts, and on international television. You can follow Matthew's tech-venture filled lifestyle on twitter, instagram @dapper_tux.
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480 COMMENTS

  1. I like that it has a backlit keyboard with multi-colour zones and a smooth touchpad. The keyboard is the deal breaker for me and the lighting will help me to increase my game.

  2. The biggest difference in my life would be the 2.4 GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory.

  4. The biggest difference in my life would be 240HZ refresh rate just wow. Gaming on 144HZ is so good but can’t wait to try on 240HZ.

  5. 240Hz refresh rate helps to keep gameplay smooth….I get lag all the time with my old laptop

  6. The 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor would make the biggest difference in my computer

  8. Looks awesome! The feature that I love most is its weight of 4.39 lbs, as a light laptop would be super convenient and easy to bring to friends’ places, work, etc.

  9. 240Hz refresh rate helps to keep gameplay smooth….I get lag all the time with my old laptop

  10. central QWERTY keyboard keys remain large enough to type comfortably…I prefer larger size keyboards…easier for me to use

  11. wide selection of modern input ports on both sides of the device….with so many different devices these days this would be handy to have

  12. I love the keyboard & trackpad. Too much typing over the years has given me some arthritis in my fingers. Those keys would be very easy to press, resulting in less wear & tear on my joints.

    The trackpad would work much better than a mouse for me.

  13. The biggest difference in my life would be th2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. I haven’t pgraded my computer since I retired.

  14. The 240HZ refresh rate! The whole rig is a significant upgrade from my current 10 year old laptop!!

  15. I like a good camera and this one has a built-in camera that is capable of 1080p resolution at 30 fps. This would be great for game playing and conferences.

  16. The biggest difference in my life would be th2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card. Huge improvement over my 10 years old laptop.

  17. I htink the the 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory would benefit my kid so much by getting rid of all the lag he can experience in some games

  19. The biggest difference in my life, if I win this laptop, would be the powerful specs since I have never had a powerful laptop like this. Having a 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and, 32GB DDR5 memory & an 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card that can handle AAA games at medium to high settings, squeezes the GPU performance to the extreme level. Boasting a QHD+ 240 Hz refresh rate, the display colours pop and flow thanks to the high refresh rate for buttery smooth visuals whether working, gaming or casual use. This is a massive improvement over my 6-year-old laptop, which is meant for casual use, without the fun aspect to it. And it is starting to get a lot slower.

  20. The 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor would make the biggest difference in my life if I win this prize.

  21. The Intel Core i7-13620H processor would definitely make a huge difference allowing games to run more smoothly.

  23. I’m especially impressed with the 13th Gen i7 CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card.

  24. The hardware is breathtaking: 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory & a 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card that can handle AAA games at medium to high settings

  26. I think one game-changing feature mentioned in the article is the laptop’s powerful Intel Core i7 processor, which delivers exceptional performance and allows for smooth multitasking and demanding gaming tasks. Additionally, the laptop’s stunning 16-inch display with a 240Hz refresh rate and slim bezels offers an immersive gaming experience, it would with no doubt improve my gaming experience if I manage to win this giveaway contest.

  27. LOOKS FANTASTIC – Great Graphics and very fast!!!
    It would be a great addition to my gaming experience.

  28. Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity for greater compatiblility with devices like mice, keyboards, headsets, and controllers., Nothing worse than trying to get everything hooked up to a new unit..

  29. Hi, the 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory would benefit me the most as it would allow me to run apps and games smoothly and without hesitantion.

  30. The 32GB DDR5 memory would make a huge difference for me… so tired of my computer lagging and waiting for it to speed up again.

  31. It would have to be the gaming performance. Aside from playing games I also like toplay around with 3d designing, using programs like sketchup, and fusion 360, and this computer is more than capable of handling either one.

  32. The refresh rate is certainly very attractive, but the 32GB DDR5 memory is one of the big selling points.

  34. The biggest feature for me would be the 240HZ refresh rate cuz my old laptop is so slow and choppy.

  35. The hardware is breathtaking: 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 32GB DDR5 memory & a 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card that can handle AAA games at medium to high settings

  36. The biggest difference in my life would be the ultra-slim form factor with 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor and 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card

  39. The biggest difference in my life would be the 240HZ refresh rate! The whole rig is a significant upgrade from my current 12 year old laptop!!

  40. The biggest feature is 32GB DDR5 memory. Isn’t it funny when you have a 2mb Excel workbook open and it slows down because another app is open? No it’s not. Need more RAM to help.

  41. The feature that would create the biggest difference in my life is the gaming performance. Specifically ” playing smoothly without any stutter or major frame drops. The Stealth can handle a variety of AAA games at medium to high settings. The 240Hz refresh rate helps to keep gameplay smooth, particularly in titles like first-person shooters”. Right now the console that I use to game is slow and choppy. Having a laptop that plays smoothly and has a 240Hz refresh rate would be incredible!

  42. The greatest feature of the MSI Stealth 16 Studio is its powerful performance. Equipped with high-end processors and ample RAM, this laptop can handle resource-intensive tasks with ease, making it a standout choice for content creators and professionals who require smooth and efficient performance for demanding applications and projects.

  43. The feature that would make the biggest difference would be the CPU and GPU. Both are very fast, so everything would run smoothly, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is much faster than the GPU in my laptop.

  44. The hardware under the hood of this MSI Stealth laptop would be a huge upgrade to my current gaming laptop. I’m especially impressed with the 13th Gen i7 CPU, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card.

    It would let me level up the performance of the games I play (I currently put all graphic settings to low).

  45. the biggest difference in my life would be the 240HZ refresh rate! The whole rig is a significant upgrade from my current 12 year old laptop!!

  46. The biggest feature is 32GB DDR5 memory. Isn’t it funny when you have a 2mb Excel workbook open and it slows down because another app is open? No it’s not. Need more RAM to help.

  47. The biggest feature is 32GB DDR5 memory. Isn’t it funny when you have a 2mb Excel workbook open and it slows down because another app is open? No it’s not. Need more RAM to help.

  48. the biggest difference in my life would be the 240HZ refresh rate! The whole rig is a significant upgrade from my current 12 year old laptop!!

  49. The biggest feature is 32GB DDR5 memory. Isn’t it funny when you have a 2mb Excel workbook open and it slows down because another app is open? No it’s not. Need more RAM to help. Thanks

  50. the biggest difference in my life would be the 240HZ refresh rate! The whole rig is a significant upgrade from my current 12 year old laptop!!

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