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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. This thing is like the geni Aladdin’s lamp “Phenomenal Cosmic Powers, Itty Bitty Living Space.”.

    It is easy to carry around even with the charge block and it can handle any game or that 6GB spreadsheet that everyone at work uses because no one wants to move to a database.

  2. The gaming performance feature with 240Hz refresh rate feature mentioned in the article would make the biggest difference in my life if I won this prize.

  4. The fact that it’s only 1.99kg makes the greatest difference in my life because I work carry my laptop everywhere for work.

  6. The 240Hz refresh rate would make the biggest difference in my life if I won the giveaway. It would make my gaming experience way more enjoyable and enhance my performance in competitive games.

  7. As someone who just ended up injuring their knee which means no sports of any kind for quite some time, the lightness of this MSI Stealth 16 is the feature which appeals to me right off the bat since it would be easy for me to carry! So many other features appeal to me, but right now, if it’s easy to carry that’s for me!

  9. The MSI Stealth Laptop Gaming Computer is a true masterpiece that captivates gamers worldwide. Its sleek design and powerful performance make it a top choice for gaming enthusiasts. The stunning graphics and smooth gameplay experience are unparalleled. The backlit keyboard adds a touch of elegance, while the long battery life ensures uninterrupted gaming sessions. 32 gb of memory means it should not run out like my old computer.

  10. The feature mentioned in the article taht would make the biggest difference in my life if you win this prize would be the Sound system of 6 speakers. My current laptop has terrible sound.

  11. the versatility (for gamers, creators, and professionals) of this laptop would make the biggest difference in my life.

  12. The feature mentioned in the article would make the biggest difference in my life is the weight 4.39 lbs. plus another 1.5 lbs. which makes it very portable.

  13. The biggest difference in my life would be the 240Hz refresh rate which enables smooth gameplay

  14. Wide range of connectivity options on the Stealth 16 Studio, which increases its versatility so that I can connect with any cable.

  15. Awesome review! For this machine, I’d definitely have to agree with so many others and say the lightweight/portability of the laptop would help secure it a spot in my daily life. Starting 2024 we’ll be doing more traveling so having something I can game and do work on while traveling would be huge.

  16. The feature that would make the biggest difference in my life if I’d win is the 2.4GHz 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13620H processor, this is a very performant processor.

  18. Finally a 6 speaker setup. This is great for gaming and movie watching as I won’t need to tether it to an external speaker…

  19. Based on the article, the feature that could make the biggest difference in someone’s life if they were to win the MSI Stealth 16 Studio gaming laptop would be its power and portability combination. The article highlights that the laptop is lightweight, making it one of the lightest in its class, while still offering exceptional performance for gaming and content creation. This power on the go can be a game-changer for individuals who require a high-performance machine but also need the flexibility to take it with them wherever they go. The ability to have a powerful gaming laptop that is easy to carry around can greatly enhance productivity and entertainment experiences, making it a valuable feature for the winner.

  20. The feature that would make the biggest difference for me if I was the winner, is the good balance between subtle design and exceptional performance, especially being one of the lightest laptops in its class.

  21. My teens and young adult would share while I am at work earning the coin they need for games – I like the camera so we can face to face communicate AND there is a physical webcam shutter to help ensure their privacy when needed.

  23. On my current laptop i cant play many ganes due to the lack of dedicated graphic card, but this Studio 16 laptop features a 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card which would make the most difference and I could play all the games I want .

  25. The feature on this MSI Stealth 16 laptop that would make the biggest difference for me would be the light weight of 1.99KG for this gaming laptop. Most gaming laptops are known for their hefty nature so having a lighter gaming laptop would be a difference changer for me and I would feel more inclined to bringing it out with me to locations outside of my home.

  31. The 8GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card would make a massive difference in my (gaming) life. Currently I have an old desktop where the video card is about 9 years old, and a laptop with onboard graphics only. I cannot even imagine the change a dedicated gaming laptop would make with a 4060 in it.

  32. The biggest difference in my life would be the portability. Easy to carry it to work and on vacation.

  33. The Videoconference feature using the Stealth’s IR FHD camera would be beneficial to me!!

  34. Probably the weirdest reason is the numpad, I despise a keyboard without one. Makes for better work and play! Plus that 4060 will likely play most games I need without issue

  36. The biggest difference in my life would be the portability. Great to take it away on holidays or over to a friend’s place.

  37. The feature of this laptop that would make the biggest difference in my life, should I be lucky enough to be selected as the winner, is the Stealth 16’s IR FHD camera – this would be a huge upgrade on my ageing laptop’s built-in webcam

  39. The wide selection of modern input ports on both sides of the device will make it easy to connect all the needed peripherals I use, rather than having to disconnect and connect like I need to do now.

  40. The portability is very important, under 5 pounds is magnificent. So many other fantastic features!

  41. I like the built in camera. I like the infrared camera and the physical webcam shutter for privacy. These are great features for our family for gaming.

  43. The biggest difference in my life would be the portability and the built in webcam for gaming with friends

  46. I think the Stealth’s IR FHD camera – I’d also be using this laptop in my work as a counsellor so having a good camera is ideal!

  47. i have never ever had a gaming laptop/pc, always a basic one
    so having a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 would be game changing for me

  49. The feature of this laptop that would make the biggest difference in my life, should I be lucky enough to be selected as the winner, is the Stealth 16’s IR FHD camera – this would be a huge upgrade on my ageing laptop’s built-in webcam

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