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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- MSI’s new Stealth 16 AI+ features a thin, 0.65-inch build.
- It features up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 300H series processor and gorgeous OLED display at 240Hz.
- Its sleek, toned-down build fits in the office, but with hardware that gamers will appreciate.
MSI has expanded its product offerings this year with the new Modern and Prestige series: thin and light business-minded laptops with OLED displays.
But it’s also trying something new with its core lineup of gaming laptops. The new Stealth 16 AI+ represents an evolution in form factor, with a hybrid gamer/creator-minded device that has powerful hardware equally relevant for both use cases.
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The result is a surprisingly versatile laptop with a thin, 0.65-inch (16.6mm) body, weighing 4.1 pounds. It’s certainly not in the “ultraportable” category, but the laptop’s thin form makes it portable as a creator workstation, professional laptop, or gaming rig.
In terms of hardware, the Stealth 16 AI+ is equipped with Intel’s latest “Panther Lake” processor: the Intel Core Ultra 9 300H series, with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series GPU. Paired with up to 128GB of DDR5-7200/6400/5600 RAM.
The display is a 16-inch QHD+ OLED panel at 240Hz refresh on the high end, which positions it firmly in creator territory, particularly with the oversized trackpad here that contributes to the overall MacBook Pro vibes, if not for the RGB lighting on the keyboard.
So who is this laptop for? I like when manufacturers design devices outside the safest, most well-defined parameters, and hybrid “in-between” laptops like the Stealth 16 AI+ land firmly in that camp.
One of the reasons why I appreciate this laptop so much is that I personally fit the intended consumer profile. I love a 16-inch laptop that I can use for work, take to the office, and then game on after hours. Lenovo’s Yoga Pro 9i is a similar device I tested last year, although that laptop skews more toward the creator side, while MSI’s Stealth 16 AI+ has more gamer DNA.
Connectivity is equally diverse, with dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, support for Wi-Fi 7, and a massive 90Whr battery to power all that hardware. You’ve also got two USB-A ports, an HDMI, and an Ethernet jack — earning points in the competitive gaming department.
The Panther Lake processor is poised for greater power efficiency and cooling than its predecessor, but the Stealth 16 AI+ also features some notable cooling innovations. It comes with air flow vents on the bottom of the device as well as behind the keyboard deck, where the hinge is, projecting the hottest air out through the back, where the least amount of contact is.
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