The MSI Stealth 18 has demonstrated impressive performance in various gaming scenarios. The device reached 120 frames per second (fps) while running Doom Eternal on Ultra settings and maintained approximately 70 fps in Starfield on Medium settings. On Ultra settings, Starfield dropped to a playable 50 fps, but by enabling frame generation, it achieved an increase to 80 fps. This feature, however, can occasionally result in smoothing effects that are reminiscent of motion smoothing on televisions, which may not be to everyone’s liking.
In terms of battery life, the nearly 100-watt-hour battery, while sizable, faces a substantial power draw during gaming. It lasted around three hours under intensive gaming conditions and extended to about six to seven hours with typical use. Consequently, it is advisable to keep the charger nearby for extended gaming sessions.
The MSI Stealth 18 is positioned best as a versatile laptop that can handle demanding work tasks while also supporting gaming activities. Applications such as DaVinci Resolve and Blender run smoothly on this device, with minimal performance issues reported. Comparable gaming laptops with similar GPUs perform similarly, but the new Meteor Lake CPU offers a degree of future-proofing. Companies like Blackmagic are developing support for Neural Processing Units (NPUs) specifically for media creation, which could further enhance this laptop’s capabilities in the future.
While there are laptops available that are explicitly optimised for gaming, such as the Razer Blade 18, which boasts a 300-Hz refresh rate, the MSI Stealth 18 offers a balance that makes it a solid investment for both work and play.
The design of the MSI Stealth 18 is somewhat more gamer-oriented, but it includes various features that enhance its functionality. One notable inclusion is the NumPad, which is particularly useful for video editing tasks. The rest of the keyboard is also highly functional, featuring a font similar to that used by PlayStation and Spider-Man branding in the early 2000s. The chiclet-style keys are flat but distinguishable, although some users may find the Copilot key, situated near the space bar, somewhat unnecessary. The trackpad is smooth, albeit slightly small when using a secondary monitor.
In terms of connectivity, the laptop includes an Ethernet port, HDMI port, and a proprietary charging port located at the rear, providing convenience for desk workstation setups. Although not as practical as a laptop docking station, this arrangement is less cumbersome than having cables protruding from the sides. Additionally, the dedicated fingerprint sensor enhances ease of logging into Windows and unlocking password managers.
Overall, the MSI Stealth 18 is a robust device, even without the NPU. Priced at $3,300 for the RTX 4080 model, it offers a cost-saving alternative to similarly configured laptops, such as the Razer Blade 18, minus the difference in refresh rate. Users should, however, ensure access to a wall charger for prolonged use.