MSI Stealth A16 AI+ Review – Superb Concept, But BEWARE OF ISSUES

    We got our hands on the new Stealth A16 AI+ A3 from MSI, and we were pretty excited to test it. It’s a super stylish gaming laptop featuring a 16-inch 240Hz OLED display, the powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with a 105W TGP, or RTX 5080 for the latest batches. All of that is packed into a chassis under 20mm (0.785″) thick—despite the enormous 99.9Wh battery.

    Sounds like the perfect gaming laptop, right?
    Well, sadly, IT IS NOT.

    The unit we tested is a production model, purchased from an online store—not a review sample. Unfortunately, the issues started from Day 1.

    Still, we proceeded with our tests, and we’re publishing the full review.
    Read on and bear the struggle with us.

    You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-stealth-a16-ai-a3xx-a3hx/

    Contents


    Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box

    MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (A3Xx / A3Hx / A3XMJGx / A3XWIGx / A3XWHGx) - Specs

    • Samsung ATNA60DL07-0 (SDC41B8)
    • Color accuracy 
    • HDD/SSD
    • up to 4000GB SSD
    • RAM
    • up to 64GB
    • OS
    • Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, DOS, No OS
    • Battery
    • 99.9Wh
    • Dimensions
    • 355.8 x 259.7 x 19.95 mm (14.01" x 10.22" x 0.79")
    • Weight
    • 2.10 kg (4.6 lbs)
    • Ports and connectivity
    • 2x USB Type-A
    • 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
    • 1x USB Type-C
    • 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
    • HDMI
    • 2.1 (8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz)
    • Card reader
    • Ethernet LAN
    • 10, 100, 1000, 2500 Mbit/s
    • Wi-Fi
    • Wi-Fi 7
    • Bluetooth
    • 5.4
    • Audio jack
    • 3.5mm Combo Jack
    • Features
    • Fingerprint reader
    • Web camera
    • IR FHD type (30fps@1080p) with HDR 3D Noise Reduction+ (3DNR+)
    • Backlit keyboard
    • Microphone
    • Speakers
    • 2x 2W Speakers + 4x 2W Woofers, Dynaudio, Nahimic 3, Hi-Res Audio
    • Optical drive
    • Security Lock slot
    • Kensington Lock

    Drivers

    All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.msi.com/Laptop/Stealth-A16-AI-plus/support

    What’s in the box?

    Cracking open the MSI Stealth A16 AI+’s box feels like unwrapping a premium gadget—the packaging radiates sleek sophistication, a far cry from generic cardboard. Inside, a silk-like keyboard cover catches the eye; it’s not just a protector but doubles as a subtle nod to practicality (we’re mentally bookmarking it as a potential screen-cleaning cloth).

    Beyond that, MSI keeps things lean: the laptop itself, a hefty 240W power brick that means business, and the usual paperwork. No flashy extras—just understated confidence. First impressions? This machine’s aura whispers ‘premium’ louder than most shout.


    Design and construction

    The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ lives up to its name, cloaking its gaming DNA beneath a facade of understated sophistication. Gone are the neon streaks and aggressive vents—this machine wears matte black like a tailored suit, with only a ghostly MSI logo on the lid to hint at its power. At 19.99mm (0.785″) thick and 2.1kg (4.63 lbs), it’s surprisingly svelte for a gaming rig, slipping into briefcases without screaming “I’m here to frag noobs.” The plastic chassis performs a convincing metal impersonation, resisting flex even under aggressive typing sessions, though the matte finish betrays its true nature by collecting fingerprints like a crime scene investigator. Keep a microfiber cloth handy unless you enjoy playing connect-the-smudges.

    The MSI logo is so stealthy, it becomes invisible at certain angles.

    Opening the lid reveals a near-borderless 16-inch display, framed by razor-thin bezels that vanish on all sides except the top—a design choice that feels almost apologetic for housing the IR FHD (30fps@1080p) with HDR 3D Noise Reduction camera with a privacy shutter.

    The hinge strikes gold, balancing resistance and fluidity to allow one-handed opening while maintaining rock-solid stability.

    Tilt it back 180 degrees, and the Stealth transforms into a shared-screen canvas for collaborative work or impromptu movie nights. MSI skips the gimmicky lifting mechanisms seen in some rivals, trusting the clean lines and minimalist angles to handle thermal duties.

    Beneath your fingers lies a paradox: a numpad-equipped keyboard that somehow doesn’t feel cramped. The per-key RGB lighting dances beneath matte-black keycaps like bioluminescent sea creatures, customizable without veering into disco territory. While the numpad keys shrink to accommodate the form factor, the main layout remains generous, with arrow keys that refuse to be relegated to afterthought status. Hidden beneath them lies a fingerprint sensor so discreet you might forget it’s there—until it saves you from password purgatory.

    The trackpad mirrors the laptop’s split personality: expansive enough for gesture controls yet precise for detail work, proving gaming laptops can play nice with productivity. For those craving subtlety without sacrificing specs, the Stealth A16 AI+ walks the tightrope between boardroom and battleground—just don’t forget the cleaning cloth.

    Ports

    The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ delivers a modern, high-bandwidth port selection tailored for power users and creators. On the left edge, you’ll find a 2.5GbE LAN port for wired networking, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port capable of 8K @ 60Hz or 4K @ 120Hz output with HDR and VRR support, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port (10 Gbps), and a Kensington lock.

    The right side houses a dedicated charging port, a USB4 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4 compatibility (40 Gbps, dual 4K @ 60Hz displays, PCIe tunneling), a second USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, and a combo audio jack. The Thunderbolt 4-certified USB-C port also supports Power Delivery 3.0, though MSI doesn’t specify whether it can handle full laptop charging or if the dedicated DC-in is required for peak performance.

    Wireless connectivity is future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), offering theoretical speeds up to 46 Gbps, 320 MHz channel support, and Multi-Link Operation for seamless band-switching, alongside Bluetooth 5.4 for improved power efficiency and audio quality. The inclusion of a 2.5GbE LAN port will appeal to gamers and professionals requiring stable, low-latency connections, while the dual USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A ports ensure fast peripheral transfers. While the single Thunderbolt 4/USB4 port may feel limiting for multi-display or dock-heavy workflows, the HDMI 2.1 and wired networking options help compensate. MSI’s choices reflect a focus on cutting-edge standards without overcrowding the chassis—a balanced approach for those prioritizing both productivity and portability.

    Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles

    MSI Stealth A16 AI+ATNA60DL07-0 (SDC41B8)
    Diagonal16.0 inches (40.6 cm)
    Panel TypeOLED
    Resolution2560 x 1600 pixels
    Max Refresh Rate240 Hz
    Aspect Ratio16:10
    Pixel Density189 PPI
    ‘Retina’ DistanceGreater than or equal to 46 cm

    Viewing Angles

    Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.

    Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.

    Color Coverage

    The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.

    Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of MSI Stealth A16 AI+ can show:

    Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
    For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
    For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
    Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content

    MSI Stealth A16 AI+: the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.+

    In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 100% of the sRGB color gamut and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

    (Fig.1) MSI Stealth A16 AI+ covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut

    The MSI True Color application emulates Display P3, Adobe RGB, and sRGB color spaces.

    Below we show the gamut in sRGB mode.

    (Fig.3) sRGB

    Brightness and Contrast

    The maximum brightness in HDR mode is 613 cd/m² at 8% white fill and 439 cd/m² on a full white screen.

    The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 386 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 388 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 1%.

    The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6250K (“Gamer” mode in “MSI True Color” app).

    The contrast ratio of OLED panels is excellent because the pixels turn off completely when displaying black.

    Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation

    The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 178 nits (Windows slider = 72%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.

    DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.

    Color Accuracy

    Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the MSI Stealth A16 AI+. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.

    Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.

    For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.

    Below are the results of the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ in its factory condition (HDR off) compared to Display P3 and sRGB color spaces.

    (Fig. 4) MSI Stealth A16 AI+ in Display P3 (“Gamer” mode in “MSI True Color” app)

    (Fig. 5) MSI Stealth A16 AI+ in sRGB (“sRGB” mode in “MSI True Color” app)

    Visibility in dark scenes

    Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.

    The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Design and Gaming profile activated.

    On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.

    You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.

    Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)

    Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.

    In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.

    The light of the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ display pulsates across the entire brightness range, but with limited amplitude.

    Health Impact: Blue light emissions

    Installing our Health-Guard profile reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.

    If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.

    Health Impact: Screen Reflectance

    Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.

    The reflectance of the MSI Stealth A16’s screen is 179 GU. We’re not sure if that’s an all-time record but it’s definitely in the worst category.

    High Gloss: >70 GU
    Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
    Low Gloss: <30 GU


    Get our profiles

    Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for MSI Stealth A16 AI+ configurations with ATNA60DL07-0 (SDC41B8), 2560 х 1600, OLED panel.

    *Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].

    Read more about the profiles HERE.

    In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.

    Design and Office

    The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.
    Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.

    Gaming and Movies

    Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.

    Health-Guard

    Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.

    Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!

    Sound

    Subjectively, the sound quality of the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is good.


    THE ISSUES

    As we mentioned earlier, the laptop doesn’t function properly. This is a retail unit from an online store — not a pre-production review sample — which means anyone could potentially experience these issues.

    Occasionally, the Stealth A16 AI+ displays gray artifacts, which are not related to performance tasks or stress testing—they appear randomly. It turns out we’re not alone in this. We found other users reporting the same thing on the Web.

    We managed to run the benchmark tests below …until the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ A3XVFG suddenly stopped recognizing its own NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU.

    MSI support suggests performing a factory reset, but users report that while this might help with the artifacting, it does not resolve the freezing issues.

    Here are a few other changes that may or may not help:

    – Disabling Fast boot
    – Installing the AMD Graphics Driver version 32.0.13022.5002

    Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage

    CPU and Work Performance

    This series can be ordered with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 or AMD Ryzen 9 270 for the models with RTX 50 GPUs.

    Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.

    Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)

    Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.

    Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)

    Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.

    Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)


    GPU and Gaming Performance

    You have a choice between RTX 4050, RTX 4060, and RTX 4070, all of which are 105W TGP variants, as well as the RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080.

    You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.

    MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (A3Xx / A3Hx / A3XMJGx / A3XWIGx / A3XWHGx) GPU variants

    Here you can see an approximate comparison between the GPUs that can be found in the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (A3Xx / A3Hx / A3XMJGx / A3XWIGx / A3XWHGx) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which MSI Stealth A16 AI+ (A3Xx / A3Hx / A3XMJGx / A3XWIGx / A3XWHGx) model is the best bang for your buck.

    Note: The chart shows the cheapest different GPU configurations so you should check what the other specifications of these laptops are by clicking on the laptop’s name / GPU.

    Results are from the 3DMark: Fire Strike (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)

    Results are from the Unigine Superposition benchmark (higher the score, the better)

    Gaming tests

    When we got to this point, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ stopped recognizing its RTX 4060. No gaming tests today, unfortunately.

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    💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
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    Storage performance

    The SSD we found in MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is Micron 2500 NVMe (MTFDKBA1T0QGN). It is very fast, as you can see from the test below. 7GB/s seq. read, and 6.1GB/s seq. write speeds.


    Temperatures and Comfort, Noise, Stability

    This section won’t be featured as well, as the Stealth A16 AI+ stopped seeing its RTX GPU.

    Battery Life

    The tests are conducted with “OLED Power Optimization” turned Off (so it would not change the screen brightness), 240 Hz refresh rate, and MSHybrid Graphics mode.


    Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance


    Verdict

    The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ arrives with significant promise. On paper, it ticks many boxes: a potent AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor paired with powerful NVIDIA graphics options (up to RTX 4070 or even 5080), a gorgeous 16-inch 240Hz OLED display, and a remarkably large 99.9Wh battery, all housed within a surprisingly slim and understated chassis under 20mm thick. The premium unboxing experience and sophisticated, flex-resistant design further build anticipation, suggesting a top-tier device that blends gaming prowess with professional aesthetics. The port selection is modern and robust, featuring essentials like HDMI 2.1, USB4/Thunderbolt 4, and 2.5GbE LAN, alongside cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

    However, our experience with the retail unit we purchased quickly derailed that initial excitement. Despite its impressive specifications and appealing design, the Stealth A16 AI+ we tested suffered from significant functional problems right out of the box. We encountered random grey screen artifacts unrelated to load, and more critically, the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU eventually ceased to be recognized by the system altogether, crippling its core capabilities. Worryingly, online forums suggest we are not alone, with other users reporting similar artifacting and freezing issues on their retail units. While potential software fixes like factory resets or specific driver installations are suggested, reports indicate these often fail to resolve the core stability problems.

    Beyond these critical stability concerns, other aspects present a mixed bag. The OLED display boasts fantastic color coverage (100% sRGB and DCI-P3), accuracy (DeltaE 1.5), and high brightness levels, making visuals pop. Unfortunately, this is severely undermined by the presence of PWM flickering across all brightness levels, which can cause eye strain for sensitive users, and an incredibly high screen reflectance (179 GU) that makes working in bright environments challenging. While the included Micron SSD delivers excellent speeds and the keyboard and trackpad offer a comfortable experience, the battery life, despite the huge 99.9Wh capacity, was disappointingly short in our tests at just over four and a half hours. Furthermore, the soldered RAM limits future upgradeability, a notable drawback for a potentially high-end machine.

    Ultimately, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is a case of immense potential tragically undercut by reliability issues, at least based on our retail unit experience and corroborating user reports. While the design, theoretical performance, display quality metrics, and feature set are compelling, the critical stability problems we encountered make it impossible to recommend without serious reservations. As an independent voice prioritizing user satisfaction, we must highlight the significant risk involved. Until these fundamental issues are confirmed to be addressed by MSI, potential buyers should approach the Stealth A16 AI+ with extreme caution, despite its alluring specifications.

    You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-stealth-a16-ai-a3xx-a3hx/

    Pros

    • Sleek, understated, and relatively thin/light design
    • Excellent OLED display color coverage (100% sRGB, 100% DCI-P3) and accuracy (DeltaE 1.5)
    • High 240Hz refresh rate
    • Good peak brightness in SDR and HDR
    • Potent CPU (AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) and GPU options (up to RTX 4070/5080)
    • Very fast NVMe SSD performance
    • Modern and versatile port selection including 2.5GbE LAN, HDMI 2.1, and USB4/Thunderbolt 4
    • Latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity
    • Comfortable keyboard with Numpad and per-key RGB
    • Solid hinge design allowing 180-degree opening
    • IR FHD webcam with privacy shutter and fingerprint reader


    Cons

    • CRITICAL: Severe stability issues observed (random artifacts, GPU disappearing) on retail unit, corroborated by other user reports
    • PWM flickering detected across all brightness levels on the OLED display
    • Extremely high screen reflectance making it difficult to use in bright conditions
    • Disappointing battery life despite the large 99.9Wh capacity
    • RAM is soldered, limiting upgradeability
    • Matte finish attracts fingerprints easily

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    will blake
    will blake
    1 month ago

    Wow. This sucks. Anyway, there is no upgradability from 32gb of the best ram possible.