MSI Cyborg 14 A13V review – This One is Pretty Capable despite its Small Size and Price
In the last few years, we’ve seen and tested many compact gaming laptops like the ASUS TUF Gaming A14 (FA401), HP OMEN Transcend 14, Nitro 14 (AN14-41), or the Predator Helios Neo 14 (PHN14-51). Most of which aren’t cheap at all. The MSI Cyborg 14 A13V is on opposite sides of the barricade since it offers decent hardware and a capable screen at a lower cost. Of course, its price depends on your region and current sales / deals but yeah, you don’t have to trade one of your kidneys to buy this notebook.
It’s powered by 45W Raptor Lake-H CPUs (based on the Alder Lake architecture). These aren’t among the most new and powerful chips on the market but they still pack a punch, especially in the budget category. Most of the gaming 14-inchers that we’ve reviewed come with soldered memory while the Cyborg 14 doesn’t. Thumbs up for that. Still, the storage capabilities are limited and the port selection is decent, not great. That’s expected since the manufacturer has to cut corners.
The display is a 1200p 144Hz IPS unit. This kind of resolution is appropriate for the small panel of this MSI gadget. This screen is also surprisingly good in terms of color accuracy.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-cyborg-14-a13ux-a13vx/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
- HDD/SSD
- up to 4000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 PCIe NVMe 4.0 x4 See photo
- RAM
- up to 64GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, No OS, DOS
- Battery
- 53.5Wh, 53.5Wh, 3-cell
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate, Aluminum
- Dimensions
- 314.70 x 233.5 x 18.6 - 22.3 mm (12.39" x 9.19" x 0.73")
- Weight
- 1.60 kg (3.5 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1 (4K@60Hz)
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- 10, 100, 1000 Mbit/s
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- HD
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Speakers
- 2x 2W Stereo Speakers, DTS Audio Processing
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
- Kensington Lock
All MSI Cyborg 14 (A13Ux / A13Vx) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.msi.com/Laptop/Cyborg-14-A13VX/support
What’s in the box?
You’ll find a couple of manuals and a 120W barrel plug charger in the box.
Design and construction
The Cyborg 14 A13V boasts a typical MSI gaming design alongside a lot of translucent elements on the chassis. There is a fairly big protrusion on top of the lid which eases the opening process. Despite the decently big cooling, the weight of 1.60 kilos is on the low side. The profile thickness is 18.6 – 22.3 mm.
The metal lid opens effortlessly with one hand. The unit feels fairly rigid and the same can be said about the plastic base. We only saw a bit of flex when we pushed down hard the zone above the touchpad and the one in the top central part of the chassis. The whole main body doesn’t wobble during typing.
The big “hump” on top houses a 720p@30FPS Web camera. It lacks IR functionality as well as a privacy or E-shutter. The “lip” below the display is notably bigger than the other three bezels.
The single-color backlit keyboard glows in a blue color. The WASD section and the Power button are highlighted which actually looks cool in real life. The mandatory AI shortcut is also on board. Still, the only con of this board seems to be the hard-to-press tiny Arrows. The key travel is long and the feedback is one of the clickiest we’ve seen in the budget category.
The touchpad is a real surprise. It’s pleasantly big, the surface is smooth, and the accuracy is also on point.
The whole bottom is translucent and it houses many ventilation grills, a pair of speaker cutouts, and four grippy rubber feet. The heat is pushed via two vents – one on the back and one on the left side.
Ports
On the left side, you get a Lock slot, a 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio combo jack. The LAN is on the rear and this kind of port is a rare find for a 14-incher. The majority of the connectors are on the right including a power jack, an HDMI 2.1 port for up to 4K@60Hz external displays, a 10 Gbps USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port with DisplayPort functionality, and another 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
MSI Cyborg 14 A13V | NE140WUM-NX1 (BOE0A3A) |
Diagonal | 14.0 inches (35.6 cm) |
Panel Type | IPS |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
Max Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
Pixel Density | 162 PPI |
‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 53 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 Cyborg 14 A13V 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 Cyborg 14 A13V: 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 98% of the sRGB color gamut and 80% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) MSI Cyborg 14 A13V covers 98% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 462 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 460 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 3%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6980K.
The contrast ratio is 1200:1.
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 182 nits (Windows slider = 43%) — 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 Cyborg 14 A13V. 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.
Before our calibration of the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V, the Average color accuracy was 0.9 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 3.0 dE (Fig. 3).
Comparison in the sRGB color space (primaries and D65 white point specified in ITU-R BT.709, sRGB encoding curve).
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Gaming profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Gaming Profile
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.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 8.5 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
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 from the backlight of the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also 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 Cyborg 14 A13V’s screen is 51.0 GU.
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 Cyborg 14 A13V configurations with NE140WUM-NX1 (BOE0A3A), 1920 х 1200, IPS 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.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
The sound quality of the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V is very good. The low, mid, and high frequencies are clear.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Extreme Performance” profile activated in the MSI Center. Also, the “Performance mode” is applied in the BIOS in the “User Scenario” section. In addition, the “Best performance” preset is activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
CPU options
At the time of writing this review, this laptop is offered with Intel Core i5-13420H or Core i7-13620H.
Our device has an i7 chip.
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)
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)
GPU options
You get a choice of two 45W GPUs – RTX 4050 or RTX 4060.
Our machine is equipped with a 4060 model.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
MSI Cyborg 14 (A13Ux / A13Vx) GPU variants
Here you can see an approximate comparison between the GPUs that can be found in the MSI Cyborg 14 (A13Ux / A13Vx) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which MSI Cyborg 14 (A13Ux / A13Vx) 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.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
Results are from the 3DMark: Wild Life (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Gaming tests
Metro Exodus | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Extreme (Check settings) |
---|---|---|---|
Average FPS | 149 fps | 70 fps | 32 fps |
Borderlands 3 | Full HD, V.Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Badass (Check settings) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Average FPS | 176 fps | 131 fps | 87 fps | 66 fps |
Far Cry 6 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
---|---|---|---|
Average FPS | 132 fps | 103 fps | 89 fps |
Gears 5 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Average FPS | 202 fps | 143 fps | 120 fps | 93 fps |
In Borderlands 3 and Gears 5, the Cyborg 14 A13V shows comparable performance to the bigger MSI Cyborg 15 with the same GPU chip.
Storage performance
Our notebook has a 1TB SAMSUNG PM9B1 (MZVL41T0HBLB-00BTW). The unit is decently fast and well-cooled since it reached just 58°C during benchmarking.
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
You can make your laptop Faster. LaptopMedia has tested thousands of models in the last 15 years, and we have yet to see a notebook that couldn't be made more powerful through modifications.
That's why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.
Read more about it here:
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average P-core frequency; Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power
Intel Core i7-13620H (45W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
---|---|---|---|
MSI Cyborg 14 A13V | 2.01 GHz @ 1.44 GHz @ 61°C @ 43W | 3.81 GHz @ 2.40 GHz @ 73°C @ 80W | 2.56 GHz @ 2.20 GHz @ 73°C @ 55W |
ASUS TUF Gaming F17 (FX707, 2023) | 3.82 GHz @ 2.95 GHz @ 90°C @ 95W | 3.63 GHz @ 2.87 GHz @ 90°C @ 86W | 3.70 GHz @ 2.93 GHz @ 90°C @ 90W |
MSI Cyborg 15 A13V | 3.69 GHz @ 2.21 GHz @ 61°C @ 78W | 3.69 GHz @ 2.21 GHz @ 72°C @ 78W | 2.99 GHz @ 2.04 GHz @ 75°C @ 55W |
Lenovo LOQ (16″ Intel, 2023) | 4.09 GHz @ 3.05 GHz @ 78°C @ 105W | 3.87 GHz @ 2.95 GHz @ 85°C @ 93W | 1.50 GHz @ 3.45 GHz @ 81°C @ 70W |
MSI Katana 15 (B13V) | 4.23 GHz @ 2.33 GHz @ 89°C @ 113W | 3.01 GHz @ 2.12 GHz @ 72°C @ 60W | 2.50 GHz @ 2.19 GHz @ 68°C @ 50W |
The MSI tuning is kind of unusual. The clocks of the Core i7-13620H are mediocre at best in short stress and they are pretty high after 30 seconds of max CPU load. In the long run, the P and E cores boost to 2.56 GHz / 2.20 GHz which nears the result of the bigger MSI Katana 15 (B13V).
Real-life gaming
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min) | GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min) |
---|---|---|
MSI Cyborg 14 A13V | 1632 MHz @ 62°C @ 45W | 1609 MHz @ 63°C @ 45W |
ASUS TUF Gaming A14 (FA401) | 2473 MHz @ 79°C @ 98W | 2443 MHz @ 83°C @ 99W |
Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 5 (16″) | 2640 MHz @ 72°C @ 112W | 2640 MHz @ 71°C @ 111W |
Acer Nitro 14 (AN14-41) | 2632 MHz @ 80°C @ 110W | 2603 MHz @ 84°C @ 110W |
HP OMEN Transcend 14 (14-fb0000) | 2148 MHz @ 66°C @ 65W | 2160 MHz @ 65°C @ 65W |
Dell XPS 16 9640 | 1726 MHz @ 70°C @ 50W | 1739 MHz @ 68°C @ 50W |
ASUS TUF Gaming F16 FX607 (2024) | 2533 MHz @ 76°C @ 105W | 2545 MHz @ 75°C @ 105W |
MSI Cyborg 15 A13V | 1520 MHz @ 62°C @ 45W | 1507 MHz @ 65°C @ 45W |
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA607 (2024) | 2610 MHz @ 76°C @ 111W | 2610 MHz @ 80°C @ 113W |
HP OMEN Transcend 16 (u1000) | 2625 MHz @ 75°C @ 113W | 2625 MHz @ 76°C @ 114W |
ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (N6506) “Full-speed fan mode” | 2540 MHz @ 84°C @ 109W | 2564 MHz @ 82°C @ 108W |
ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED (N6506) “Performance fan mode” | 2247 MHz @ 76°C @ 85W | 2306 MHz @ 76°C @ 89W |
Lenovo Legion 5i (16, Gen 9) | 2715 MHz @ 73°C @ 111W | 2715 MHz @ 71°C @ 110W |
Acer Nitro 16 (AN16-41) | 2580 MHz @ 68°C @ 102W | 2595 MHz @ 66°C @ 102W |
Acer Nitro 17 (AN17-51) “Turbo” preset | 2520 MHz @ 78°C @ 112W | 2520 MHz @ 81°C @ 111W |
Acer Nitro 17 (AN17-51) “Performance” preset | 2490 MHz @ 73°C @ 108W | 2490 MHz @ 73°C @ 108W |
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (FA507, 2023) | 2520 MHz @ 78°C @ 112W | 2520 MHz @ 81°C @ 111W |
Lenovo ThinkBook 16p Gen 4 | 2475 MHz @ 76°C @ 107W | 2475 MHz @ 77°C @ 108W |
HP Victus 16 (16-r0000) | 2520 MHz @ 77°C @ 107W | 2520 MHz @ 76°C @ 107W |
The RTX 4060 maintains a stable 45W TGP during gaming and a 102MHz higher core clock than the Cyborg 15 with the same GPU. Not bad!
Gaming comfort
The MSI Center offers fine-tuning in terms of system performance with its auto AI mode, four power modes, and manual fan control.
During gaming, the chassis doesn’t feel too hot to the touch.
The hotspot is on the top row of keys and it reaches 56°C. The rest of the base is cooler, especially the WASD section and the palm rests.
In idle, the fan speed is around 1800 RPM and 5000 RPM if you activate the Cooler Boost function.
When the CPU is pushed hard in “Extreme Performance” or “Balanced” mode, the fan speed is around 3600 RPM for both presets which isn’t exactly loud. The clock spikes heavily no matter the mode.
The TGP of 45W is also available for the two most punchy presets. Yep, the fan is a bit more noisy when the “Extreme Performance” mode is applied.
This is the main menu of the BIOS.
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows Best Power Efficiency setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. This laptop’s 53.50Wh battery lasts for 3 hours and a half of video playback. Оur test was conducted with the “Battery Saver” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu and the “Super Battery” mode applied in the MSI Center. The “Balance” mode should be selected in the BIOS in the “User Scenario” section.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
To open this small gaming machine, you have to undo 8 Phillips-head screws. Turn over the device and carefully pry the back step by step with a thin plastic tool until all internal clips are released. Flip the laptop. Pop the front as well as the left side and the right one to the level of the Audio jack. The latter slightly sticks out of the motherboard and that’s why you can’t lift the plate straight up. Lift the bottom panel on the left and carefully slide it to the right.
Here’s how the bottom cover looks on the inside.
This laptop has a 53.5Wh battery. To remove it, detach the connector by pulling it to the right and undo the three Phillips-head screws that hold the unit fixed to the chassis. The capacity is enough for 3 hours and a half of video playback.
The RAM zone is covered with a metal cap and you can lift it with a lever tool. On the inside, the plate is glued to the slots with a small pad. It’s pretty sticky so don’t pull the shield with excessive force to avoid possible damage.
According to MSI, the two SODIMMs can handle up to 64GB of DDR5-5200MHz RAM that works in dual-channel mode. However, since the CPU can support up to 96GB, this laptop likely wouldn’t have issues running a larger amount of memory than the official manufacturer’s specified limit. For storage upgrades, there is just one M.2 slot compatible with 2280 Gen 4 NVMe drives.
We are happy to see a long thick thermal pad below the SSD for additional cooling.
The Wi-Fi 6E card is on the left of the battery.
The thermal system seems decent for such a compact device. It comprises one large fan, three heat pipes, two heat sinks, and three heat spreaders.
Verdict
For people who want to get their hands on a compact and not-so-expensive gaming laptop, the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V offers a lot of bang for the buck. Its chassis is well-built with few exceptions here and there. The translucent parts contribute to a more distinctive look. The port selection is decent and we like the presence of the LAN connector. The upgradability is also good given the form factor of this thing. You get two SODIMMs, a replaceable Wi-Fi card, and one M.2 slot. Some contenders offer two SSD slots at the expense of soldered RAM. In this case, you should decide which upgrade scenarios are more important for you.
The display (NE140WUM-NX1 (BOE0A3A)) is the biggest surprise here. This PWM-free 1200p 144Hz unit has 98% sRGB coverage the color accuracy is enhanced to an average dE result of 0.9 which is a great improvement compared to the default 3.0 score. This makes the screen suitable even for content creation. The panel reaches a max brightness of 462 nits and the pixel response times are also on point (8.5 ms), especially for this price class.
The comfort during max loads is fine. The CPU and the GPU don’t get hot and the single fan isn’t too noisy. The Core i7-13620H P and E cores boost to ~2.56 GHz / 2.20 GHz in longer stress which is an adequate result for a small laptop like this one. The short battery life is one of the few shortcomings of this machine.
The Cyborg 14 A13V is a good offer in its class. It boasts good overall performance, a bright color-accurate display, comfortable input devices, and upgradable RAM.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/msi-cyborg-14-a13ux-a13vx/
Pros
- Good overall performance for the class
- 2x SODIMMs + replaceable Wi-Fi card
- PWM-free (BOE0A3A)
- Wide viewing angles + 16:10 aspect ratio (BOE0A3A)
- 98% sRGB coverage + accurate color with our “Design and Gaming” profile (BOE0A3A)
- 462 nits of max brightness + 8.5 ms pixel response times
- Good backlit keyboard
- Surprising accurate touchpad
- Solid build
- The Core i7-13620H can sustain 2.56 GHz / 2.20 GHz P and E core frequencies during long CPU loads
- Adequate CPU and GPU temperatures during max stress (73°C / 63°C)
- The MSI Center offers plenty of customizations
- 3x USB ports + LAN + HDMI 2.1
- Light machine – 1.60 kg
- Acceptable noise levels during gaming
- The RTX 4060 can maintain a stable 45W TGP even in “Balanced” mode
- Good sound quality
- Decently fast and well-cooled SSD (SAMSUNG PM9B1)
- Metal lid
Cons
- Just one M.2 slot
- Short battery life (~ 3 hours and a half of videos)
- There is a thermal headroom for higher CPU and GPU power limits
- The removal of the bottom panel is too complicated (just like many other MSI devices)