I replaced my desktop with this MSI laptop for a week, and it surpassed my expectations

ZDNET's key takeaways

The MSI Stealth A16 AI Plus is currently on sale at a discounted $1,699. This is a great desktop replacement thanks to its AI-powered processor and GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. However, traveling with it will prove difficult as the device is quite heavy.

With the bevy of computer accessories available, it's easy to turn your laptop into a desktop-like setup. The question is, what do you put in the center of this system? I typically recommend gaming laptops because of their powerful hardware, and one of the best in this category is the MSI Stealth A16 AI Plus which I've been testing for a few weeks.

This is the company's latest gaming machine, which launched in early October. MSI boasts it is the "most powerful Copilot+ PC." After spending time with the Stealth A16, I agree that it's powerful, although the device possesses many of the same shortcomings common on gaming laptops.

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Before I harp on said shortcomings, let me first mention my favorite aspect of the laptop: its flexibility. Under the hood is an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. That CPU is noteworthy because, as the name suggests, it utilizes AI to boost the hardware. The Ryzen AI 9 performed phenomenally during my benchmark and browsing tests. 

On a Cinebench R23 test, the laptop earned a top score of 18,336 points. MSI's Stealth A16 also did great on the PC Mark 10 digital content creation tests that we typically run at ZDNET. This translates to a machine capable of editing, processing, and quickly rendering high-resolution videos without breaking a sweat.

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Of course, since this is a gaming laptop, I couldn't help but play a few video games to test its prowess. The Stealth A16, again, did great. It made games with highly detailed characters and vibrant particle effects like Street Fighter 6 into visual spectacles. 

Laptops housing AI-powered chipsets tend to enjoy long battery lives. The MSI Stealth A16 possesses a battery life exceeding most other gaming laptops, but it falls short when compared to more energy-efficient work devices. During my initial runs, it only lasted 10.5 hours on a single charge.

However, it is possible to adjust the computer on the fly. The laptop achieved the previously mentioned numbers under a specific GPU mode called MSIHybrid. The device has the MSI Center app, which houses a feature called GPU Switch. This lets you change which graphics card is the lead GPU to help you complete certain tasks without entering your computer's BIOS. Alongside MSIHybrid, there is Discrete Graphics Mode and Integrated Graphics Mode. 

Discrete Mode utilizes the NVIDIA GPU to push the hardware to its limits. Integrated Mode harnesses the secondary AMD Radeon 880M GPU and can extend the battery's longevity. MSIHybrid sits somewhere in the middle. The changes are quite noticeable. MSI's Stealth A16 saw a big performance boost under Discrete Mode with benchmark tests revealing the device becomes better at handling content creation tasks. Discrete Mode improved the battery, running for over 11 hours straight.

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I liked the variety of ports available. There is an HDMI input for connecting to monitors, a USB-C port, a USB-A for drives, and, most importantly, an ethernet port. I recommend using the ethernet port whenever possible to enjoy stable internet connections for your pseudo-desktop setup. I do wish the Stealth A16 had more ports. A single USB-A and USB-C input just doesn't cut it for me in late 2024, especially considering the laptop's heft.

MSI's device clocks in at a hefty 4.63 pounds. The load increases when carrying the power adapter, which weighs a solid 1.25 pounds. You can't use alternative adapters either since the laptop can only be charged with the brick's PD cable. The large size does have the benefit of enabling a big keyboard. 

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Each key is adorned with SteelSeries RGB lighting for a mesmerizing look. The buttons have a good travel distance and are evenly spaced out, ensuring comfortable typing. Since the keyboard is so big, it does encroach on the touchpad and numerical pad. I didn't have trouble moving the cursor, as there was just enough room to use the touchpad comfortably. But, the number pad wasn't as intuitive since its squished buttons were difficult to use.

ZDNET's buying advice

The MSI Stealth A16 AI Plus is sold exclusively at Best Buy for $2,000 MSRP. However, at the time of this writing, the model has been discounted to $1,700. I recommend picking up the laptop at that price, especially as a desktop replacement. With the right laptop docking station, you can connect to a pair of external displays to enjoy everything it offers, although its 16-inch WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixel) display is still quite nice.