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Customers highly value the Stealth 14's performance, portability, and sleek design. Many appreciate its lightweight build and impressive display, while some users note that the battery life and fan noise could be improved. The fast SSD and high refresh rate are also frequently praised.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
I have owned this laptop for just over 5 months now and wanted to wait until I had used it for a while before writing a review. I also am not being compensated by anyone for this review. I am leaving it 100% of my own accord so that people can get an honest review of this computer. With so many "gaming laptops" out there to choose from (Legion, Razer Blade, HP Omen, etc.) I think people should take a serious look at this MSI laptop. So, let me get started! I used to have a different MSI laptop that worked great but would get very hot while playing games. It was also a 16" screen. I wanted something lighter and more portable so I upgraded to this and let me tell you I couldn't be happier. This laptop is so lightweight and easy to travel with. Beyond that, it still does get hot while playing games but not nearly as hot as my older MSI model. I do use a cooling pad still just because it makes sense to. I also looked at the Legion 15.6" and Legion 14". I returned the 15.6" because honestly, I didn't like the look and feel of it. It looked like your typical every day laptop. I prefer a laptop that looks premium. The 14" Legion was really nice, but it has its RAM soldered to the motherboard which means it is not replaceable or upgradable. That was a HUGE downside for me. I wasn't going to buy a $1,500 laptop and not be able to upgrade/replace one of the most essential parts of it... enter the MSI Stealth 14. POWER: This laptop comes with a huge power brick charger (typical for gaming laptops). It powers and charges the laptop well. One thing I will say is that the USB-C ports can be used to charge this PC as well. So, if you are using it for every day tasks you could get a much more lightweight and compact charger that will work fine. RAM: This laptop (2) RAM slots that are not soldered. So, I was easily able to upgrade my RAM from 16GB to 32GB. Taking the case off was a bit difficult if you odon't have something slim like a credit card or pry it open. There is a cover over the RAM that seems like it is impossible to get off. But it pops off and is just a plastic piece that easily sets back over the RAM after the update. SSD: The only one particular downside to this laptop might be the fact that it only has space for (1) SSD. My older laptop had 2 slots. However, give the small size of this laptop it makes sense. I also upgraded the SSD from the 1TB to a 4TB Crucial P3 Plus and it swapped out in a couple minutes. Open the case, unscrew the 1 screw holding the NVME drive in and then pop your new one in and tighten the screw back down! DISPLAY/KEYBOARD/TRACKPAD: The display is great for me (however, I usually use external monitors). It is not a fancy screen like some of the Razer Blade laptops or Legion laptops have but honestly it works just fine for me. There is a little bit of bleed around the edges of the monitor that can be a little distracting if you are playing in a low lit room. However, when the lights are on you cannot tell at all. The 165Hz refresh rate is more than enough for me as when you play video games on high graphics settings you aren't going to pull anything over 100FPS anyway. The entire body of this laptop is fingerprint resistant and it is awesome. I have never had a fingerprint ever on my laptop. It always looks clean. The keyboard lighting is AMAZING and can be customized using Steel Series GG software. It has way more options for lighting than the Legion laptops (which only have 4 quadrants). This laptop has PER KEY lighting so you could change the lighting on each key if you wanted to. The trackpad is average. Nothing much to say about it. It works well and I have no complaints. GRAPHICS: The Nvidia 4060 is amazing. I really enjoy the ability to do ray tracing on games as well as use their new DLSS 3.0 to get an incredible boost in FPS (I got +60FPS in some games when using 3.0). PORTS: The ports are a bit limited on this laptop due to its size so I do recommend some sort of USB hub. There is only 1 USB 3.0 port on this and the rest are USB-C ports (one of them is a Thunderbolt 4.0). There is an HDMI port but the USB-C ports also function to out video. I am using a USB-C to DP cable for my monitors and do not use the HDMI port. There is NO ethernet port on this laptop. You would need a hub adapter to hardwire this laptop if you prefer. This is what I do - but the WiFi is also amazing on it and I pull about 500-600 Mbps on WiFi. When hardwired I pull 995 Mbps on a gigabit connection (which is absolutely amazing). SOFTWARE: I personally LOVE MSI Center. A lot of people out there have said they don't but it is fantastic for me. It allows me to control when my laptop enters "Gaming Mode". I simply add the game to the list and when I open the game the MSI laptop automatically configures my PC for GPU overclock and increases the power of the CPU. I also like that this software allows you to use "Cooler Boost" on the fans which puts them into a very high RPM rate to cool the laptop down. I rarely ever use it but it is a great feature to have. It can also be activated using a keyboard shortcut on the laptop keyboard itself. The program also lets you check if you have the latest approved drivers, switch between Hybrid Graphics and Dedicated etc.. I also love the "Smart AI" feature the program has with this laptop. I have it set up so that if the laptop is not being charged it goes into "Super Battery" mode and turns off all the keyboard and laptop lighting. It increases the battery by a lot. I get about 4-5 hours of use with this mode. You can also set how you want your battery to charge (All the way, stop at 60% or 80%). This is nice so the battery isn't constantly charging and will help to increase its lifespan. One last thing I enjoy about MSI laptops is the lack of applications that come installed on the new OS. It simply has MSI Center and that is it. There is no annoying trial software or bulk apps that you don't want. I hope this review helps people out. I really believe this is probably the best 14" gaming laptop out right now (although MSI has a slightly newer one just released with a better screen for $1600). At $1,250 this is a steal.
Posted by kewP
The device is very powerful for the size, at the price I paid 1,099usd, I would recommend it for desktop replacement use. It is amazing for portable gaming and heavier college work(Cisco packet tracer).However there are some drawback, one being the magnesium frame/chassis gets very hot if not propped up for airflow, in addition the fans get uncomfortably loud very quickly; anything outside of web browsing will spin up the fans to max. with all of that being said it makes a great gaming laptop that can double duty as a desktop/workstation. This is not a viable setup for going to class or any public space where noise is an issue. Another thing not mentioned is that the keyboard is phenomenal, one of the best laptop keyboards I've used, beats out a t470 thinkpad
Posted by GaryH
I recently purchased the MSI Stealth 14, and it has exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I unboxed it, I knew I had made the right choice. Here's why I'm thrilled with my new laptop: 1. Unboxing and Design: The unboxing experience was premium, with the sleek aluminum chassis immediately catching my eye. The Stealth 14's slim and lightweight design is perfect for my on-the-go lifestyle. It feels sturdy and looks incredibly stylish, a perfect blend of form and function. 2. Exceptional Performance: The performance is nothing short of spectacular. With the latest Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, this laptop handles everything I throw at it with ease. Gaming is smooth, with no lag or stutter, and my productivity tasks are faster than ever. The Stealth 14’s multitasking capabilities are a game-changer for my workflow. 3. Stunning Display: The 14-inch Full HD display is vibrant and crisp, with a high refresh rate that makes gaming and video playback buttery smooth. The thin bezels add to the immersive experience, making it a pleasure to use for both work and play. 4. Efficient Cooling System: One of my concerns was overheating, but MSI's advanced cooling system has put those worries to rest. Even during intense gaming sessions, the Stealth 14 stays cool and performs consistently without any thermal throttling. It's clear that MSI has put a lot of thought into the thermal design. 5. Long-lasting Battery Life: I was pleasantly surprised by the battery life. For such a high-performance machine, it lasts impressively long on a single charge. This makes it ideal for long days at work or extended gaming sessions without being tethered to an outlet. 6. Customizable RGB Keyboard: The per-key RGB backlit keyboard is a standout feature. The tactile feedback is just right, and the customizable lighting adds a personal touch. It's not only functional but also adds a fun, dynamic element to my setup. 7. Versatile Connectivity: The variety of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, and HDMI, have been incredibly convenient. Connecting peripherals, external displays, and transferring data has never been easier. The Stealth 14 covers all my connectivity needs effortlessly. 8. Impressive Audio Quality: The audio quality is superb. The built-in speakers deliver clear, immersive sound that enhances both gaming and multimedia experiences. Whether I'm gaming, watching movies, or listening to music, the audio experience is top-notch. Final Thoughts: The MSI Stealth 14 has been a fantastic addition to my tech arsenal. It combines powerful performance, stunning visuals, efficient cooling, and impressive battery life in a sleek, portable package. As a recent purchase, I couldn't be happier with my decision. The MSI Stealth 14 is truly a powerhouse laptop that meets all my needs and then some.
Posted by IvanN