Over the years, I’ve really wanted to love the MSI Stealth 16 — it’s the premium notebook packed with power that doesn't ignore the utilitarian check boxes that make for a good laptop.
Only one problem: it was never really stealthy. It still screamed gaming laptop from afar and never really fit the bill as something you concealed its true performance.
Well, MSI’s gone back to the drawing board and announced a fully redesigned Stealth 16 AI+ at CES 2026. And after going hands-on with the system, well, it looks awfully MacBook Pro-ish.
But it’s a lot more than just a facelift, as it checks off a lot of the things I noted in saying 2026 will be the year of the laptop, and with its impressive horsepower concealed, it has a solid chance of gunning for Apple’s top spot. Let me explain.
MSI Stealth 16 AI+ specs
Laptop | MSI Stealth 16 AI+ |
|---|---|
Display | 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600 pixels) OLED 240Hz |
CPU | Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |
GPU | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 |
RAM | Up to 128GB DDR5-7200 |
Storage | 2x NVMe SSD slot |
Ports | 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x HDMI 2.1 (8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz), 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x gigabit ethernet |
Connectivity | Wi-FI 7, Bluetooth 6 |
Dimensions | 13.9 x 9.7 x 0.7 inches |
Weight | 4.39 pounds |
Fresh looks
- Full aluminum chassis in a deep gray finish that looks (and feels) super premium.
- Great-feeling keyboard, huge touchpad, plenty of well-placed I/O.
So where do you begin in making a laptop stealthy? Well you go for a stealthy construction, which the 16 AI+ delivers on with its full-aluminum chassis that comes in at just 16.6mm thin and weighs just under 4.4 pounds. Yes, that sounds hefty when you think about ultraportables, but this is a fully-featured gaming system — through that lens this is super lightweight.
The dynamic lines on the lid give it a subtle edginess, and the slim, sharp side profile gives a serious professional vibe while only whispering “gamer” with that subtle RGB keyboard. Speaking of the board, those keys feel seriously good here for working with a nice tactility and a comfortable landing for each press.
Then further south, you’ll find that ocean of a touchpad — a properly massive canvas to make huge sweeping multitouch gestures across your work, with a satisfying mechanical click to it too. Then along the sides, you’ll find all the I/O you could ever need for work and play, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet.
Boosted internals
- Gorgeous 16-inch QHD+ OLED display up top, running at 240Hz refresh rate.
- Specs up to Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU and RTX 5090 laptop GPU.
- Up to 128GB RAM and two SSD slots — both easily accessible for upgradeability.
- Massive 90Wh battery and upgraded cooling gives you massive wattage potential.
Then we turn our attention to the horsepower inside. To step up to the MacBook Pro, you need some facemelting speeds, while also providing strong power efficiency. And while I can’t guarantee the latter, there’s definitely going to be that peak prosumer performance with the combination of Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU (Panther Lake) and RTX 5090 GPU.
This is a dynamite gaming duo, which will make any titles flow beautifully on that mesmerizing QHD+ OLED panel’s 240Hz refresh rate. Laying my eyes on the screen, I was immediately hypnotized by the flash flood of color.
But what’s also important here is the 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and SGS Eye Care. That means it’s not just a display you can game on, it’s one you can get stuff done on too — like advanced 4K video edits and RAW Photoshop grading.
Now, one common trap a lot of these premium gaming laptops (think Asus ROG Zephyrus G14) fall into is in its mission to keep everything luxurious, thermal management is often demoted and we’re left with powerful components not getting enough watts pumped through them.
Well, flip over the Stealth 16 AI+, there’s a hint that MSI’s not playing around with that huge vent across the back. This is part of the upgraded Cooler Boost with more fans and a multi-directional exhaust design — including these subtle vents above the keyboard. That increases the power pumped through that GPU by 20W to 125W if you have an RTX 5090/5080/5070Ti, or 115W if you have anything lower than that.
Top it off with a 90Wh battery that is sure to give you decent stamina in day-to-day productivity, and you’ve got a mighty system here!
Outlook
MSI came in with one mission with the Stealth 16 AI+ — give us a gaming laptop that doesn’t scream “gaming laptop,” and the team nailed it with this seriously sleek-looking system that feels premium to the touch, great to work on, but just so happens to pack a whole lot of horsepower and a delicious display to boot.
I’m really excited to get this into Tom’s Guide’s testing lab to really put it through its paces, and see whether the promise does live up to the expectations. But from early impressions of my time with it, there’s a lot to be excited about.
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