I can't get enough of this MSI Stealth A16 AI+ with an RTX 5070 Ti — here's why

I once touted that RTX 5070 gaming laptops would be my new gold standard, but after using the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ with an RTX 5070 Ti, I may need to alter that statement.

Testing out Nvidia's upper-mid-range laptop GPU has been a long time coming, and MSI's sleek, minimalist 16-inch laptop is just the machine to show off its performance. Paired up with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, there's not a lot this machine can't do.

Anything I booted up could be seen in visual excellence with its glorious QHD+ (2560 x 1600) OLED panel, and its 240Hz refresh rate was put to good use in PC games thanks to DLSS 4 packing all those AI tricks. It's a slick, well-sized portable powerhouse that won't break the bank...as much as an RTX 5090 gaming laptop.

If that wasn't enough, MSI has done a fantastic job with its satisfying keyboard with subtle yet lovely per-key RGB. There's plenty of key travel here, and there's even enough space for a number pad for productivity. Plus, the touchpad is well-sized and well-placed.

While we already put the MSI Steath A16 AI+ (2024) on our radar last year, it's the upgraded RTX 5070 Ti that really delivers that next-gen feel — whether you mainly use it as a creator or for those spruced up PC games.

Now, I would've thought that these beefy internals with AI aiding all tasks would keep the Stealth A16 AI+, well, stealthy, but fans can make this one noisy machine during demanding tasks. Luckily, the impressive audio drowns this out, but it doesn't fix how hot it gets under the hood.

I'm already counting it as one of the best gaming laptops of the year so far, but there are still a few more tests to be done. As a mid-range gaming laptop with a touch more power, the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ pushes the limits.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A 16-inch gaming laptop packed with the latest specs — including an RTX 5070 Ti.
• Who is it for? Anyone looking to boost gaming and productivity performance in a sleek, minimalist chassis.
• What does it cost? The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ starts at $2,899 in the U.S., but a maxed-out version with an RTX 5090 will cost up to $4,299. There's not one currently available in the U.K., but there is a Stealth A18 for £2,799 on Amazon.
• What do we like? The incredible performance in an upper-mid-range gaming laptop, its fantastic 16-inch 1440p OLED display, subtle design and glorious-to-type-on keyboard.
• What don’t we like? For its powerful internals, this laptop can get loud when put under any type of pressure, and it can run hot when booting up demanding games and apps.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Specs

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: The ups

If you couldn't tell from the headline image, it was the minute I booted up Oblivion Remastered that I took a shine to the MSI Stealth A16 AI+. With its snappy performance, gorgeous visuals, excellent keyboard and slim design, I'd be happy spending hours playing Bethesda's latest (and more) on this machine.

Pushing mid-range power

No, I would not say an RTX 5070 Ti could match the might of an RTX 4090 even in the laptop GPU side of things, as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang claimed the base 5070 could do. But that shouldn't take away from what the Stealth A16 AI+'s combination of an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD can offer.

I put the laptop through its paces with Cyberpunk 2077, Oblivion Remastered and Marvel Rivals, and once all settings were optimized, frames rates hit that 240Hz mark and graphics were on point. But first, a test without the magic of DLSS 4.

There are no surprises when it comes to comparing it to the might of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 with an RTX 5090, or even the RTX 4090 model.

I know. Looking at those FPS rates in Cyberpunk 2077, it's harder to believe that the Stealth A16 AI+ offers any kind of smooth gaming performance on paper. But this is with ray tracing set to Ultra in settings at 1440p without any DLSS switched on, and that's not the way gamers should use an RTX 5070 Ti-equipped laptop.

But otherwise, with DLSS 4 and multi frame gen turned on, I was seeing frame rates skyrocket to over 120 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, which is an amazing feat for anyone after a gaming laptop that delivers stunning, high-quality details for a considerable amount less than an RTX 5090-equipped machine.

I then threw on Marvel Rivals, where settings were maxed out and I was getting well over 200 FPS, which hardly comes as a surprise considering this game is made for fast-paced, competitive play. And in the Oblivion Remaster, settings were also at max, and I was getting a steady, smooth 80-100 FPS depending on the situation.

Of course, it isn't just about gaming, as the Stealth A16 AI+ is also a laptop for productivity and content creators — as you can tell from the results below. Even compared to

You're getting very close to the previous ROG Strix Scar 18 here, and that cost above $3,900. But it also shows that AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 is a commendable CPU despite the gap between its Intel rival, and that 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD definitely help in the handbrake test.

The Stealth A16 AI+ offers plenty of power and pushes mid-range gaming and performance further. For most, this will be enough, and its price isn't completely out of range.

Minimalist for the win

A 16-inch gaming laptop that's lighter than the M4 MacBook Pro 16-inch? That's right, and while it's still not as portable as popular 14-inch gaming laptops, like the 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, you bet I'm carrying around this beast in my laptop bag without worrying about an aching back.

It's an incredibly slim and sleek 16-inch gaming laptop, and I'm a big fan of its unibody all-black design with its premium-feeling magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis. There are smudges that appear, but it's not nearly as noticeable as on more plasticky material.

Its sturdy frame means it's easy to lift up the lid to its gorgeous display, and while I wouldn't call it "lightweight," it's still light and compact enough to slip into a bag and carry while traveling.

There's also the right number of ports, even if I wish there were an extra USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 support. Having two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI 2.1, an Ethernet and a USB-C with PowerDelivery (PD) 3.0 and DisplayPort support offers what I need in a gaming laptop to connect PC peripherals.

If you prefer a larger display on a slim laptop that isn't cumbersome like an 18-inch gaming laptop, the Stealth A16 AI+ has the design you're after. Speaking of displays...

Superb visuals

I'm very much enjoying many gaming laptops leaning towards OLED panels with (more often than not) 240Hz refresh rates, as the A16 AI+'s 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) screen is a treat for playing games, watching the latest shows and scrolling through websites.

From the jaw-dropping ray tracing in Oblivion Remastered to watching the gritty crime thriller Havoc on Netflix, the display captures accurate colors and sharp details for all my viewing needs. Waking up in the dungeon cell in Oblivion to see light bouncing off cobbled walls and a torch shining on rusted shackles in a true delight.

As for Havoc, there wasn't one drop of blood I didn't notice on Tom Hardy's face throughout the movie, and that says a lot considering all the action that takes place.

Getting ready for Marvel's Thunderbolts, I also threw on the final trailer and was greeted with the dark, hardcore vibes of the not-so-superhero team coming out of an elevator, and the shadowed shot of The Void shows a great shade of black that subtly shows the outline of the villain's face. Just as expected out of an OLED panel.

A pleasure to type on

A big shoutout to MSI paring up with SteelSeries to deliver a comfortable per-key RGB gaming keyboard and a sturdy feeling touchpad. Each key flutters with an array of colors, but aren't obnoxiously bright either, which is very much aligned with the whole "Stealth" theme MSI is going for.

The board offers enough key travel and each key is satisfying to press, and and I could easily use this laptop in an office without disturbing anyone around me, as key presses are near-silent. No thock sounds here, as some gamers would like, but that's where the best gaming keyboard come in.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: The downs

There's a lot going for the MSI Stealth A16 AI+, but when it comes to thermal management and those noisy fans, it could use a bit of work.

Not so stealthy

I'm glad MSI partnered up with SteelSeries Nahimic to offer satisfying audio, thanks to its two 2W speakers and four 2W woofers, as you'll hear this laptop from a mile away without sound blasting from it.

From booting it up and downloading files to launching a demanding AAA title, the Stealth A16 AI+ will spin those fans like it's about to take off. Of course, the latter brings the loudest decibels, but I'm surprised that even a quick install of an app can lead to an increase in noise coming from under the hood.

And that's all despite the laptop coming with the latest in CPU and GPU technology, along with a big performance boost from AI. Luckily, those audio drviers to a marvelous job of drowning out those turbines. That's an exaggeration, as I have heard louder, but for a laptop at this price, I would have expected better noise management.

Things get spicy

Those fans speeds appears to be needed, though, as the Stealth A16 AI+ gets hot under the hood. While I'm not sure precise temperatures, it appears the centre on the keyboard gets a lot of the heat, but its the bottom that gets the hottest.

I only noticed this when cranking up max settings in PC games. Perhaps its giant 99.9Wh cell battery is to blame? Either way, I never felt as if the laptop was going to melt, but it's always better for a machine to be cool rather than scorching.

MSI Stealth A16 AI+: Verdict

There are still a few more tests to be done, but I'm certain the MSI Stealth A16 AI+ will find a spot in the best gaming laptops you can grab in 2025, and possibly beyond considering the performance gains you're getting thanks to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 Ti it boasts.

At $2,899, it isn't exactly cheap, but its hugely more affordable than something like an RTX 5090-equipped Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (3,169) or ROG Strix Scar 18 ($4,499). And, with the power and premium features it offers, there's more than enough here to satisfy many gamers after a step up in performance.

In any case, I won't be reaching for the highs of top-of-the-range laptops any time soon thanks to the Stealth A16 AI+ showcasing how "mid-range" has shifted for the better — even if it is loud.