The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has been redesigned and rebuilt from the base of the GS66 Stealth to become a sort of ultimate laptop PC. With top-notch components such as a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 40 graphics card, you’ll be able to handle just about anything in your game library as well as new game releases indie and AAA video for years to come. And more than that.
A single device
I had the exclusive opportunity to test the MSI Stealth 14 Studio and, in my opinion, it is a versatile machine for streamers and creators of graphics, audio and video content. And this thanks to key features such as the ability to switch from one graphics card to another and a simple design that suits pros and gamers alike.
I don’t usually use laptops for work, and rarely for gaming. My go-to setup is an AMD-based custom tower that I built in 2015, before upgrading it in 2020. While I love my tower, testing this MSI Stealth 14 Studio left me clearly moved away from desktop computers. It works with an Intel Core i7-13700H processor, an RTX 4060 or 4070 graphics card, DDR5 RAM and an SSD. A combination synonymous with the power and performance required for gaming, digital art, video production, 3D modeling and animation.
The laptop itself is quite compact and lightweight, measuring just 315 x 246 x 19mm and weighing around 1.7kg. Ideal for slipping it into a bag to get to work or class, or hiding in an arena to participate in a League of Legends or Apex Legends tournament. The 14-inch screen uses an IPS panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 and a refresh rate of 165Hz, which produces very smooth movements compared to regular 1080p FHD displays. You can also use the MSI True Color app to switch display modes according to your needs.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
For example, if you work primarily with video and images, you’ll want to enable AdobeRGB or DCI-P3 screen modes for more accurate colors. Dedicated gaming and blue light filtering modes reduce eye strain if you have to spend hours staring at the screen, whether for daily work or marathon gaming sessions with friends.
The screen uses a 16:10 aspect ratio. This is great for gaming as it provides a slightly wider viewing area so you don’t miss important objects. The Stealth 14 Studio features an 8-watt audio system with dual speakers and subwoofers powered by SteelSeries’ Nahimic audio drivers. Nahimic is similar to Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X in that it is able to create virtual spatial sound without the use of headphones.
The built-in speakers and subwoofers sound decent even at maximum volume, with no stray noise or annoying buzzing, which is usually a sign of poor build quality. You can also create custom EQ settings for games, music, and video calls so you never miss a note or line of dialogue. And Nahimic drivers work with the built-in microphone to eliminate background noise and white noise to isolate your voice for cleaner voice chat in Discord, games, and video calling apps like Zoom or Skype.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
Gamers around the world will also appreciate that the terrible clicking issues and other annoying noises that seem to plague MSI laptops have not reappeared. I couldn’t find them anywhere during my testing. And since you have to restart the computer each time to change the graphics card, I didn’t miss any opportunities to possibly disturb the sound configuration. Well the sound remained stable and clear at each start.
Another point: I love the MUX switch, which allows you to choose between integrated, dedicated and hybrid graphics cards. With the MSI Center desktop application, you can configure the laptop to use the integrated Intel processor graphics card, the RTX 40 series graphics card, or a combination of both. This adjusts power consumption and makes the Stealth 14 Studio an exceptionally versatile laptop. From what I’ve seen, the integrated graphics card is better for video streaming, office work, and web browsing, while the dedicated card is the obvious choice for gaming. Hybrid graphics mode seems to be best suited for streamers, content creators, and creative professionals who may need to run different types of programs at the same time and need the flexibility.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
My only real complaint
Battery life is my only real complaint with the Stealth 14 Studio. Especially when using hybrid graphics mode. I ran several battery life tests for each graphics mode, and was only able to squeeze just over 4 hours of use out of the laptop when the integrated graphics card was enabled. When it’s the dedicated card, that gives around 3.5 hours. And the hybrid mode was the worst with barely 2 hours. However, I expected poor battery life, as this laptop uses very power-hungry components. And if you’re a content creator or creative professional using hybrid graphics, chances are your machine is plugged into a power outlet while you’re working on important projects or streaming. In fact, you’ll rely on the battery for short periods of time for technical demonstrations or meetings with customers.
I ran all my tests with the monitor set to AdobeRGB color space and 50% brightness, streaming Spongebob Squarepants Season 2, as I’m an adult and only for testing , I want to have fun! The Stealth 14 Studio has a power saving mode, and, you know, screen brightness and display modes impact battery life. If you decide to buy this laptop, it’s definitely worth taking the time to learn about the various settings to get the most out of the battery.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
The laptop’s charging time is on the other hand quite fast, as the battery reaches full charge in about an hour. It’s perfect when you forget to charge it overnight or need a quick boost during a lunch break or meeting. Like all fast-charging devices, you’ll notice a slowdown in power transfer as the battery approaches full charge. This helps prevent damage from overcharging, which reduces battery life and performance.
How it handles games
And now, the question everyone is asking: how does he manage the video game? While I’ve never been one to keep up with all the latest AAA game releases, I have an extensive Steam library that allows me to put any laptop through its paces.
I started with The Long Drive, an open-world game where you drive towards the horizon and try to save your car from falling apart. As an unstable Early Access release, The Long Drive works about as well as running a mile on a good day. But with the i7-13700H processor and RTX 40 card, I was able to play for several hours before racing against unseen rocks in the road and battling zombies and hares stuck to car tires. I’ve also played DayZ with the Livonia DLC, as it’s another resource-intensive game that doesn’t run very long on my tower’s GTX 1060. If I encountered recurring problems (pop-in windows, rubber-banding levels), they are more due to the stability of the game than to the performance of the Stealth 14 Studio.
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
The laptop was even able to handle the ARMA III game, which is notorious for requiring herculean efforts from graphics cards and CPUs before you can even get you into a server.
A worthwhile investment
The base configuration of the Stealth 14 Studio starts at €2000 for pre-order, which is what I would expect to pay for a gaming or content creation laptop of comparable design. But keep in mind that adding more RAM, storage drives or a more powerful graphics card will significantly increase the price. So be sure to carefully consider the configuration choices before buying so you don’t go over your budget. All in all, the Stealth 14 Studio is a great dual-purpose laptop that I recommend to anyone looking to upgrade their current gaming setup or want a laptop they can take to work and use for gaming at home. .
Taylor Clemons/ZDNET
The 14-inch Stealth Studio will be available in March, but the 17-inch version is available now. However, be ready to pay because the configuration of the Stealth 17Studio A13VH-006FR is with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD disk… at a price of 4700 €. But it’s a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a laptop that can handle gaming, content creation, streaming, and everyday work for years.
Source: “ZDNet.com”