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Generally speaking, the answer is yes. MSI is one of the most recognized laptop brands, and for a good reason. They have tons of different products, but their strongest suit is manufacturing high-quality gaming laptops.
However, there are a few drawbacks.
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of owning an MSI laptop. We’ll also check out some of their best models and see who they are most suitable for.
Interested? Let’s dive right in.
Table of Contents
How does MSI Compare to Other Laptop Brands?
Before anything else, MSI makes high-end gaming laptops. Their best models, like the GE Raider series, stack up pretty well against Alienware and Razer Blade laptops.
If you cannot afford the absolute best, that’s nothing to worry about. MSI also offers great deals on mid-range gaming laptops for just under $1500 that don’t compromise too much on performance.
However, not everyone needs the most powerful laptop money can buy.
Maybe you need a laptop just good enough for day-to-day activities and light productivity tasks.
This is where MSI falls behind since they don’t have too many cheap options. So if you’re looking for additional budget laptops, check out brands like ASUS or Acer.
MSI is one of the most recognized laptop brands, and for a good reason.
About MSI
Micro-Star International (a.k.a. MSI) is a Taiwan-based company that has been a part of the tech world for almost four decades.
They’ve come a long way, from a small company manufacturing motherboards and graphics cards to one of the most recognized laptop brands.
MSI is particularly popular in the gaming community, due to its constant presence in eSports tournaments. They even host their own world-renowned MSI MGA tournament.
MSI Laptops Series
Let’s take a look at MSI’s most popular laptop lineups and their main uses:
MSI gaming series
- Titan GT – extreme performance, crazy overkill machines, very expensive
- Raider GE – best gaming experience
- Stealth – exceptional performance, thin and stylish design
- Vector GP / Crosshair / Pulse – mid-range, affordable laptops
- Sword / Katana / Cyborg / Thin GF – budget gaming laptops
- Delta / Alpha / Bravo – AMD-powered laptops
MSI business and productivity series
- Summit – premium business laptops
- Prestige – solid performance, sleek design, affordable price
- Modern – light browsing and daily activities
MSI content creation series
- Creator Pro – premium laptops for professional content creators
- Creator – solid performance, affordable price
- Workstation – best for engineering students
It’s quite obvious that MSI is primarily a gaming brand, but they do offer laptops for business professionals and content creators as well.
MSI Laptops Internal Components List and Quality
Let’s take a look at the MSI’s hardware components and find out what you can expect.
Performance
Top-shelf MSI laptops come with the best hardware components available. Going into 2023, they have already unveiled their new models powered by the 13th generation Intel Core processors (up to i9 13900HX) and NVIDIA’s 40 series graphics cards (up to RTX 4090).
Don’t expect these laptops to be cheap, but rest assured that you could run AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, RDR 2, and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla at ultra settings.
But there is more to life than playing video games, and most users don’t require the fastest laptop money can buy. Luckily for us, MSI also offers a wide range of affordable laptops that can still handle heavy tasks like programming, video editing, or 3D modeling.
What about RAM and storage? There is not much to say about this segment. MSI laptops come with various configurations, with the base being 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD storage. And the good news is you can upgrade the RAM and storage in most MSI laptops.
Display
Besides performance, the display is probably the next most important thing in a laptop. From my personal experience with MSI, I can honestly say that they have some of the best displays on the market.
MSI offers a wide range of fast refresh rate displays (up to 360Hz) with high definition (up to 4K).
What about sizes? There is plenty of variety there too. MSI offers laptops with the following screen sizes: 14″, 15.6″,. 16″, 17″, and 17.3″.
Design and Build Quality
This is a pretty subjective topic, but MSI’s their futuristic looks, cool RGB lighting bars, and backlit keyboards are widely popular with the gaming audience. If you want a laptop that stands out, you can’t go wrong with MSI.
Build quality is one of the biggest selling points for these laptops. Usually, all MSI laptops are super-tough and durable, so you don’t have to worry about cracks and scratches for many years.
Portability
Powerful gaming laptops are usually large and heavy, and MSI is no exception. Of course, there are thin and light options, but be ready to compromise on performance.
Keyboard and Trackpad
MSI’s keyboards are some of the best I’ve put my hands on and there are plenty of options with various RGB backlighting.
Premium models like the GT Titan 77 also come with the Cherry MX mechanical keyboard, which I personally recommend.
Trackpads are not the best, but they are not terrible either. Since most MSI users are gamers, getting a nice dedicated gaming mouse is a must.
Media
Most MSI laptops have decent speakers and webcams, which are okay for spoken content and conference calls.
But if you’re looking to build a streaming channel, I’d recommend getting a nice set of headphones and a webcam.
Ports
Most MSI laptops have large chassis, so there is space for plenty of ports. Rest assured that MSI’s premium models have enough ports that will make you forget all about desktops.
Price
High-quality gaming machines are expensive. With MSI ranking among the top brands, you shouldn’t expect these laptops to be cheap.
However, if we compare their GE Raider series with other premium laptops like the Alienware X series and the Razer Blade, MSI usually beats their prices.
Customer Support and Warranty
Customer support is probably the weakest link of MSI. If I’m paying top dollar on a gaming device, I’d expect a bit more attention.
Sadly, smaller companies like MSI cannot offer the same support as tech giants Dell, HP, or Apple. I’m not saying they’re terrible, but if there is something wrong with your device, you’d have to wait a little longer to get it fixed.
Innovation and Special Features in MSI Laptops
A few special features make MSI laptops unique and appealing to gamers. Here are just a few of my personal favorites:
- Per-key customizable RGB backlit keyboards
- RGB ambient lighting (sides, back, and front – depending on the model)
- MSI Dragon Center – a system that lets you manually adjust your hardware’s performance
- MSI app player – access your favorite Android games on your laptop
FAQs about MSI
In the section below, we’ve listed some of the most frequently asked questions about MSI laptops.
What is the best MSI laptop?
If we’re talking about crazy overkill performance, then the Titan GT 77 is unmatched. But I think the Raider GE series is the best overall because of pricing and portability.
However, if you’re a professional content creator, the MSI Creator Z series might be the best for you.
Are MSI laptops good for programming?
Absolutely yes. Since most MSI laptops are packed with high-end hardware components, rest assured that they are great for heavy workloads like programming.
Are MSI laptops good for business?
The short answer is yes. MSI’s latest business and productivity laptops (Modern, Summit, or Prestige series) are some of the best money can buy. But they are usually pricier than the competition.
Conclusion
To sum up, MSI is a great laptop brand. Due to its powerful performance, exceptional build quality, and exclusive features, MSI is widely trusted among gamers.
But MSI is in the business of making high-end computers, so pricing can get a bit crazy. And then there is the average customer support that cannot keep up with other top laptop brands.
On that note, if you wish to learn more about the best laptop brands at the moment, we’ve got another story for you. And if you are want a great laptop for gaming and school, we got you covered.
Now over to you, would you get an MSI laptop, and why? Let us know in the comment section below.