First Look: MSI Unravels an Arsenal of AMD-Powered AI Laptops (2024)

For Computex 2024, MSI has teamed up with AMD to produce a quartet of new Ryzen-powered AI laptops that combine 16-inch chassis and premium features with Windows Copilot capabilities and expanded AI smarts.

These laptops, aimed at everything from gaming and content creation to productivity and professional use, share a family resemblance. They're all 16-inch systems, and they all come packing AMD's new Ryzen 9 AI 300-series processors. There's some combination of AI features, whether it's Windows Copilot, MSI's homegrown AI tools, or an extra bonus of Nvidia-powered acceleration.

We had some brief hands-on time with some of these systems before they were announced at Computex, but we're still waiting on some details and will need to test them when they arrive later this year.

(Credit: MSI)

Before we dive into each model, here's a quick breakdown of what does what:

• MSI Stealth A16 AI+ is made for gaming and content creation

• MSI Creator A16 AI+ is made for content professionals

• MSI Summit A16 AI+ is made for business users who prize portability

• MSI Prestige A16 AI+ is made for professionals who want an OLED display

Armed with AMD Ryzen 9 and Ryzen 9 HX AI processors, these systems can be configured with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB or more of storage, promising the best AI+ PCs we've seen.

Let's look at each one individually.

The Gamer: MSI Stealth A16 AI+ A3XV/A3HV

Designed for gamers and content creators, the Stealth A16 AI+ A3XV/A3HV drives high performance for gaming and creative applications due to its powerful processor and graphics capabilities.

(Credit: John Burek)

Configurable with up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU, this update to MSI's excellent gaming laptop (we reviewed the 14-inch version last year) is already positioned to deliver power for everything from AAA games to photo and video editing.

MSI designed the Stealth A16 AI+ with a sleek and lightweight magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis, making it a portable powerhouse for gaming and content creation on the go. At 4.63 pounds, it's not the lightest 16-inch laptop around, but you'll still be able to pack it anywhere you want to go.

This gaming laptop has a 16-inch QHD+ display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, providing a smooth and vibrant visual experience for gaming and creative work.

(Credit: John Burek)

In addition to the high-octane AMD and Nvidia hardware inside, MSI has its updated Cooler Boost 5 cooling system. This system uses a shared-pipe design for better temperature control and is paired with AI-controlled tuning to balance thermal management and concerns about power use and noise.

The Stealth also has a SteelSeries keyboard with a per-key RGB backlight. Individual key lighting makes it easy to customize your keyboard, highlighting certain letters for commands or using built-in profiles and effects to add some extra pizzazz to your gaming rig. That's not new for MSI (we've quite liked it in the past), but what is new is the Windows Copilot button, which lets you fire up Microsoft's AI assistant and features with a single tap.

(Credit: John Burek)

Powering it all is a 99.9-watt-hour battery—the largest allowed on a commercial flight and, thus, the upper limit of what you can get in any commercial laptop. With that much battery, you may actually be able to use it for gaming or content work when it's not plugged in, but we'd recommend bringing the power adapter along anyway.

The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ gaming laptop, which will be available in a standard model for $1,999, features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 470 laptop GPU. We have no word yet on when it will be available for order.

The Artist: MSI Creator A16 AI+

MSI's Creator A16 AI+ is a similar machine but geared toward content creators and professionals. With the addition of a touch screen and pen support, it's designed for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and other creative workloads, with a level of artistic control that even the powerful MSI Stealth A16 can't match. With support for the MSI Pen 2, the Creator A16 enables natural drawing, sketching, and notetaking, which graphic artists will appreciate.

The two look quite similar, with a lightweight magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis and a 16-inch QHD+ display, though the Creator has a 165Hz refresh rate that's less suited to gaming and better for working with video editing.

Like the Stealth, the Creator A16 AI+ is likely equipped withRTX 40 series graphics, delivering top-tier AI computing power and advanced features for creative applications.

MSI isn't sharing as much information about the Creator A16—no word on pricing or availability—but given the similarity to the Stealth A16, this is one AI laptop we'll be looking forward to reviewing.

The Professional: MSI Summit A16 AI+ A3HM

The next model may not have flashy RGB keys or magnesium alloy construction, but the Summit A16 AI+ A3HM is a business laptop designed for professionals who prioritize mobility and productivity. It really stands out thanks to a 360-degree hinge, a touch screen for tablet use, and pen support for easy note-taking.

(Credit: John Burek)

MSI fitted the laptop with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor with integrated Radeon 870M Graphics, made to deliver superb office productivity without the extra horsepower needed for gaming or video work. Paired with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, this machine will deliver smooth multitasking and efficient performance.

The 16-inch display seems to be the same IPS QHD+ touch-screen display seen on the MSI Creator A16, with a 165Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. The touch-screen functionality and support for the MSI Pen 2 make it useful for creative tasks.

(Credit: John Burek)

Without the need to power a dedicated GPU, the laptop slims down to an 80.25 WHr battery, cutting weight for portability without losing all-day battery life for on-the-go use.

However, the major element for professional users will be security. The laptop includes enterprise-grade security features like TPM 2.0, meets Windows Secure Core standards, Windows Hello for securely logging in with face or fingerprint, and a webcam shutter to block the webcam when not in use.

The MSI Summit A16 AI+, outfitted with an AMD CPU and Radeon graphics, will start at $1,699. Retail availability has not yet been announced.

The Executive: MSI Prestige A16 AI+ A3HMG

Last but not least, we have the MSI Prestige A16, which looks to deliver a more well-rounded laptop for business users. It swaps the IPS display for a 16-inch UHD+ OLED screen with vibrant colors and deep blacks. Armed with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and Radeon graphics, the laptop can be equipped with up to 32GB of memory.

(Credit: John Burek)

The Prestige also ramps up the storage, with configurations up to 2TB, doubling what's offered on the other models discussed here. The webcam is also better than most, with a 5MP camera coming standard.

(Credit: John Burek)

All of that is on top of the ultra-light design that weighs just 4.18 pounds, an 82Wh battery, and advanced Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. We don't know exactly when it will be on store shelves, but the MSI Prestige A16 AI+ laptop will cost $1,599.