CES 2023 Hands-On: MSI Stealth 16 Studio, a Slim 16-Inch Powerhouse for Gamers and Creators

The market for thin-and-light gaming laptops is hyper-competitive these days, and MSI is looking to make a splash with the new-for-2023 Stealth 16 Studio. We saw the device up close and personal in a preview meeting with MSI before CES 2023. Check out our rundown of the intriguing new laptop in the video above, and read on for more.

A Still-Stealthy 16 Incher

The Stealth 16 Studio fits alongside a 14-inch version of the Stealth Studio, which we covered separately. The Stealth 16 Studio is a modern evolution of MSI’s thin-and-light design that we first saw in 2018 with the GS65 Stealth Thin. The laptop’s new 16-inch size is on trend—we’re seeing a lot of 16-inch laptops these days—and sits between more portable and super-powerful larger laptops. The display is not only roomy, but MSI is offering it in high-refresh-rate QHD+ or 4K resolution versions.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

The Stealth 16 comes in the snazzy dark blue color you see here, as well as a slick all-white model, where the lid logo will be gold instead of silver. The original Stealth came in an all-black color scheme with gold trim, and this is a clean revival of that standout style. You can see some additional flashy touches around the magnesium alloy chassis, like the Stealth name along the rear hinge and some decoration around the edges.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Living up to its name, the Stealth measures just eight-tenths of an inch thick and 4.3 pounds, which is light for a gaming machine and doubly so for any 16-inch laptop. You can definitely find thinner machines, but making laptops much slimmer beyond a certain point gets you diminishing returns, especially gaming machines that need extra thermal headroom for the GPU and CPU to power your PC games.

Top-End Power, Despite the Slim Size

Speaking of which, the MSI Stealth 16 Studio will make use of the top-end components from Intel and Nvidia that will launch in 2023. Exact details on those parts will follow later, but for a 16-inch premium laptop, you should expect parts at or near the top of the stack for high-end performance.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

There’s also an MUX switch, which allows the user to manually toggle between the dedicated GPU and integrated graphics. MUX setups also deliver superior performance by routing the GPU’s output directly to the panel instead of through the integrated graphics.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

In this low-profile machine, MSI is also including a number of supporting features to help provide a premium experience to gamers and professional content creators alike, including support for DDR5 memory and Thunderbolt 4, an RGB keyboard, a number pad, an IR full HD webcam with a shutter, six speakers, and a fingerprint scanner.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Given the Stealth 16 Studio's sharp screen and top-end power, you can see how this model is aimed at both kinds of users. Check back for our benchmark testing and a full review when units become available.