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A Critique of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Exceptional power in a genuinely small, portable design
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V is surprisingly small, yet delivers outstanding performance. In addition, it features a QHD+ 14-inch screen with a 240Hz refresh rate, one of the quickest available in a laptop.
Advantages: – Remarkable 14-inch, 240Hz screen – Exceptional performance – Expertly calibrated speakers – Sophisticated design given its power – Convenient to transport daily due to its size and weight.
Drawbacks:- Lacks an SD Card- Mediocre battery life- 720p camera is subpar for its cost- Heat regulation could be improved
Cost: Rs 1,75,890/- Score: 4 out of 5
In the realm of gaming laptops, MSI often sets itself apart from the competition. The MSI Titan GT77 models that were examined in the previous two years are unequivocally, the finest gaming laptops available, regardless of price. Nevertheless, MSI, like all other producers, often faces difficulties in creating a comprehensive gaming laptop that is also portable. This isn't the case if you consider their Stealth series.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V, as implied by its name, isn't exclusively for dedicated gamers, but also caters to professional content creators who need high-level performance anytime, anywhere. The Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive laptop that boasts both aesthetics and functionality. Its sleek and fashionable design, combined with its impressive power, makes it an ideal choice for home or office use. Additionally, it's exceptional for producing content such as videos or art pieces, and it's equally brilliant for gaming.
The combination of the Intel Core i7 13700H and NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 laptop GPU results in a high-performance machine that significantly outperforms its rivals. Additionally, it features a sophisticated QHD+ IPS display with a high refresh rate of 240Hz.
After taking all these into consideration, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is essentially a gaming laptop and does come with some of the limitations typically seen in high-performance portable devices. However, does this in any way diminish the appeal of this high-powered machine? Let's find out.
Review of MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Structure and DesignThe design of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is straightforward and uncomplicated, which I find appealing. This gaming laptop has a minimalistic look that I find very attractive. I personally don't like an excessive amount of RGB lighting on my laptop. If you share my preferences, you'll likely enjoy the subtle design of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio showcases a stylish layout, highlighted by a white cover adorned with the MSI dragon symbol, set on a magnesium-aluminium alloy frame. The lower portion of the laptop matches the white top, whereas the inside has an impressive semi-glossy black finish. Upon lifting the cover, you will see the black Chiclet-style keys, accented with white lettering and individual key RGB illumination.
The layout and RGB arrangement don't loudly declare "gaming," allowing for its smooth usage in business environments without drawing unnecessary attention. Nevertheless, there are subtle hints of RGB illumination scattered around, but MSI has managed to maintain a harmonious equilibrium.
At the rear of the laptop, near the display hinges, you'll find a completely black grill designed for cooling and RGB lighting that labels it as a Stealth 14. You may also spot gentle shades of pink and blue RGB colors at the back corners. MSI refers to this as the Afterburner Lighting, which is incorporated into the back grill. The grill also displays the word "Stealth," made visible by the RGB lights. Despite the irony, it's an impressive design element that confirms, this is indeed a gaming device.
In terms of construction, the Stealth 14 Studio is incredibly sturdy, akin to a tank. With dimensions of 12.4 x 9.69 x 0.75 inches and a weight of approximately 1.7 kg, the Stealth 14 Studio is small and easy to carry because of its magnesium-aluminium alloy frame.
The lightness of its metallic construction makes it easy to transport in a laptop bag without it being a burden. Its stylish design, along with a contrast between its outside and inside, garners attention whether you're stationed at a coffee shop or on the move.
The Stealth 14 has a variety of ports and I/O to meet the demands of many users. On its right, it has a 3.5mm combined audio jack, a USB Type-A port, and a Thunderbolt 4 port. The left side houses a USB Type-C port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an AC power port. It also has air vents on both sides for cooling. However, it lacks a card slot or a MicroSD Card slot, which might be a drawback for gamers and content creators in particular.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V Review focuses on its keyboard and trackpad. Given its slim design, it's no surprise that the keyboard is fairly compact. Fresh from the packaging, the keyboard's RGB lighting is in Disco Mode, which could be a bit too showy for some. However, users can modify the RGB backlighting for each key to their preference with the provided SteelSeries GG application. This software streamlines the creation and management of custom profiles, making it a breeze to change the atmosphere of your gaming and streaming setup.
Regarding the keyboard, the keys are adequately large and properly spaced, providing fairly pleasing feedback with responsive key switches. Though it might require some adjustment, typing becomes pleasurable once you familiarize yourself with it. Regrettably, there's a visible flex in the keyboard, which detracts from the high-end feel of the laptop. Also, the standard color setting of the RGB lighting isn't very sophisticated – it appears somewhat tacky and inexpensive. Furthermore, MSI could have opted for somewhat brighter RGB lights for the keys, with less intense colors.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V, while intended as a gaming laptop, impresses with its fairly large touchpad. It is situated on the left side to facilitate easy typing, providing additional room on the right side. The touchpad yields exact tracking and sensitivity, making it straightforward and accurate to operate. Although it's apt for day-to-day activities, those who use it for gaming may prefer an external mouse, thus addressing any small touchpad issues.
Review of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Evaluating the Webcam and SpeakersThe webcam quality of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio leaves much to be desired. It falls short in comparison to other Windows laptops within the same price bracket, primarily due to its 720p/30FPS webcam. The quality of the image is a letdown, considering the cost of the laptop. Even in well-illuminated situations, there is observable noise. For video conferencing, it will be just passable, provided that the lighting is fairly good.
Nonetheless, it comes with a privacy cover, providing reassurance against unintentional triggers while on video chats. The microphone configuration, positively, produces distinct and evenly distributed sound.
In terms of audio, the sound system, fine-tuned by Dynaudio, significantly improves the overall sound quality. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is compatible with SteelSeries' Nahimic audio software, which provides features comparable to DTS-X audio and Dolby Atmos. Users have the ability to customize spatial audio and presets according to their liking, with choices such as Music, Movie, Communication, and Gaming presets. Additionally, the Smart Profile function automatically adjusts the audio to suit certain tasks, giving users more opportunities to personalize their settings.
Ultimately, the speakers generate a full-bodied sound characterized by profound depth, robust bass, and satisfactory treble for a harmonious output. They have the capacity to reach high volumes without compromising sound quality, being able to adequately fill a room without requiring the volume to be at its maximum level.
Review of MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Screen Analysis
The 14-inch screen of the Stealth 14 Studio model we tested appears bigger than its actual size due to its 16:10 aspect ratio. It features a crystal clear, QHD+ resolution of 2560X1600. Although it may not have the same level of sharpness found in 4K panels typical of top-tier professional laptops, it is still sufficiently sharp for mobile tasks and static media work, most notably gaming.
When it comes to gaming, the standout feature of the display is its remarkable 240Hz refresh rate. There are only a few gaming laptops currently available that provide such advanced refresh rates. This superior rate promises that the visuals on the MSI Stealth 14 Studio are seamless, devoid of tearing or any other disturbances. Truly, engaging in a high-speed game, such as Valorant, feels quite smooth and delivers an amazing gaming experience.
Since this is an IPS display, it doesn't offer the deep blacks and intensity of colours. However, the colours still maintain decent quality, enough for one to enjoy their preferred OTT show. This is due to the display's comprehensive coverage of the DCI-P3 colour range, which guarantees vibrant and precise colours throughout the spectrum. Even though we hoped for HDR or Dolby Vision compatibility, the display's clarity and precision deserve praise.
The peak brightness of nearly 450 nits ensures outstanding visibility inside. Furthermore, the screen can still be seen clearly outside when the brightness level is at its maximum, preventing the need for me to squint under the sunlight.
The viewing angles are quite impressive as colors typically maintain their brightness even when viewed from unusual angles. The laptop also comes with MSI True Color, which enables users to adjust and calibrate the display according to their liking. There are approximately seven modes to select from, along with extra settings for more detailed adjustments.
The screen has excellent capabilities but will require you to refine your settings. Once you've made these adjustments, both media viewing and gaming become highly pleasurable. The display is generally precise and vivid and can be utilized for most professional editing tasks. While it allows color grading of videos and color correction of photos, it's necessary to properly set up and calibrate the display.
Review of MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Efficiency
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V comes with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H Processor that can accelerate up to 5 GHz. It features 6 Performance cores and 8 Efficiency cores, leading to a total of 14 cores and 24M Cache. When combined with a dual-channel setup of 16GB DDR5 RAM operating at 5200 MT/s, the laptop offers remarkable efficiency.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU manages the graphics, functioning at 2250Mhz and equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 Memory along with a 128-bit bus. These features guarantee that the Stealth 14 Studio stands out in terms of performance, particularly when taking its cost into account.
The i7-13700H processor shines in multiple simulated benchmarks, maintaining a harmony between high-demand tasks and daily uses, particularly standing out in single-threaded performances due to its maximum boost clock of 5GHz.
While performance ratings provide some understanding, actual usage gives a more definitive view. When it comes to gaming, the Stealth 14 Studio functions impressively, presenting one of the finest experiences for its cost. Evaluations were carried out in Discrete Graphics Mode, with power and performance options at their peak. Games operated seamlessly at a resolution of 1920×1200 and the maximum possible settings, frequently providing superior frame rates without noticeable lagging or major declines.
We carried out video game trials using games such as Forza Horizon 5, GTA 5, Control, F1 2022, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Valorant, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The outcomes aligned with our artificial benchmarks. These tests were done in performance mode with the laptop connected to a power source.
In the game Shadow of The Tomb Raider, we managed to reach an average of 133 frames per second. Forza Horizon 5 operated at an average speed of 139 frames per second. Grand Theft Auto 5 consistently ran at an average of 160 frames per second. In F1 2022, we observed an average frame rate of 122. High-speed multiplayer games such as CS: GO and Valorant registered average frame rates of 315 and 280 respectively.
The Stealth 14 Studio's hardware capabilities are quite impressive, as indicated by these figures. Users can attain even better frame rates by making minor adjustments like choosing high graphics over ultra or turning off antialiasing. This can be done without sacrificing much of the visual quality.
Discussing the thermal management of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, it performs akin to any top-tier gaming laptop equipped with powerful components. The keyboard, particularly in the upper region, tends to heat up during intense gaming and benchmarking sessions. However, the Stealth 14 Studio features a smartly designed ventilation system.
The chassis of the laptop has two exhaust ports on its sides and an extra one at the rear, behind the pivot point. A sizable intake vent is situated at the laptop's bottom for airflow. Moreover, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V employs a Vapor Chamber, greatly enhancing the laptop's ability to disperse heat.
Additionally, the MSI Centre provides options for various performance stages and fan velocities. In our synthetic and gaming tests, we cranked up the fans to their maximum capacity with the Cooler Boost mode, ensuring the heat stayed within the expected boundaries for the Intel i7 13700H & RTX 4060 setup. The fans can become quite noisy, but it shouldn't be a problem if you have headphones on.
Overall, the Stealth 14 Studio is an incredibly powerful device that performs as strongly as one would expect. It possesses significant power and delivers an impressive performance, particularly when you take into account the laptop's size.
Review of MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: Battery Performance
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V is equipped with a 72W 4-cell battery and a substantial 240W charger. Despite having a high-performing GPU and a quick CPU, typical of gaming laptops, its battery performance is commendable. This is primarily due to its ability to efficiently manage the GPU usage, alternating between Intel's built-in GPU and the RTX 4060 as required. However, if the laptop operates entirely on the separate graphics, it notably drains the battery life.
In the course of a typical workday with extensive writing, photo editing, a considerable amount of browsing, and substantial content viewing on YouTube and Netflix, the battery lasted around 4-5 hours at roughly 60% screen brightness, which is fairly good. When we repeated these tests and usage patterns, but with only discrete graphics, the battery barely made it past 3 hours.
Fortunately, the package includes a 240W charger, ensuring that the device can always be powered. However, it's worth noting that if the laptop's battery is completely drained, it will take the charger more than an hour to fully recharge it.
Review Summary for MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V: The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V perfectly combines power, mobility, and productivity.
The laptop performs exceptionally well in several areas, although it does have a few significant shortcomings. It would have been preferable to have enhanced HDR support and an improved webcam. Also, it's unusual for a laptop, primarily aimed at content creators who depend on these features, not to have an SD card slot. Notwithstanding these deficiencies, the superior performance of the laptop makes up for most of them.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V, in the version we examined, demonstrated excellent performance for both gamers and mobile content makers. We didn't experience any frame dropping or screen tearing, and smoothly navigated through 4K timelines while editing videos. Throughout our evaluation, we were thoroughly satisfied with its computational capacity and didn't feel the need for any additional power.
This laptop stands out due to its outstanding performance packed into a genuinely compact size. While enhanced battery longevity and superior heat control would be appreciated, the undeniable strength provided by the Intel i7 13700H CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU cannot be ignored.
Certainly, there exist alternatives that may be marginally superior and more affordable, particularly if you're open to a size bigger than the 14-inch display. But, if you're on the hunt for a 14-inch screen feature that provides a 240Hz refresh rate with a resolution exceeding 1080P, and one that delivers all the power you could ever require, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio A13V is your best bet.
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