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The best MSI gaming laptops in 2023 are those models that offer a strong price-to-performance ratio without a sky-high price tag to go along with it. The Taiwanese manufacturer has been developing portable hardware for decades and knows a thing or two about how to make one of the best gaming laptops available.
There’s a wealth of options to choose from including budget picks to all-rounder offerings, and the absolute bleeding edge and that’s why there are many choices when it comes to the best MSI gaming laptops. Below, we’re rounding up all of our top picks to help you make a confident decision right for you. To cast a wider net, we’re also bringing you our recommendations for the best OLED gaming laptops as well as the best small gaming laptops, too.
Best MSI gaming laptops at a glance
We’re rounding up all the best MSI gaming laptops from budget picks to the higher-end offerings with a quick view so you can see what’s inside everything we’ve recommended easily.
MSI Katana 15Â (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
MSI Thin GF63 (RTX 2050)
CPU
Intel Core i5-12450H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
RAM
8GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD, 144Hz
MSI Cyborg 15 (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
64GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
MSI Stealth GS66 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 360Hz FHD
MSI Stealth 17 Studio (RTX 4090)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
RAM
64GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch QHD 240Hz
1. MSI Katana 15 – The best MSI gaming laptop overall
MSI Katana 15Â (RTX 4070)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD IPS 144Hz
- Competitive price point
- Great amount of RAM
- Huge amount of storage
- Previous generation CPU
The MSI Katana 15 takes pole position for the best MSI gaming laptop overall and that’s for its competitive price point, current-generation CPU, high amount of RAM, good internal storage, and high refresh rate display without compromise. This rig retails around the $1,500 which offers great value for money considering what’s packed into the slimline chassis here.
We rarely see gaming laptops at this price range that include this amount of storage and RAM, with the RTX 4070 being an incredible mobile GPU for high-end 1080p gaming. The one minor caveat here is the 12th Gen i7 CPU inside at a time where the 13th Gen is available instead, however, this will not result in a bottleneck of any kind.
2. MSI Thin GF63 – The best budget MSI gaming laptop
MSI Thin GF63 (RTX 2050)
CPU
Intel Core i5-12450H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
RAM
8GB DDR4
SSD
512GB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD, 144Hz
- Great CPU
- Capable video card
- Aggressive pricing
- Just 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Humble hardware inside
If you’re looking for the best budget MSI gaming laptop then the MSI Thin GF63 is hard value to argue against. Retailing at less than $700, this build includes the capable RTX 2050 GPU, a 12th Gen i5 CPU, and a high refresh rate display meaning you’ll be able to play many games at medium and high settings in 1080p.
Keep in mind that you’ll rarely be maxing anything out, nor will you really get to experiment with the likes of ray tracing, however, most games will play good on this machine at a price point that we rarely see. It’s good for both work and play and the super smooth refresh rate should be a good combination if you’re smart with your game settings.
3. MSI Cyborg 15 – The best value MSI gaming laptop
MSI Cyborg 15 (RTX 4060)
CPU
Intel Core i7-12650H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM
64GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch FHD 144Hz
- Huge amount of RAM
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Good amount of storage
- Previous generation i7 CPU
In terms of the best value for money overall, the MSI Cyborg 15 has everything you need to push 1080p gaming to its limits without breaking the bank too badly. That’s because this rig sells around the $1300 mark and includes a staggering amount of superfast DDR5 RAM and a bigger SSD than what we typically see at this price range.
What’s more, the RTX 4060 is one of the more powerful graphics cards for 1080p gaming and it means you’ll be able to play everything in high settings and even maxed out through the likes of Nvidia DLSS 3. There will be no bottleneck with this build either, with the one exception of the 12th Gen CPU released a time where the 13th Gen variant has been around a while.
4. MSI Stealth GS66 – The best MSI gaming laptop for eSports
MSI Stealth GS66 (RTX 3070 Ti)
CPU
Intel Core i9-12900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
RAM
32GB DDR5
SSD
1TB NVMe
Display
15.6-inch 360Hz FHD
- Powerful CPU and GPU combo
- Massive amount of RAM
- Superfast 360Hz display
- Previous generation CPU and GPU
If you’re someone who wants to play a lot of competitive eSports titles then you will be very satisfied with what the MSI Stealth GS66 can do for the asking price. While it’s using a previous-generation GPU, the RTX 3070 Ti, this video card features 8GB GDDR6 VRAM which is more than enough for today’s games in its native resolution of 1080p.
What really makes the MSI Stealth GS66 stand out, however, is the 360Hz refresh rate display which is barely-ever seen on a rig at the $1700 and a far cry from its original eye-watering MSRP. When playing games seriously, you’ll need every advantage you can get and this framerate is double that of what’s generally seen on most gaming laptops.
5. MSI Stealth 17 Studio – The most powerful MSI gaming laptop
MSI Stealth 17 Studio (RTX 4090)
CPU
Intel Core i9-13900H
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
RAM
64GB DDR5
SSD
2TB NVMe
Display
17.3-inch QHD 240Hz
- Leading CPU and GPU combo
- Amazing display
- All you RAM you’ll ever need
- Incredibly expensive
Should money be no object for you, the MSI Stealth 17 Studio is without question the best MSI gaming laptop from a raw hardware perspective but it comes with a price tag to match. Bundling in both the RTX 4090 GPU and the all-star 13th Gen i9 CPU, this machine can easily max out any modern game releasing in its native 1440p resolution, or thrive when being hooked up to one of the best gaming monitors.
It all comes at a cost, though, and that’s because the MSI Stealth 17 Studio sells around the $3,700 mark being one of the more expensive high-end gaming laptops available on the market today. Still, that’s still a damn sight cheaper for the hardware than some other manufacturers, so the value for money is ultimately still good all things considered.
Best MSI gaming laptops – FAQs
Still have more questions about the best MSI gaming laptops? Not to worry. We’ve put our expertise and experience together to answer some burning questions you may have on this brand’s gaming laptops.
Which MSI gaming laptop series is the best for gaming?
In terms of raw performance prowess, the MSI Stealth line happens to be the best for gaming as these current-generation models feature the best CPUs for gaming from Intel and some of the best graphics cards made by Nvidia at competitive prices.
Is MSI the best gaming laptop brand?
MSI is among the best gaming laptop brands as the Taiwanese company has gained a stellar reputation for high-quality and affordable machines when compared to its competition.
How long do MSI gaming laptops last?
Generally speaking, if you look after your MSI gaming laptop, you can expect a minimum of five years of solid performance and daily operation depending on the hardware inside of the machine.
