We had a hands-on opportunity with the latest offering from MSI – the stunning MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport. This laptop is the outcome of an extraordinary collaboration between Mercedes-AMG and MSI, promising an unparalleled luxury gaming experience.
The collaborative design elegantly fuses the understated sophistication of Mercedes-Benz with eye-catching accents that embody both AMG’s high-performance ethos and the dynamic essence of MSI. Rooted in performance, technology, and craftsmanship, Mercedes-AMG embodies the ethos of “Changing the Game,” while MSI has consistently been dedicated to pioneering innovations that elevate the gaming experience.
Although we were unable to conduct benchmark tests on this pre-production model, it’s worth noting that the official production model is now available. It can be configured with impressive specifications, including an Intel Core i9-13900H 2.6GHz processor, a 16″ UHD+ (3840×2400) 16:10 OLED panel, an RTX 4070 GPU, up to 64GB of DDR 5200MHz RAM, and a maximum of 2TB NVMe SSD Gen4x4 storage.
Packaging
The laptop arrived in a luxurious all-black packaging co-branded with MSI and Mercedes-AMG. The extravagant packaging opens into folded carboard box which holds the laptop securely. Also included in the packaging are co-branded 128GB USB Drive, mouse, mousepad, postcards and a pouch.
The packaging also includes a co-branded 128GB USB Drive, a mouse, a mousepad, postcards, and a pouch, all thoughtfully arranged within the bundle. Every component is not only well-packaged but also reflects the collaborative branding, down to the details like the charger cable ties and the rubber feet featuring elements from both brands.
Design
The laptop boasts an elegant metal gray-textured finish referred to by MSI as “Selenite Gray.” Constructed from Magnesium-Aluminium Alloy, the chassis and lid are well built and displays quality craftsmanship. Opening the lid with a single hand is effortless due to the sturdy base. Despite its 16-inch display, the laptop is surprisingly lightweight, tipping the scales at just under 2 kilograms.
Positioned at the top, the camera features a webcam shutter that can be manually flipped to deactivate the camera. Cooling vents are thoughtfully placed on both sides of the keyboard as well as at the rear.
Above the keyboard, speaker cutouts mimic the distinctive AMG logo, a design element also found on the base’s lower left and right sides.
The full-size keyboard features immersive per-key RGB lighting effects, powered by the SteelSeries Per-key RGB gaming keyboard. Customizable through the SteelSeries Engine app, the keyboard’s first function key row is slightly reduced in size, enabling easy adjustments to screen brightness, keyboard lighting, fan settings, and more. There is also a dedicated numpad on the right, although smaller in size than a standard numpad. Typing is quiet and comfortable, with the backlit keyboard proving helpful in dim environments.
Notably, the power key is labeled “Start Engine,” a subtle nod to the overall design. Additionally, the AMG logo makes appearances on the webcam panel and the spacebar.
The touchpad is wider than standard and has a fingerprint reader to the right, which can be used as an alternative to the IR camera for Windows Hello. The touchpad surface offers smooth gliding for fingers, while gestures are accurately and promptly recognized. In fact, this trackpad ranks among the best we’ve used on a Windows laptop.
There are plenty of ports on the Stealth 16 and all of them are located on the left and right side of the laptop. The left side houses USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C / DP port, a microSD Card Reader, an HDMI 2.1 port (supporting 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz), and an Ethernet port.
On the right, you’ll find a a DC-in port, a USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port, Thunderbolt 4 (with PD Charging), and an audio combo jack.
Finally, audio is powered by a 6-speaker sound system by Dynamic audio.
Final Thoughts
The MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport laptop embodies a remarkable collaboration that brings together the best of luxury and performance craftsmanship.
The thoughtfully designed details shine throughout – from the easily accessible webcam shutter to the well-placed cooling vents. The AMG-inspired speaker cutouts and per-key RGB lighting effects add a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetics. The keyboard, featuring the SteelSeries Per-key RGB gaming keyboard, delivers a satisfying typing experience.
While benchmark tests weren’t possible on the pre-production model, the configurations of the official production version – including the Intel Core i9-13900H processor, 16-inch UHD+ OLED panel, RTX 4070 GPU, and up to 64GB DDR 5200MHz RAM – suggest formidable performance.
While we couldn’t spot any issues with the sample, we will be looking forward to test the production model for a full review. This could turn out to be one of the best laptops of 2023.
The MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Gaming Laptop has showcased several impressive features that caught our attention:
- Remarkable lightweight design considering its size
- Sturdy Magnesium-Alloy chassis
- Outstanding SteelSeries Keyboard
- Immersive 6-Speaker Sound System by Dynaudio
- Stunning OLED display with its 16:10 aspect ratio
- Exemplary attention to detail throughout
Stay tuned for our full review of the MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Gaming Laptop.
* Since this was a pre-production model, we couldn’t run benchmarks on this laptop. But do check back soon for updates.
