MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport laptop in review: Mobile racing car with OLED display
While the 'standard' Stealth 16 features a Core i7-13700H, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport model steps up with the slightly faster Core i9-13900H. In place of the matte QHD+ IPS panel running at 240 Hz, the Motorsport Edition boasts a glossy UHD+ OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate. The graphics card (RTX 4070), RAM (2x 16 GB DDR5), and SSD capacity (2 TB) remain identical to the top model. Given that the casing, input devices, and connections are the same, with only a few optical details setting them apart, we won't revisit specific categories in this article. You can refer to the relevant information in the review of the Stealth 16 Studio. The Motorsport Edition is currently priced at $2,899, a notable investment for an RTX 4070 notebook.
The competitors for the Stealth 16 include other 16-inch gaming laptops featuring the RTX 4070, such as the HP Omen Transcend 16, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8, and the Schenker laptops XMG Pro 16 Studio and XMG Core 16. These models are listed in the tables for comparison
Potential Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89.1 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2023 | MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 1.9 kg | 20 mm | 16.00" | 3840x2400 | |
| 88.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2023 | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG i7-13700H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 2 kg | 19.95 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 87.9 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2023 | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 2.6 kg | 19.9 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 87.9 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2023 | HP Omen Transcend 16 i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 2.3 kg | 19.8 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 88.4 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2023 | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 R7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 2.5 kg | 26.8 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 | |
| 89.2 % v7 (old) | 10 / 2023 | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) R7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | 2.4 kg | 26.1 mm | 16.00" | 2560x1600 |
Case
MSI has invested significant effort in the visual design of the special edition, incorporating references to the automotive manufacturer throughout the case. These include various AMG lettering placements (lid, front, display frame, ventilation grille, base), as well as other design elements reminiscent of motorsport. Examples include a flag-like design on the webcam bar, the space key, and the rubber feet, along with a power button featuring the text 'Start Engine.
Connectivity
In terms of equipment, the lavish scope of delivery is particularly noteworthy. Alongside the notebook and the 240-watt power supply unit, the Mercedes version includes a mouse, a mouse pad, a USB stick, and an accessory bag.
SD Card Reader
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average of class Gaming (20 - 210, n=67, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average of class Gaming (25.8 - 261, n=64, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
Communication
Webcam
Display
As mentioned earlier, the special edition features an OLED panel that delivers an extremely sharp picture, thanks to its high resolution of 3,840 x 2,400 pixels in a 16:10 format.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 96 %
Center on Battery: 382 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE ColorChecker Calman: 0.84 | ∀{0.5-29.43 Ø4.79}
calibrated: 0.8
ΔE Greyscale Calman: 1.3 | ∀{0.09-98 Ø5}
88.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 3D)
99.9% sRGB (Argyll 3D)
99.2% Display P3 (Argyll 3D)
Gamma: 2.166
CCT: 6550 K
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG ATNA60YV09-0 (SDC4191), OLED, 3840x2400, 16" | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG AUO26A9, IPS, 2560x1600, 16" | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) BOE CQ NE160QDM-NZ1, IPS, 2560x1600, 16" | HP Omen Transcend 16 AUOA3A6, Mini-LED, 2560x1600, 16" | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 CSOT T3 MNG007DA1-Q, IPS, 2560x1600, 16" | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) BOE0AF0 (), IPS, 2560x1600, 16" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -2% | -18% | -0% | -16% | -18% | |
| Display P3 Coverage (%) | 99.2 | 96.4 -3% | 69.4 -30% | 99.2 0% | 70.4 -29% | 68.3 -31% |
| sRGB Coverage (%) | 99.9 | 99.7 0% | 98.2 -2% | 100 0% | 99.6 0% | 98.6 -1% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage (%) | 88.4 | 84.8 -4% | 70.1 -21% | 87.6 -1% | 72.6 -18% | 69.6 -21% |
| Response Times | -280% | -628% | -1955% | -513% | -615% | |
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * (ms) | 1.5 ? | 4.4 ? -193% | 12.2 ? -713% | 26.4 ? -1660% | 7 ? -367% | 13.2 ? -780% |
| Response Time Black / White * (ms) | 1.2 ? | 5.6 ? -367% | 7.7 ? -542% | 28.2 ? -2250% | 9.1 ? -658% | 6.6 ? -450% |
| PWM Frequency (Hz) | 60 ? | 3506 ? | ||||
| Screen | -127% | -74% | -120% | 2% | -75% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 382 | 424 11% | 349 -9% | 791.1 107% | 355.3 -7% | 376 -2% |
| Brightness (cd/m²) | 383 | 411 7% | 348 -9% | 800 109% | 340 -11% | 358 -7% |
| Brightness Distribution (%) | 96 | 88 -8% | 93 -3% | 95 -1% | 91 -5% | 88 -8% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | 0.37 | 0.32 | 0.04 | 0.32 | 0.33 | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 0.84 | 3.04 -262% | 1.98 -136% | 4.37 -420% | 1.13 -35% | 2.74 -226% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.39 | 7.5 -121% | 7.56 -123% | 10.39 -206% | 2.78 18% | 6.78 -100% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 0.8 | 3.04 -280% | 1.45 -81% | 1.04 -30% | 0.32 60% | 0.88 -10% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 1.3 | 4.34 -234% | 3.3 -154% | 6.5 -400% | 1.4 -8% | 3.57 -175% |
| Gamma | 2.166 102% | 2.32 95% | 2.137 103% | 2.28 96% | 2.24 98% | 2.4 92% |
| CCT | 6550 99% | 6952 93% | 6672 97% | 6000 108% | 6372 102% | 7246 90% |
| Contrast (:1) | 1146 | 1091 | 19778 | 1110 | 1139 | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -136% /
-121% | -240% /
-152% | -692% /
-396% | -176% /
-88% | -236% /
-151% |
* ... smaller is better
The screen also delivers a good to very good performance in various aspects. With almost 100% coverage of sRGB or DCI-P3 and 88% coverage of AdobeRGB, it excels in color space. Additionally, the color accuracy is first-class, eliminating the need for calibration, unlike some competitors. The display's outstanding black level, nearly 0.0 cd/m², contributes to an impressive contrast characteristic of OLEDs, surpassing traditional IPS panels. The same superiority extends to viewing angle stability and response time, making OLED notebooks the current reference in these aspects.
Nevertheless, buyers need to contend with the typical drawbacks, including low frequency and flickering. The display flickers at 60 Hz below 90% brightness and at 240 Hz below 50%. These values may pose issues for individuals sensitive to such factors.
The glossy surface, occasionally causing significant reflections, may be a concern for many users in daily use. Despite a respectable average brightness of 383 cd/m², the Stealth 16's suitability for outdoor or well-lit environments is somewhat limited.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.6 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.6 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 5 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.3 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 1.5 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 0.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 0.7 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 6 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (31.7 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 60 Hz | ≤ 90 % brightness setting |   |
The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8156 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance
With only 8 GB of VRAM for the GeForce RTX 4070, which was considered outdated in this price segment upon release, the 16-incher falls into the upper mid-range, particularly in terms of GPU performance. Its CPU performance is top-tier, the Stealth 16 is right at the top, and the ample RAM and SSD configuration should offer sufficient reserves for most users.
Testing Conditions
The pre-installed MSI Center offers various operating modes, ranging from Eco to Sport. All measurements were conducted in Smart Auto mode, where the system automatically adjusts settings. Graphics switching (MSHybrid) was activated by default.
| Sport | Comfort | Silent | Eco | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance (Witcher 3, FHD/Ultra) | 120 fps | 110 fps | 90 fps | 90 fps |
| Noise (Witcher 3, FHD/Ultra) | 49 dB(A) | 45 dB(A) | 36 dB(A) | 34 dB(A) |
| Power Limit 1 (HWInfo) | 100 w | 45 w | 25 w | 15 w |
| Power Limit 2 (HWInfo) | 160 w | 45 w | 45 w | 15 w |
Processor
The upgrade from the i7-13700H to the i9-13900H in our CPU tests showed marginal performance improvement. Benchmark results remained similar to the standard version. During the Cinebench loop, there were two temporary drops, unlike the competition. The Core i9-13900H is a powerful but energy-hungry high-end chip with 6 performance cores featuring Hyper-Threading and 8 efficiency cores without HT (20 threads in total).
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
| Performance rating | |
| Average of class Gaming | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H | |
| AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average of class Gaming (7192 - 85542, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (6788 - 19557, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
| Average of class Gaming (35040 - 252486, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (22551 - 95579, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (1728 - 10389, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (2491 - 4270, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (50699 - 200651, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (65121 - 120936, n=25) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average of class Gaming (5020 - 33636, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (6108 - 11631, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
| Average of class Gaming (17585 - 134044, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (11283 - 48474, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (19065 - 247074, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (3691 - 149377, n=25) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (373 - 2531, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (789 - 1254, n=25) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average of class Gaming (3856 - 45446, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (3655 - 10716, n=25) | |
| AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average of class Gaming (10805 - 62916, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (10871 - 50488, n=25) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
System Performance
Despite housing very fast components, the system performance of the Stealth 16 ranks second to last in the comparison field, just ahead of the standard Studio version. The differences are minor, and in practical usage, users are unlikely to notice significant distinctions.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
| PCMark 10 / Score | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (5776 - 9852, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (5855 - 8538, n=8) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (8835 - 11940, n=8) | |
| Average of class Gaming (8840 - 12600, n=123, last 2 years) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (7967 - 10991, n=8) | |
| Average of class Gaming (6662 - 14612, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
| Average of class Gaming (7440 - 19351, n=119, last 2 years) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (7738 - 13575, n=8) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| CrossMark / Overall | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average of class Gaming (1247 - 2344, n=114, last 2 years) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (1104 - 1974, n=7) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| CrossMark / Productivity | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average of class Gaming (1299 - 2211, n=114, last 2 years) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (1058 - 1914, n=7) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| CrossMark / Creativity | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average of class Gaming (1275 - 2729, n=114, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (1178 - 2254, n=7) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Average of class Gaming (1030 - 2330, n=114, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (1037 - 1952, n=7) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 7334 points | |
Help | ||
| AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Average of class Gaming (21750 - 104987, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (37448 - 74486, n=25) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Average of class Gaming (22956 - 104349, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (41599 - 75433, n=25) | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average of class Gaming (22297 - 133486, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (36152 - 88505, n=25) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
| Average of class Gaming (59.5 - 259, n=140, last 2 years) | |
| Average Intel Core i9-13900H (75.8 - 102.3, n=25) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
* ... smaller is better
DPC Latency
MSI could improve latency in the Stealth 16. As delivered, the LatencyMon indicates potential disruptions in real-time audio and video processing. This phenomenon affects many notebooks, though.
| DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| HP Omen Transcend 16 | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
* ... smaller is better
Storage Devices
The 2 TB Samsung SSD (model PM9A1) in the test device initially performed well but experienced severe performance drops, or throttling, under prolonged load. Unfortunately, MSI has not yet addressed this issue, similar to the standard Stealth 16. Most of the competition performs better in this regard, with the exception of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5.
* ... smaller is better
Continuous power read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
Despite the GPU's TGP of 105 watts, the performance of the RTX 4070 in the Stealth 16 aligns with the average for this graphics card.
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 99001 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 52847 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 22419 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 11694 points | |
Help | ||
* ... smaller is better
Gaming Performance
As the OLED display does not support a classic UHD resolution (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), we used a maximum of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels for the gaming benchmarks. Going higher often overtaxes the RTX 4070, especially at higher settings, as evident from the GPU page. Nevertheless, the Stealth 16 performs admirably in QHD, fully utilizing the 60 Hz capability of the OLED panel in most titles, except for demanding and less-optimized ones like Alan Wake 2.
| GTA V | |
| 2560x1440 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x | |
| Average of class Gaming (36.9 - 183.9, n=97, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (36.9 - 102.2, n=51) | |
| 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x | |
| Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) | |
| Average of class Gaming (12.1 - 186.9, n=128, last 2 years) | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG | |
| Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (48.3 - 141.6, n=63) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Counter-Strike 2 - 2560x1440 Very High Preset | |
| Average of class Gaming (15.7 - 224, n=8, last 2 years) | |
| XMG Pro 15 E23 | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (87.9 - 100.6, n=2) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| Alan Wake 2 - 2560x1440 High Preset | |
| Average of class Gaming (22.5 - 93.1, n=41, last 2 years) | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (40.2 - 44.5, n=7) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
| XMG Pro 15 E23 | |
| EA Sports WRC - 2560x1440 Ultra Preset AA:Epic AF:16x | |
| Average of class Gaming (59.6 - 97.9, n=2, last 2 years) | |
| XMG Pro 15 E23 | |
| Average NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (59.6 - 68.8, n=3) | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG | |
During a 60-minute test of The Witcher 3 at FHD/Ultra settings, there were no frame rate drops, but the speed dropped by almost 10% over the course of the test.
Witcher 3 FPS chart
| low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTA V (2015) | 176 | 164.9 | 100.3 | 87.6 | |
| The Witcher 3 (2015) | 317 | 205 | 110 | 77.7 | |
| Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 178.3 | 144.5 | 135.9 | 126.9 | |
| Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 138 | 101.4 | 74.1 | ||
| X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 144.7 | 118.1 | 98 | ||
| Strange Brigade (2018) | 276 | 220 | 190.6 | 126.3 | |
| Counter-Strike 2 (2023) | 160.2 | 151.5 | 121.5 | 87.9 | |
| Alan Wake 2 (2023) | 66.9 | 65.1 | 42.3 | ||
| EA Sports WRC (2023) | 90.6 | 85 | 77.1 | 59.6 |
Emissions
System Noise
While the idle noise level is similar to the standard Stealth 16, the Motorsport Edition is slightly louder under load. However, compared to the competition, the measured values remain within reasonable limits, with the HP Omen Transcend 16 being more noticeable in 3D mode.
Noise level
| Idle |
| 25 / 26 / 27 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 39 / 51 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25 dB(A) | ||
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG i7-13700H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | HP Omen Transcend 16 i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 R7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) R7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | 6% | -8% | -10% | 5% | -0% | |
| off / environment * (dB) | 25 | 24 4% | 25 -0% | 22.9 8% | 23.2 7% | 23 8% |
| Idle Minimum * (dB) | 25 | 24 4% | 26 -4% | 29.1 -16% | 23.2 7% | 23 8% |
| Idle Average * (dB) | 26 | 24 8% | 29 -12% | 29.1 -12% | 23.2 11% | 28.48 -10% |
| Idle Maximum * (dB) | 27 | 24 11% | 34 -26% | 29.1 -8% | 26.2 3% | 28.48 -5% |
| Load Average * (dB) | 39 | 34.81 11% | 43 -10% | 45.7 -17% | 31.4 19% | 30 23% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * (dB) | 45 | 44.05 2% | 48 -7% | 54.3 -21% | 48.4 -8% | 54.12 -20% |
| Load Maximum * (dB) | 51 | 51.57 -1% | 48 6% | 54.3 -6% | 53.8 -5% | 54.12 -6% |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The temperatures are in the mid-range, with a maximum of 120.2 °F on the top and 125.6 °F on the bottom. While these are not low, they are still reasonably acceptable for the installed hardware, especially since the palm area remains pleasantly cool.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 49 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 40.5 °C / 105 F, ranging from 21.2 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 52 °C / 126 F, compared to the average of 43.3 °C / 110 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.1 °C / 84 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(-) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the device average of 33.9 °C / 93 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (32 °C / 89.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.9 °C / 84 F (-3.1 °C / -5.6 F).
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG i7-13700H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | HP Omen Transcend 16 i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 R7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) R7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -17% | -11% | 6% | 14% | 6% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * (°C) | 49 | 60 -22% | 55 -12% | 47.4 3% | 41.8 15% | 46 6% |
| Maximum Bottom * (°C) | 52 | 61 -17% | 66 -27% | 54.4 -5% | 41.4 20% | 44 15% |
| Idle Upper Side * (°C) | 32 | 38.2 -19% | 33 -3% | 28.4 11% | 29 9% | 32 -0% |
| Idle Bottom * (°C) | 34 | 37.7 -11% | 35 -3% | 29.2 14% | 30.4 11% | 33 3% |
* ... smaller is better
Stress Test
During the stress test with Furmark and Prime95, the RTX 4070 maintained around 183.2 °F (GPU clock ~2,175 MHz), and the Core i9-13900H reached approximately 186.8 °F (P cores ~2.7 GHz, E cores ~2.1 GHz), both of which are acceptable.
Speakers
MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (91 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 11% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 85% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 8% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 90% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
HP Omen Transcend 16 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 20% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.2% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (17% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 45% of all tested devices in this class were better, 12% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 18%, worst was 132%
Compared to all devices tested
» 29% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 63% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Energy Management
Power Consumption
Thanks to graphics switching, the 16-inch device operates efficiently in idle mode, consuming between 11 to 28 watts (average 14 watts), consistent with most competitors. Under load, the AMG edition drew power ranging from 83 watts (average value in 3DMark 06) to 204 watts (maximum value in the stress test). The supplied 240-watt power supply, adorned with a motorsport logo, is suitably dimensioned for these requirements.
| Off / Standby | 0.1 / Watt |
| Idle | 11 / 14 / 28 Watt |
| Load |
83 / 204 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG i7-13700H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | HP Omen Transcend 16 i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 R7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) R7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU | Average of class Gaming | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -2% | 2% | -63% | -16% | -1% | -25% | |
| Idle Minimum * (Watt) | 11 | 11 -0% | 8 27% | 19.2 -75% | 8.1 26% | 11 -0% | 13.8 ? -25% |
| Idle Average * (Watt) | 14 | 18 -29% | 12 14% | 22.7 -62% | 15.9 -14% | 15.2 -9% | 19.8 ? -41% |
| Idle Maximum * (Watt) | 28 | 19 32% | 23 18% | 55.4 -98% | 37.2 -33% | 16 43% | 26.7 ? 5% |
| Load Average * (Watt) | 83 | 91 -10% | 94 -13% | 128.4 -55% | 90.9 -10% | 64 23% | 111.3 ? -34% |
| Witcher 3 ultra * (Watt) | 140 | 130 7% | 181.5 -30% | 206 -47% | 189.6 -35% | 179 -28% | |
| Load Maximum * (Watt) | 204 | 228 -12% | 215 -5% | 292 -43% | 263.5 -29% | 280 -37% | 262 ? -28% |
* ... smaller is better
Power consumption Witcher 3 / stress test
Power consumption with external monitor
Battery Life
Due to the Core i9-13900H and the OLED panel, the runtimes of the Motorsport Edition are slightly weaker compared to the standard version. Achieving just under 6.5 hours of internet surfing with the brightness reduced to 150 cd/m² is still more than decent for a gaming notebook. The battery, generously sized at 99 Wh, contributes to these respectable figures.
| MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 99.99 Wh | MSI Stealth 16 Studio A13VG i7-13700H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 99.9 Wh | Schenker XMG Pro 16 Studio (Mid 23) i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 73 Wh | HP Omen Transcend 16 i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 97 Wh | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 16ARX8 R7 7745HX, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 80 Wh | Schenker XMG CORE 16 (L23) R7 7840HS, GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 99 Wh | Average of class Gaming | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery runtime | 20% | 5% | -35% | -38% | 29% | 1% | |
| WiFi v1.3 (h) | 6.5 | 7.8 20% | 6.8 5% | 4.2 -35% | 4 -38% | 8.4 29% | 6.58 ? 1% |
| Reader / Idle (h) | 11 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 9.79 ? | |||
| H.264 (h) | 7.7 | 10.2 | 7.74 ? | ||||
| Load (h) | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1 | 2.4 | 1.42 ? |
Pros
Cons
Verdict
Beyond the successful design elements, the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport edition of the Stealth 16 shares almost the same strengths and weaknesses as the standard version (refer to the full test). Fortunately, the positive aspects outweigh the negatives.
On the positive side, the laptop boasts a pleasantly light and compact yet sturdy case, powerful sound, and relatively good input devices. Deductions mainly come in the form of a B grade due to the SSD's throttling over time and the somewhat limited USB connectivity (only one Type A port).
Choosing between the OLED panel of the Motorsport version and the IPS display depends on personal preferences.
While the OLED panel offers outstanding image values (black level, contrast, color space, viewing angle, response time), it comes with a reflective surface, a modest frequency (60 Hz), and potential flickering.
Overall, it still earns a "very good" rating. Alternatives include Intel-powered laptops like the HP Omen Transcend 16 and Schenker XMG Pro 16 mentioned in the article. For AMD enthusiasts, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and the Schenker XMG Core 16, both receiving a "very good" rating, are worth considering.
Price & Availability
The MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG is priced at US$2,899 and can be purchased directly from the MSI.
MSI Stealth 16 Mercedes-AMG Motorsport A13VG
- 11/28/2023 v7 (old)
Florian Glaser
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was provided to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or retailer for the purpose of this review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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