MSI Vector 16 HX AI review: A feature-rich gaming laptop powered by RTX 5070 Ti

At first glance, MSI scores highly with the Vector 16 HX AI. The tested A2XWHG(074) configuration priced at around €2,000 offers a strong feature set, though the relatively modest 512 GB SSD stands out as a notable limitation. While 16 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM (2x 8 GB SO-DIMM) may not spark wild enthusiasm, the Core Ultra 7 255HX and the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, with a solid 12 GB of GDDR7 VRAM, promise plenty of gaming power. The IPS display impresses with its sharp 2,560 by 1,600 resolution, smooth 240 hertz refresh rate, and nearly complete coverage of the sRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces. Among the standout features is the abundant connectivity, featuring two Thunderbolt 5 ports.

When you take a closer look at individual aspects, a number of criticisms emerge. For example, while the chassis is generally well designed, it offers a relatively limited opening angle and a noticeably bulky rear. The keyboard layout, in typical MSI fashion, is also a matter of personal preference. The power supply is particularly hefty in both size and weight, and would be more appropriate for a notebook featuring an RTX 5080 or 5090. What we found most frustrating, however, was the suboptimal fan control. In AI mode, the Vector 16 remains clearly audible even when idle. Taken as a whole, this 16-inch machine still earns a solid overall rating, though it falls just short of a 'Very Good'.

The MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XWHG, equipped with the Core Ultra 7 255HX and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, is available from various online retailers, with pricing starting at approximately $2,100 USD. Availability may vary by region.

Competitors to the Vector 16 include other newly released gaming laptops in the 16- to 17-inch range, such as the Schenker XMG Pro 16 E25, the Alienware 16 Area-51, and MSI's own Katana 17 HX. The previous model, which we reviewed with a Core i9-14900HX and GeForce RTX 4080, also appears in our comparison tables.

The chassis largely retains the design language of its predecessor, with subtle refinements notably in port selection and layout. In terms of build quality, it delivers a markedly more solid and premium feel compared to the somewhat flimsy and insubstantial Katana 17. While only the lid is made of metal, the base unit still feels solid and well built. The bold lines and striking shapes clearly target a gaming audience. At 2.6 kg, the Vector 16 HX AI sits squarely among other 16-inch competitors, with only the Alienware 16 standing out due to its hefty 3.3-kg frame. Overall, build quality leaves little room for complaint.

MSI goes all out when it comes to connectivity. On the left-hand side, there are two Thunderbolt 5 ports with Power Delivery, USB 4, and DisplayPort 2.1 support. The right-hand side hosts two USB-A 3.1 Gen2 ports. The selection is rounded off with an HDMI 2.1 output, a 2.5 Gbit Ethernet port, a combined audio jack, a Kensington lock slot, and a moderately fast card reader. Wireless communication is handled by Intel's Wi-Fi 6E module (AX211), which delivers particularly strong performance when receiving data. The Full HD webcam is decent by notebook standards, though not especially impressive. Maintenance remains somewhat awkward, much like with the previous model, as the chassis is more difficult and time-consuming to open compared to other devices.

MSI has stuck with its rather unconventional keyboard layout for several years, and it takes some time to get used to. The placement of many keys does not follow the standard layout. The decision to use a three-column rather than the more common four-column number pad also strikes us as somewhat odd. In terms of typing feel, the keyboard performs well overall, though it naturally cannot match the tactile quality of mechanical models. One plus point is the extensive RGB lighting, which can be customised individually. The touchpad measures a generous 13 cm by 8 cm and offers smooth gliding and solid precision. The clickable areas along the bottom edge respond reliably, although they feel a little flimsy to our taste.

The screen adopts the currently popular 16:10 aspect ratio and performs without any major flaws. While the IPS panel does not reach OLED levels in most areas, the Vector 16 holds its own compared to other gaming laptops. It starts with a good response time, which should be fast enough even for high-paced 3D games. The display also offers a solid average brightness of 426 cd/m², clearly outperforming the Katana 17's underwhelming 272 cd/m². Despite a merely average black level of 0.42 cd/m², the 16-inch panel still surpasses the 1,000:1 contrast ratio threshold. Colour accuracy out of the box is also impressive and can be further improved through calibration. We observed no screen flickering, and viewing angles are consistent with typical IPS standards.

In terms of CPU and GPU power, the Vector 16 HX sits comfortably between the mid-range and the absolute high-end of gaming laptops. SSD and RAM capacity can be easily upgraded or expanded as required thanks to two slots each.

Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX celebrates its premiere in the Vector 16. The 3 nm model from the Arrow Lake generation is equipped with 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores, each without Hyper-Threading. In the benchmark course, the 255HX performs slightly worse than the old high-end Core i9-14900HX chip, but significantly better than the Core i7-14650HX of the Katana 17 Core Ultra 9 275HX is only around 10% faster on average, which is a respectable result for the 255HX.

The system performance proves to be inconspicuous, the 16-incher performs within the expected range. Interesting: Despite supposedly weaker components (CPU/GPU), the Katana 17, which was tested at the same time, boots faster.