Performance: Overall this laptop's performance was very good. Tasks like email, word processing and web browsing will be accomplished quickly. Compared to other tested laptops, its speed was adequate for common tasks such as web browsing, video conferencing, and application startup. It was fast when composing documents with images, calculating large data spreadsheets, and running other productivity tasks, and it was fast for manipulating filters on multiple images, converting and editing videos, and rendering 3D models and calculating simulations. With hybrid graphics, the laptop can dynamically switch to the dedicated graphics card when a performance boost is needed for demanding games or applications. Everyday tasks, like web browsing or playing videos, will default to the integrated graphics chip, which is more power efficient and can reduce noise and extend battery life.
Battery Life and Weight: This laptop is a poor choice for traveling. Battery life lasted 7.25 hours in a light load of web browsing tests, and 3.75 hours in a heavier load of 4K video playback tests. Results were inadequate for a typical day of mixed use, and you'll need to charge the battery more often than similar laptops. At 4.5 lbs, weight was typical for a laptop of this size category.
Ease of Use: Some features of the keyboard, touchpad, and labeling, were well-designed, and were comfortable or convenient to use. The keyboard has large keys and was comfortably sized. Its high contrast letters were easy to read, and the backlighting can be useful in dark rooms. There's a dedicated number pad for faster data entry.
Display: The display quality was good overall. Colors were not reproduced as accurately as on better displays. The laptop's display was dimmer than most but it's anti-reflective, so this laptop is a somewhat better choice for viewing in a well lit room. The display has a wide viewing angle, especially important if more than one person needs to see the screen at a time, say, for a video or presentation. Its display produces a smaller array of colors and has worse contrast than on most other tested laptops, which may lessen the realism of videos or slideshows.
Useful features and attributes on this model include: The spacious [1] plenty of room for storing your music, photos, and movies. This laptop has a full-size HDMI port and full-size DisplayPort for connecting to a TV or monitor. At about 12.3 ft length, the power cable is longer than most others, so you can worry less about power outlet locations. Based on results of a CR member survey, MSI laptops of a similar price to this model stood out as being meaningfully better than typical for experiencing certain problem areas such as internal hardware malfunctions.
Downsides: There is no memory-card reader, so you'll need to buy an external reader or connect your digital camera directly to this laptop to transfer photos.
