The best MSI gaming laptops 2022: our pick of the gaming powerhouses

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
a MSI gaming laptop on a white table
This list should help you narrow down your choices for the best MSI gaming laptops of 2022. (Image Credit: TechRadar)

Experience portable gaming like never before with the best MSI gaming laptop. MSI’s line of notebooks are among the cream of the crop when it comes to gaming, those at the top of the pile packing flagship internals to deliver unrivaled performance. With one of these on your desk, you can run any game you want no matter how graphically intensive.

We’re not just talking about the premium models touting high-end CPUs and GPUs. MSI’s gaming laptops lineup cover different types and budgets – from pricey ones that will tackle the best PC games without even breaking a sweat to those lighter on the pocketbook and are better suited for gaming at lower settings. Since MSI has so many options, the manufacturer will have something for all sorts of gamers.

Of course, there’s still the matter of choosing what’s ideal for you. That’s where we come in. Whatever your needs are, we’re to help you find the best MSI gaming laptop. Whether you want to play the newest Far Cry at the highest settings or you’re looking for a budget option for casual gaming, there’s something here for you.

MSI GS65 Stealth

MSI GS65 Stealth will let you take up to an Nvidia RTX 2080 on the road. (Image Credit: MSI)

1. MSI GS65 Stealth

Thin. Stylish. Powerful

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6 VRAM, Max-Q) - RTX 2080 (8GB GDDR6 VRAM, Max-Q)
RAM: 16GB - 32GB
Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, wide-view 144Hz panel
Storage: 256GB - 512GB M.2 SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Very powerful 
+
Thin and light 

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive 

There’s this traditional image that many people have for gaming laptops: a thick brick of a device that you can’t carry around in your backpack. And, while there are a couple MSI gaming laptops like that, the MSI GS65 Stealth is the exact opposite. Measuring just 1.16 inches thick and weighing 4.19 pounds, this laptop will let you take up to an Nvidia RTX 2080 on the road, without blowing your back out. It also helps that it’s gorgeous: an all-black design with gold accents and RGB lighting. If you can afford it, you can’t go wrong here.

Read the full review: MSI GS65 Stealth 

MSI GT75 Titan

If you’re looking for something with a bit of extra juice, the MSI GT75 Titan is the MSI gaming laptop for you. (Image Credit: MSI)

2. MSI GT75 Titan

All in the name

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7-i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB GDDR6 VRAM) - RTX 2080 (8GB GDDR6 VRAM)
RAM: 16GB - 32GB
Screen: 17.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) anti-glare, wide-view 144Hz panel - UHD (3,840 x 2,160)
Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD - 512GB M.2 SSD + 1TB 7,200RPM HDD

Reasons to buy

+
All the power 
+
Juicy keyboard 

Reasons to avoid

-
Big and expensive 

Sometimes you just need a tank to get the job done. Sure, there are all kinds of gaming laptops out there that are thin and light and can get the job done. But, what if you’re looking for something with a bit of extra juice? Well, the MSI GT75 Titan is the MSI gaming laptop for you. This beast features full-fat Nvidia RTX graphics and up to 32GB of RAM, meaning that no matter which game you’re playing, nothing will slow you down. Even professional video editors will be smooth as butter, too, so you can record and edit your gaming highlights without breaking a sweat.

Read the full review: MSI GT75 Titan 

MSI GF63

MSI GF63 will deliver great frame rates in your favorite esports titles without paying a fortune. (Image Credit: MSI)

3. MSI GF63

Esports gaming in style

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4GB GDDR5) - GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5)
RAM: up to 32GB
Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS
Storage: 1TB HDD

Reasons to buy

+
Bezel-less display 
+
Great performance for the money 

Reasons to avoid

-
No SSD 

Gaming laptops, especially since Nvidia’s RTX lineup hit the street, are more expensive than ever. Packing a thin and light package with powerful hardware gets expensive, so when we find an MSI gaming laptop that offers a prodigious value, we take note. The MSI GF63 isn’t the most powerful laptop on the market, far from it, but with up to an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, you’ll be able to get great frame rates in your favorite esports titles without paying a fortune. Add that to the attractive chassis and super-thin bezels and it’s not hard to see why it’s just a great buy. It doesn’t come with an SSD out of the box, but with a screwdriver and 15 minutes of your time, you can fix that.  

MSI GE75 Raider

MSI GE75 Raider delivers comparable performance to a much thicker laptop without sacrificing portability. (Image Credit: MSI)

4. MSI GE75 Raider

The best of both worlds

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i7
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6) - RTX 2080 (8GB GDDR6)
RAM: Up to 32GB
Screen: 17.3-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) 144Hz IPS
Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD - 512GB NVMe SSD + 1TB

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful 
+
Still portable 

Reasons to avoid

-
A little pricey 

It’s easy to find an MSI gaming laptop that really grabs your attention, the svelte design of the GS65 Stealth, the titanic performance of the GT75 Titan. However, sometimes finding something right down the middle is the best move. And, while we haven’t reviewed the MSI GE75 Raider quite yet, the high-end specs should deliver comparable performance to a much thicker laptop without sacrificing portability. It’s not quite “thin and light”, but you should be able to carry it around. And, that space you’re getting over something like the GS65 Stealth means you can upgrade it however you want – you can even fit two NVMe drives in there. 

The MSI GL63 delivers an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 2060 for less than the competition. (Image Credit: MSI)

The MSI GL63 delivers an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 2060 for less than the competition. (Image Credit: MSI) (Image credit: MSI)

5. MSI GS66 Stealth

Top-notch screen and practical design

Specifications

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i7 - i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super with Max-Q – RTX 2080 Super with Max-Q
RAM: 16GB – 32GB DDR4 2666MHz
Screen: 15.6" FHD, IPS-Level 144Hz – 15.6" FHD, Anti-Glare Wide View Angle 300Hz
Storage: 512GB – 1TB NVMe SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic 240Hz screen
+
Solid components throughout
+
Good battery life, ergonomics and connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Rivals have more CPU power
-
Some temperature issues

The 240Hz displays are trending these days, so if you’ve been looking to get on that bandwagon, there’s no better than the MSI GS66 Stealth. One of the best MSI gaming laptops in 2020, this portable boasts a brilliant 240Hz screen and great internals, as well as impressive ergonomics and connectivity. It’s battery life and cooling solution could be better, but that’s hardly surprising considering all that power under the hood, starting with the Super RTX graphics cards it’s rocking. Need to go higher than 240Hz? It’s even got a staggering 300Hz refresh rate option.

Read the full review: MSI GS66 Stealth

Jackie Thomas

Jackie Thomas is Deputy Editor at Decisionary. Previously, she was TechRadar's US computing editor. She is fat, queer and extremely online. Computers are the devil, but she just happens to be a satanist. If you need to know anything about computing components, PC gaming or the best laptop on the market, don't be afraid to drop her a line on Twitter or through email.