Why you possibly can belief Inventive Bloq
Our skilled reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you possibly can select the perfect for you. Discover out extra about how we check.
The primary half of 2025 has continued in the identical vein as 2024 in that each different laptop computer that crosses my desk has the label ‘AI’ on the finish of it. This time it is the MSI Cyborg 15 AI, which is comparable in worth and specs to the Acer Swift 14 AI that I reviewed in 2024.These laptops are on the forefront of a rising variety of ‘AI’ laptops which have a concentrate on delivering content material creation efficiency whereas driving new Home windows options resembling Recall and Copilot. This laptop computer additionally options the aptly named MSI AI engine.They not often have the {hardware} smarts to make it into the perfect laptops for graphic design or video modifying however a few of them are tremendous inexpensive and a great match for college kids or artistic generalists.I used the Cyborg 15 AI for a number of weeks, performing an array of artistic duties, primarily in Photoshop and Premiere Professional. I additionally benchmarked the laptop computer with a concentrate on AI picture technology, rendering, CPU/GPU productiveness, and battery life. I’ve had sufficient time to see the place this laptop computer excels in addition to the place it struggles, and I’ve elucidated on my findings beneath.MSI Cyborg 15 (Black) at Amazon for £1,788.16Key specificationsSwipe to scroll horizontallyCPU:Intel Core i7-13620HGraphics:Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050Memory:16 GB, DDR5Storage:512 GB SSDScreen dimension:15.6-inchScreen sort:IPSResolution:1920 x 1080Refresh charge:144HzColour gamut:Not specifiedBrightness:250 nitsPorts:HDMI x1, USB-C x1, USB-A x2, Audio jack, RJ45Wireless connectivity:Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2Dimensions:35.94 x 25 x 2.28 cmWeight:1.98 kg (4.37 lbs)(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Hatton)Design, construct and show• A heavy 15-inch laptop computer that’s very well constructed• A spread of ports, however switch speeds might be betterThe MSI Cyborg 15 AI is a 15-inch laptop computer that’s surprisingly heavy given its dimension. In reality, it is so heavy (1.98 kg) that I might be reticent carrying it round with me too usually. Which may simply be me, although, as I journey round on my bike with a laptop computer bag on my again.MSI has gone for a barely quirky translucent plastic casing that I assume is the explanation it is known as the ‘Cyborg’. There are additionally grill gaps within the backside panel which allow you to see contained in the laptop computer. This aesthetic units the laptop computer other than lots of its opponents, together with different MSI laptops, however I personally would have most popular MSI to go all the best way and make it utterly translucent.From a high quality perspective, it is all constructive with sturdy supplies delivering a strong chassis that can stand the check of time. The additional weight of the supplies is a constructive right here with no considerations about damaging it.The hinge performs nicely sufficient, and I had zero considerations about it failing to maintain the show in any location I positioned it. My solely bugbear in regards to the hinge design is that it leaves a large hole between the 2 panels of the laptop computer. Though that is purely aesthetic, I do know it’s going to nonetheless matter to quite a lot of creatively minded individuals.The keyboard additionally encompasses a numpad, though the keys are smaller in dimension and due to this fact not completely helpful. I might have ditched them utterly. Not like most laptops which have these further keys, MSI has opted to maintain the touchpad central to the general width of the laptop computer, which helps with operation and is a win for me.The WASD keys are highlighted, which is a nod to its gaming credentials, and there is blue RGB backlighting, which seems to be cool. Sadly the colors cannot be customised however on condition that the sort of function is commonly lacking at this worth level, we should always in all probability take what we are able to get.Transferring onto ports and connectivity, all the pieces is fairly normal right here, though the highest restrict of 5 Gbps by means of USB-C is much from very best. On condition that Thunderbolt 4 goes as much as 40 Gbps, I might have preferred to have seen a minimum of a little bit increased efficiency right here. WiFi is model 6 slightly than model 7, which might have delivered improved velocity, bandwidth, and latency.The Cyborg 15 AI is a laptop computer that has a considerate and well-intentioned design. It is strong sufficient to take just a few knocks, however that comes at the price of portability.Design rating: 4/5(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Haton)Options• Intel Core Extremely 7 CPU and GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop computer GPU• MSI AI Engine for improved performanceAt the center of the Cyborg 15 AI is an Intel Core Extremely 7 processor 155H, which serves up an admirable steadiness of efficiency, energy effectivity, and AI capabilities. This makes it very best for common day by day duties, primary artistic functions and a few gaming.Nonetheless, it undoubtedly has some drawbacks, together with the shortage of energy for AAA gaming or situations requiring top-tier single-core efficiency. Regardless of being focused at players, the Cyborg 15 AI remains to be a mid-range laptop computer, and it’s best to due to this fact anticipate mid-range {hardware} that delivers accordingly.Alongside the CPU is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card. One of many nice advantages of this GPU is the AI-powered DLSS 3 and full ray tracing, which comes into its personal when rendering giant digital worlds. It additionally does an awesome job of managing the battery.To assist the processors which are working extremely onerous, MSI has included Cooler Increase expertise with a shared-pipe thermal design. This enables for real-time warmth dissipation balancing between CPU and GPU for improved effectivity.A last function to say is the MSI AI Engine, which mechanically adjusts settings for the perfect efficiency. This function helps to make sure that if there are sources left, then they need to be directed to the place you want them, whether or not that be content material creation or leisure.Function rating: 3.5/5(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Hatton)Benchmark scoresWe check each one among our laptops utilizing the identical benchmarking software program suite to offer you a radical overview of its suitability for creatives of all disciplines and ranges. This consists of:• Geekbench: Exams the CPU for single-core and multi-core energy, and the GPU for the system’s potential for gaming, picture processing, or video modifying. Geekbench AI exams the CPU and GPU on quite a lot of AI-powered and AI-boosted duties.• Cinebench: Exams the CPU and GPU’s capability to run 3D software program resembling Cinema 4D and Redshift.• UL Procyon: Makes use of UL Options’ Procyon software program suite to check the system’s capability for AI picture technology in Secure Diffusion, its Microsoft Workplace efficiency and its battery life in a looping video check.• Topaz Video AI: We use Topaz Video AI to check the system’s capability to upscale video and convert video to slow-motion.• PugetBench for Creators: We use the PugetBench for Creators benchmarking suite to check the system’s capability to run a number of key duties in Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Professional, in addition to its efficiency when encoding/transcoding video.• ON1 Resize AI: Exams the system’s capability to resize 5 pictures to 200% in a batch course of. We take the entire time taken to resize the pictures and divide by 5.(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Hatton)Efficiency• Midrange CPU efficiency, however not unhealthy for video modifying• Poor AI efficiency for picture technology and upscalingBeginning with Geekbench, we needed to get a really feel for the single-core and multi-core energy of the CPU. Exams coated normal duties in addition to a spread of AI-powered duties. As anticipated, the Cyborg was on the decrease finish of the center, near the efficiency of the HP Elitebook X G1i and the Dynabook Tecra A60-M.By way of picture and video modifying, we flip our consideration to Pugetbench benchmarks. For Premiere Professional, the Cyborg 15 AI really carried out unexpectedly nicely, clearly outstripping the capabilities of the ASUS V16. I would not depend on the Cyborg if I used to be engaged on complicated video edits day after day, but when it is a small-ish a part of your workflow, then it is unlikely to throw up too many efficiency points.The Pugetbench for Photoshop did not carry out fairly as nicely and was noticeably left behind by our chart-toppers, the Apple MacBook Professional 16 (M4 Professional, 2024) and the ASUS ProArt P16. Once more, for those who’re simply performing primary edits, together with minimal color corrections and a little bit of cloning, you then’ll be tremendous. Should you begin stacking too many edits and start using generative AI instruments, you then’ll want you hadn’t bothered.As for rendering, our trusty Cinebench check tells us all the pieces we have to know. On this space, I anticipated the Cyborg to outperform the HP Elitebook X G1i, however regardless of having a devoted GPU slightly than an built-in one, it simply could not draw back. It isn’t terribly gradual, however for those who’re working renderings all day, you may rapidly change into annoyed.Transferring onto AI picture technology, Procyon made it abundantly clear that the Cyborg 15 AI ought to keep nicely away from the sort of job. It has double the rating of the MSI Status 13 AI+ Evo, however that one wasn’t excellent on this space both. The story continues with AI picture resizing and was clearly crushed by the ASUS ProArt P16 once more.Final however not least, the Cyborg solely lasted 3 hours and 29 minutes once we ran our looped video. This actually is not adequate, and I might be involved in regards to the battery efficiency if I have been to do quite a lot of intensive duties, resembling rendering. Take your charger with you in every single place you go. You’ve got been warned!All the benchmarks to this point are actually trying to push the laptop computer to its artistic limits. The Cyborg won’t be capable of compete with the perfect, but it surely’ll ship adequately for those who’re a scholar or working with paperwork quite a lot of the time.Efficiency rating: 3.5/5(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Hatton)Worth The Cyborg 15 AI attracts a worth of £899/$999. This places it within the ballpark of the ASUS V16, however due to the Intel Core 7 processor slightly than a Core 5, the general package deal is a little bit bit dearer. Should you’re in search of one thing with extra critical artistic acumen, you then’d be higher off spending extra and getting the MacBook Air 15-inch or MacBook Professional M4 16-inch.Worth rating: 4/5Who is it for?• Primarily a gaming laptop computer which may tempt creatives tooThe Cyborg 15 AI is, at its coronary heart, a gaming laptop computer. That is clearly seen while you take a look at the selection of CPU, GPU, and the show specs. We have not notably examined this laptop computer with gaming in thoughts, though we might anticipate it to be a mid-range performer on this area. Should you’re in search of a laptop computer that may energy high-end artistic functions and workflows, then this laptop computer must be very low in your listing.Swipe to scroll horizontallyASUS V16 rating cardAttributesNotesRatingDesign:A pleasant design which units itself other than its opponents.4/5Features:An affordable CPU and devoted GPU are supported by cooling expertise and an MSI AI Engine.3.5/5Performance:The efficiency is ok so long as you do not push it too onerous; in any other case, it’s going to fall over.3.5/5Value:An inexpensive laptop computer, particularly given the discrete graphics card.4/5(Picture credit score: Future / Paul Hatton)Purchase it if…You need an inexpensive gaming laptopYou’re a scholar who does occassional artistic workYou cannot afford a MacBook ProDon’t purchase it if…You are a 3D visualiser or critical video editorYou work with AI picture toolsYou want a laptop computer that’s gentle and portableAlso considerMSI Cyborg 15: Worth Comparability
