MSI Sword 16 HX B14VGKG [B14VGKG-024XPL]

Mid-range gaming laptop with excellent performance

The MSI Sword 16 HX B14VGKG occupies a mid-range position, offering a good balance between cost and power. This model outperforms the affordable Katanas, but falls short of the more powerful Titan and Raider laptops. It is ideal for demanding games at 2K resolution. This configuration is equipped with a 20-core Intel Core i7 14700HX processor, which is significantly superior to its predecessors from the Meteor Lake series, 16 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM and 1 TB SSD. The mobile version of the GeForce RTX 4070 with 8 GB of memory, 105 W TDP and DLSS 3 support is responsible for gaming performance.

Efficient Cooler Boost cooling system

MSI's Sword series maintains a consistent visual style, and this laptop is no exception. The case is made of matte plastic, making it relatively thin and light for a gaming device. The build quality is high, and the design is reminiscent of a premium style rather than a classic gaming laptop. Among the features that point to a gaming focus, it is worth noting the keyboard with dedicated WASD keys and multi-color backlighting. Like other models, the case can be easily removed for cleaning from dust, adding a second memory bar or an additional SSD. The Cooler Boost system provides airflow and cooling for the laptop.

RGB backlit keyboard and AI suite

The MSI Sword 16 HX justifies its price by offering a 16-inch 2K display with a refresh rate of 240 Hz and 100% coverage of the DCI P3 color space. The keyboard includes a Num-pad, dedicated WASD keys and 24-zone RGB backlighting. The built-in AI complex offers four different profiles to optimize performance and battery life. The laptop is equipped with four USB ports, supports Power Delivery for charging and HDMI 2.1 for connecting to modern monitors. However, for this price, we would have liked to see an improved webcam, support for USB4 with Thunderbolt, and a higher-end display.