MSI Status 16 Studio Evo hands-on

Amid all the joy over generative AI, valuations, and such, client PC information was a little bit of an afterthought at Computex 2023. That’s why I used to be so excited to find this gem buried in the midst of MSI’s very loud and crowded present flooring sales space: the Status 16 Studio Evo. That is coming within the second half of this yr, with pricing nonetheless to be introduced, and I’m very eagerly ready.

First issues first: This system has acquired Intel’s coveted “Evo” certification. The rationale that is thrilling is that, to my information, no system with a GeForce RTX GPU has acquired the Evo certification for the reason that program’s inception in 2020. (It’s doable there’s one on the market someplace I don’t find out about, however even when so, it’s nonetheless a really uncommon phenomenon.)

The explanations for this are considerably apparent. To earn the Evo certification, Intel requires {that a} system supply a sure degree of battery life and efficiency inside a sure weight class, which is tough to realize with a power-hungry discrete GPU inside. However the Studio Evo can embrace as much as a GeForce RTX 4060 — and that’s a reliable GPU that ought to lend a giant hand in gaming and graphic work, not like a number of the weaker MX chips that you simply typically see in these thin-and-lights, which aren’t too distinguishable from Intel’s built-in choices today. MSI’s representatives had been very clear with me on the sales space that the RTX 4060 mannequin, particularly, is Evo-rated.

Small numpad to your quantity wants.

Now, in my expertise, the Evo label just isn’t all the time assure of issues like speedy efficiency and all-day battery life. Nonetheless, the truth that an RTX 4060 system was performing effectively sufficient that Intel would even contemplate it for this system excites me significantly.

Recommending a extremely stable Home windows laptop computer for content material creators proper now could be powerful, and I feel there are actual openings out there this Status 16 might fill. It may be an actual ache to make use of applications like Premiere Professional and Blender on a 14-inch display screen, and I typically advise professionals to go larger if they will. However 15-inch and 16-inch gadgets with discrete GPUs inside them can get actually heavy actually quick — which can be not nice for a lot of video of us, who may have to hold their laptop computer to shoots alongside numerous different cumbersome gear. I’ve been ready — like actually, eagerly ready — for a 16-inch system with a discrete GPU to return alongside that isn’t a complete tank. A stable battery lifespan would actually seal the deal.

The Status 16 Studio Evo is 3.3 kilos — near pound and a half lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Professional. I can let you know, having held the factor, that it is vitally gentle. LG Gram gentle. “Are you certain this isn’t an empty chassis?” gentle. It might be a dream to hold round in a packed backpack. I’m wistful simply remembering what it was like to select this up.

This was after I’d tried to smudge the lid. Not too dangerous.

That’s very true as a result of the end feels a stable step above what I’ve skilled from MSI earlier than — this firm typically places out laptops which can be coated in fingerprints like, 5 seconds after unboxing. I attempted very onerous to smudge the Status’s lid on the present flooring, and I truly couldn’t.

The Status 16 Studio Evo additionally has a 99Whr battery, which is the most important battery you possibly can carry on a airplane (and thus, the most important you’ll possible see in a client laptop computer).

Take a look at these ports. Beautiful!

There’s yet one more nifty factor about this product, which is that it seems prefer it may be one of many first 14th-Gen Meteor Lake laptops we’ve seen within the wild. The spec sheet within the sales space simply lists “newest Intel Core i7 processor,” and — as Notebookcheck additionally found — the processor within the present flooring unit was merely listed in System Supervisor as “Real Intel(R) 0000” and confirmed 22 threads. It actually just isn’t a Thirteenth-Gen cellular i7, since there’s not a 22-thread providing in that lineup.

Now, I don’t need to get my hopes up or jinx something. However I’m questioning whether or not perhaps, simply perhaps, this can be a good signal for the effectivity of the upcoming Meteor Lake era. In any case, lots of as we speak’s workstation laptops have dangerous battery life and a hefty chassis for a cause: Intel’s present heavyweight processors are inefficient and sizzling.

The phrase “MacBook Professional different” is thrown round so much. However this Status is shaping as much as be one of many closest contenders I’ve seen in 2023 thus far. Now, let’s wait to listen to in regards to the worth.

Pictures by Monica Chin