MSI Summit 16" A13MT-417CA 2026, Core i7-1360P, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Ink Black

The MSI Summit E16 Flip Evo is a developer-focused convertible with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 165Hz 16:10 touchscreen. At CAD 1,700 open box, it's a strong value for productivity work, scoring 69.9 out of 100 for developers. But the integrated Iris Xe graphics make gaming a non-starter at 18.2 out of 100. Buy it for work, not for play.

The i7-1360P is a 12-core chip with a 2.2GHz base clock, and it sits at the 61st percentile among laptops in our database. That's solid, middle-of-the-pack territory for a productivity machine. You won't be setting any records, but you also won't be waiting around for things to happen. The 32GB of LPDDR5 at the 80th percentile is where this thing really shines. That's enough memory to run Docker containers, a couple of VMs, and still have room for Chrome to eat its usual absurd share. For developers, this is the spec that matters most, and it's genuinely well above average.

The 1TB NVMe SSD also lands at the 80th percentile, which means fast boot times and snappy application launches. The 165Hz refresh rate on the display is a nice touch, even if the Iris Xe graphics can't push anywhere near that in games. What it does mean is buttery smooth scrolling and animations in Windows 11, which makes the whole machine feel more responsive than its CPU percentile might suggest. The integrated GPU sits at the 49th percentile, which is about as average as it gets. Fine for spreadsheets, video calls, and light photo editing. Not fine for anything that requires actual graphical horsepower.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, this thing looks like a budget option, and that's because it is. The MacBook will absolutely demolish it in GPU performance, battery life, and build quality, but it also costs several times more. If you're in the Apple ecosystem and need real graphics power, the MacBook is the obvious choice. The MSI is for people who need Windows, want a touchscreen, and don't want to sell a kidney.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are gaming machines first. They'll run circles around the Summit E16 in any GPU-bound task, but they're also heavier, louder, and generally less suited to quiet productivity work. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is probably the closest philosophical competitor, with a similar focus on portability and productivity, but it typically comes with less RAM and storage at a comparable price. The Acer Predator Helios Neo is another gaming-focused option that trades the MSI's convertible flexibility for raw graphical power. If you don't need the flip hinge or pen support, any of these gaming laptops will serve you better for entertainment and gaming. But for pure development work with a touchscreen, the MSI holds its own.

At CAD 1,700 for an open box unit, the value proposition here is interesting but complicated. You're getting 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, which at this price point is genuinely hard to find in a convertible form factor. Most laptops in this range will give you 16GB and 512GB, so MSI is being generous with the internals. The port selection is also better than most thin-and-lights, with Thunderbolt, dual USB-C, dual USB-A, and HDMI 2.1 all present.

But you're also paying for a 165Hz display that the integrated GPU can't really exploit, and a convertible hinge that adds weight and bulk. The 2.10kg weight makes this one of the least compact machines in its class, which kind of defeats the purpose of a flip design for a lot of people. If you don't need the touchscreen or the pen, you can get similar or better performance in a traditional clamshell for less money. But if you specifically want a big convertible with serious RAM, this is one of the few options that delivers.

The MSI Summit E16 Flip Evo is one of those laptops that makes you do a double take. A 16 inch convertible with a 165Hz display, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, all wrapped in a chassis that flips around into tablet mode. It's aimed squarely at developers and productivity folks who want a big screen without sacrificing the flexibility of a touch display with pen support. And at CAD 1,700 on the open box market, it's positioning itself as a value play against some seriously expensive competition.

Who's this for? If you're writing code, running virtual machines, or juggling a dozen browser tabs while editing documents, the 32GB of LPDDR5 and that 12-core i7-1360P are going to feel like a comfortable pair of shoes. The 16:10 aspect ratio at 1920x1200 gives you a bit more vertical space than a standard 1080p panel, which is genuinely useful for reading code or long documents. The 100% DCI-P3 coverage means colors are accurate enough for design work too, though this isn't a creator laptop by any stretch.

What makes this interesting is the mismatch between its ambitions and its reality. MSI is known for gaming rigs, but this is an Evo-certified business convertible. The integrated Iris Xe graphics are fine for everyday tasks but will absolutely choke on anything resembling modern gaming. Our database puts its gaming score at 18.2 out of 100, which is about as gentle as a brick through a window. But for the right buyer, none of that matters. This is a workhorse, not a racehorse.

If you're a gamer, skip this without a second thought. The 18.2 out of 100 gaming score is a clear signal that this machine was never designed for that use case. You'd be far better served by the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, both of which offer dedicated GPUs that will actually run modern games. Even the Acer Predator Helios Neo would be a massive upgrade for gaming.

If portability is your top priority, this is also not the laptop for you. At 2.10kg and a 16 inch footprint, it's one of the least compact machines in our database, landing at the 17th percentile. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition or even a smaller 13 or 14 inch convertible would serve you better if you're constantly on the move. And if you don't need the touchscreen or pen support, you're paying for features you won't use. A traditional clamshell with similar specs will be lighter and often cheaper.

For developers, this is a genuinely good buy. The 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD are the headline specs, and they're both well above average. The 16:10 display with 165Hz makes long coding sessions easier on the eyes, and the port selection means you won't need a dongle for every peripheral. The 69.9 out of 100 developer score in our database reflects exactly this: it's a strong productivity machine that knows its lane.

For entertainment, the 60.1 out of 100 score tells a different story. The display is nice, but the integrated graphics and average CPU mean this isn't a media powerhouse. And for gaming, just don't. The 18.2 out of 100 is one of the weakest scores we've seen in that category. If you want to game, buy a gaming laptop. If you want to work, this is a solid choice. If you want both, you'll need to spend more money or compromise somewhere.