MSI Delta 15.6" Black 2022

A spec-sheet hero with a fatal flaw. Buy it for the 10GB GPU and 240Hz screen, but pray the hinge doesn't snap.

The all-AMD setup here is surprisingly strong for a last-gen machine. The RX 6700M with 10GB of VRAM is a standout, landing in the 70th percentile for GPUs in our database. That extra video memory gives it legs in modern titles where 8GB cards start to choke. In our testing, it chews through esports titles at the full 240Hz refresh rate and handles AAA games at high settings without breaking a sweat. The cooling system does its job, but the fans get loud under load. It's not a quiet machine, but it keeps the keyboard deck from turning into a hot plate.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is the obvious rival here. It's more compact, better built, and has a more modern CPU, but you'll pay a premium for that polish. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is another strong alternative if you want a bigger screen and more robust cooling, though it's heavier. The MSI undercuts both on price when on sale, but it feels cheaper in every way that isn't a spec sheet. If you're purely chasing frames per dollar, the Delta 15 makes a case for itself. If you want a laptop that lasts through college, look elsewhere.

If you can snag this for around $900, the raw gaming specs are hard to beat. You're getting a GPU that punches above its weight and a screen that competitive players will love. But the value proposition falls apart if the hinge breaks in two years. You're rolling the dice on longevity, and that's a tough pill to swallow when a slightly pricier Lenovo Legion feels like it'll survive a warzone.

The MSI Delta 15 is a bit of a sleeper hit if you can find it at the right price. It packs an all-AMD combo of a Ryzen 7 5800H and Radeon RX 6700M that delivers solid 1080p gaming performance without totally destroying your wallet. The 240Hz screen is a nice bonus for competitive shooters, and the 1TB SSD means you won't be uninstalling games every other week. But there's a catch, and it's a big one: build quality seems to be a real gamble. We've seen reports of hinges failing after a couple of years, which is a dealbreaker for a laptop you'd want to toss in a bag.

If you need a laptop for school or travel, skip this. The hinge durability is a known weak point, and the last thing you want is a screen separating from the body mid-semester. Grab an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a Lenovo Legion instead. They cost more but won't fall apart on you.

The MSI Delta 15 is a tough recommendation. On paper, it's a killer budget gaming rig with a fantastic GPU and a fast display. In reality, the questionable build quality and soldered RAM make it feel disposable. We can only recommend it if you find a deep discount and treat it like a desktop replacement that never leaves your desk. For anyone who needs a reliable daily driver, the risk of a failing hinge is just too high.