MSI Thin 15.6" B7VE-214US Black 2024

The MSI Thin A15 packs a genuine RTX 4050 and a fast 144Hz display for under a grand, but the screen accuracy is lousy and the trackpad feels like an afterthought. Battery life and the keyboard are the real wins here. Buy it for the specs, not the screen.

The RTX 4050 inside sits in the top quarter of laptop GPUs in our database, so 1080p gaming is smooth across most titles. Paired with that Ryzen 7, you'll hit triple-digit fps in esports and stay above 60 in AAA games if you're willing to dial down a few settings. Cooling holds up well under load, too. The weak link is the 512GB SSD, which is on the smaller side and only mid-pack for speed, and we've seen user reports of random driver crashes that can interrupt a session. For the price, the raw CPU and GPU grunt is impressive, but the experience isn't always seamless.

Next to the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, the MSI feels like a tank, heavier and with a far worse screen. The Zephyrus is lighter, brighter, and more color-accurate, but it'll cost you several hundred more. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i also outshines it on display and build quality while packing a faster GPU option. If you can stretch your budget, those are simply nicer laptops. The Thin A15 undercuts them on price alone, and that's its main defense, raw spec sheets for less, with all the corners cut in the places you'll see and touch every day.

At $900 to $930, you're getting a lot of gaming horsepower for the money. Most laptops with an RTX 4050 and 144Hz panel cost more, so if your priority is framerates per dollar, the Thin A15 delivers. But you pay for that discount with a poor display, cramped speakers, and a trackpad that makes you reach for a mouse. Factor in the cost of an external monitor and you're still under what some competitors charge, but it's definitely a trade-off.

MSI's Thin A15 is a budget gaming laptop that doesn't scream 'gamer.' The chassis is understated, and the specs look great on paper: a Ryzen 7 7735HS, RTX 4050, 16GB of DDR5, and a 144Hz 1080p screen, all often hanging around $900. It's aimed at people who want solid frame rates without selling a kidney.

But like most bargains, you feel the compromises quickly. The screen is dim and colors look washed out, the trackpad feels cheap, and at 3.35kg it's anything but 'thin.' Our user data backs this up, with owner satisfaction ranking in the bottom third of all laptops we track. Still, a few surprises, like genuinely good battery life and a comfortable keyboard, keep it from being a total miss.

Anyone doing color-sensitive work like photo editing or design should look elsewhere, the screen's color accuracy is poor. If you need a lightweight laptop for commuting, the 3.35kg weight and sharp front edge will be a daily annoyance. And if a premium trackpad is a must, you'll hate this one. Grab a Legion or Zephyrus instead.

This is a machine for gamers on a strict budget who mostly play plugged in at a desk with an external monitor and mouse. If you can overlook a mediocre built-in screen and never use the trackpad, the performance per dollar is tough to beat. Students or travelers who need a laptop that works well on the go should steer clear.