Whilst stocks last, purchasing the MSI Crosshair 16 Max HX will get you a bonus MSI Max Gaming Backpack, H901 GC headset, M18 Gaming Mouse and MSI 40th Anniversary RGB Mouse Pad and you can find more info HERE.
I’ve mostly had experience with MSI’s productivity line of laptops, but the few times that I’ve had the pleasure of going hands-on with a gaming laptop I’ve been really impressed at how they blend performance, looks and portability, and that’s no different for the MSI Crosshair 16 Max HX.
Straight off the bat that thing that impressed me was the 16-inch 1600p OLED display that has DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000 and a 165hz refresh rate. With the MSI loaded wallpaper that has blacks and oranges throughout, it was already impressing me with the vibrancy and contrast, but loading up Forza Horizon 6 was what really impressed me.
Driving through Japan, with the game going from forrest to city, the game popped off the screen and paired with the 165hz refresh rate, it was super smooth. You really can’t beat an OLED, and the Crosshair 16 proves exactly why.
Power also isn’t a problem with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor with a built-in NPU for AI workloads, and it’s also paired with an RTX 5070 Laptop GPU that can be paired with MSI OverBoost that allows the CPU and GPU to combine at up to 200w.
I was able to play Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, God Of War Ragnarok and Forza Horizon 6 just to name a few with absolutely zero hitches whilst plugged in, especially when taking advantage of DLSS 4.5 which just makes the game run that much smoother.
What also impressed me is how thin and light the laptop is coming in at just 2.2kg, so whilst you’re getting a bunch of power, it’s not going to weigh your backpack down when traveling on the go, or to and from work with it.
The design of the laptop is understated, but there are some pops of RGB. The Dragon Shield design on the outside glows, and there’s a 24-zone RGB gaming keyboard with transparent WASD keys which I absolutely loved, and it keeps it looking premium with a bit of extra style. There’s a huge amount of ports as well with 3x USB-A ports, a HDMI 2.1 port, 2.5GB ethernet port and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
When it comes to AI performance, this laptop is built for it. Firstly, MSI’s AI Engine means you’re able to turn it on and let the laptop handle performance, which has been a godsend on all of the MSI product that I’ve used including the recent Claw 8 EX 8 AI+, and because you’ve got that dedicated NPU, you can run programs like ChatGPT Work with ease. I had it build me an entire itinerary for TGS complete with flight options, budgets, how early I should book things and more complete with tabs and quick links to make bookings.
Whilst you probably won’t be gaming on battery, it has a 80Wh battery despite its thinness, which will make it an all-day performer for productivity, and there’s great cooling with dual fans and five heat pipes that allow it to stay cool and relatively quiet as well.
Whilst stocks last, purchasing the MSI Crosshair 16 Max HX will get you a bonus MSI Max Gaming Backpack, H901 GC headset, M18 Gaming Mouse and MSI 40th Anniversary RGB Mouse Pad and you can find more info HERE.
