Large gaming laptop models exist to provide the owner with the maximum performance that can be obtained from mobile systems. Perhaps the word "portability" still does not suit them very much, compared to regular laptops. However, they also have enough power to compete with desktop systems. And now, in recent years, they have begun to seriously supplement this with high-quality displays, sound, updated more interesting cases, etc. The MSI Raider line is the second among the manufacturer's flagships, and how it evolves, we will understand today using the example of the new MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW model with a second-generation Intel Core Ultra processor and fresh graphics from NVIDIA.
Specifications of MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XWIG
| Model | MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XWIG-251UA |
| Display | IPS, 18”, resolution 3840×2400, aspect ratio 16:10, frequency 120 Hz, Mini LED |
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX |
| RAM | 64 GB DDR5-6400 |
| Refuge | 2 TB |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16 GB) |
| Ports | HDMI 2.1, 3×USB-A 3.2 Gen2, 2×Thunderbolt 5, RJ-45 (2.5), 3.5 mm combo jack, SD |
| Wireless modules | Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Cell | 2 MP |
| Audio | 6-speaker speaker system and microphone |
| Keyboard | Island-style keys with RGB backlighting |
| Battery and charging | 99.9 Wh, 400 W power supply |
| Dimensions | 404×307.5×24-32.05 mm |
| Weight | 3.6 kg |
| Recommended price in Ukraine | 199,999 UAH |
Package contents
Despite its rather privileged status, the MSI Raider comes standard with only a matching power supply. All other accessories must be purchased separately.
You can find a lot of interesting gaming accessories in the MSI store if you want branded additions for your laptop. There are even chairs there. Although it is unlikely that an experienced gamer does not have such things. What is really worth considering is the presence of a suitable backpack if the buyer plans to take the laptop outside of one workplace at least occasionally. And taking into account all the features of the model, such a backpack should be really large.
Design and usability
The name of the model — MSI Raider 18 — immediately suggests its dimensions. And at first glance at the laptop, it will be clear that it belongs to the gaming class. And last year's design will also tell you this. And despite the fact that there is no excess RGB backlight here, all other accents and ventilation slots will indicate such compliance. So, as before, the Raider will fully meet the buyer's expectations. And if you need to "hide" the laptop in the office a little, you can turn off the backlight or set it to some neutral color.
No matter which way you look at it, there are decorative elements on the case. This is a bright logo on top, a line of backlighting on the front of the top case, red lines on the hot air outlet, various notches, "ribs", perforations... Fans of restrained design may find this an overload of appearance. Everyone else, on the contrary, may quite like it. Subjectively, this is approximately how gaming laptops should look, so there are no comments.
Even the bottom of the laptop, despite the fact that the user will hardly see it, is decorated with all the accents. There are large and small legs to create air intake paths, as well as a lot of perforations for its intake. With a stylish design, of course.
Separately, it is worth noting the dimensions, which are expectedly huge. The case measuring 404×307.5×24-32.05 mm and weighing 3.6 kg is not the most convenient for frequent trips, even to the office and home. It is precisely such compromises that will have to be made by those buyers who need performance first and foremost. Among the materials, black plastic is mainly used, which is supplemented with magnesium alloy on top. For this class, there is almost nothing new, and last year the appearance was the same. But it is assembled well, without obvious flaws or inconveniences.
At the same time, there are a lot of handprints on the case. But they are easily removed, and maintaining the laptop in good condition is absolutely simple. True, the black case constantly collects dust, but this will happen with any laptop. So if you have a microfiber cloth nearby, it will be easy to keep it tidy.
Still, even with a few original solutions, the appearance of the MSI Raider 18 is quite typical for such a laptop. The largest models are all more or less similar to each other. This is in no way a drawback, but simply a fact. And despite the fact that this is not a laptop that you will want to move often, the build quality will still allow it to withstand it. There are no hints of assembly flaws, no unnatural sounds either. So the new model is generally a good continuation of the Raider line, and this year the manufacturer places more emphasis on the internal parts than on the exterior.
Display
Like the case, the display hasn't received any major changes this year. However, it's hard to say that it needed any. The MSI Raider 18 offers variability in this regard, where the user can choose resolution options from Full HD to 4K, and the most expensive version offers Mini LED backlighting. This will also affect the refresh rate, which can range from 120 to 240 Hz with different increments depending on the resolution and type of backlighting.
The test model is equipped with a matrix with a resolution of 3840×2400 pixels with 120 Hz and Mini LED. Of course, the aspect ratio for an 18-inch matrix is 16:10. The standard scaling is offered at 200%. It can be a bit grainy in places, especially when the software does not adapt immediately (like MSI Afterburner, for example). However, this nuance is adjusted to the user's own needs.
In fact, this option has certain compromises. 4K at 18 inches is probably not the first necessity for a gamer, because a lower resolution would not significantly worsen the gameplay and would save a little resources for image processing. In addition, the option with Mini LED also has the lowest refresh rate of all available. However, this option will provide a more interesting image for those owners who often play or watch movies without bright light in the room. This is clearly visible in dark scenes, where a large number of dimming zones will demonstrate themselves well (or rather, on the contrary, hide them). Moreover, you can notice this immediately by the logo when loading the system. So the option turns out to be a compromise, but remains really interesting.
And the matrix itself is very successful. For image adjustment, the manufacturer provides a separate utility MSI True Color, where you can choose the color space, modes for games, office work or watching movies. Each of them has an additional set of settings, if the proposed option is not enough. Modes can be "tied" to individual applications, there are screen splitting options, calibration tools and even a separate overlay with a sight for shooters. In fact, most of this can be left untouched, because in Display P3 mode the image will perfectly suit all tasks. And the rest will be needed only in case of specific work requirements.
In addition, such a matrix does not lack brightness. With support for DisplayHDR 1000, when viewing relevant content in the evening, it is not uncommon to want to reduce the backlight level. A light sensor would not interfere here, but gaming models often do not have one. Still, along with excellent picture quality, HDR will greatly enhance the experience of watching videos or games. So there are no questions left about the display. Except that, again, how expedient it is to choose 4K, each buyer must decide for himself.
Security
At the same time, MSI Raider 18 will also please with quick access to the system and passwords. The laptop is equipped with a webcam with additional IR sensors, which together can scan the user's face. It works as it should regardless of lighting conditions - a very simple and convenient option that requires practically no additional movements from the user.
Moreover, the camera is equipped with a mechanical "curtain" for those who prefer greater privacy. For obvious reasons, such devices are more common in business laptops. However, MSI also offers them in gaming models. And for such cases, there is also an additional option to bypass the PIN code or other passwords.
To the right under the keyboard is a capacitive fingerprint sensor. It only needs a light touch to activate. It is also a quick login option, but still requires additional actions compared to face scanning. However, it is still much faster than entering passwords. In this regard, the laptop is equipped for various cases and scenarios.
Ports
With the location of the interfaces, we have the case where they are placed on three sides of the top case. Thus, on the left side there are two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, an SD card reader and a separate Kensington lock; on the right there is another USB-A 3.2 Gen2 port next to two Thunderbolt 5 and a combined audio; and behind there is space for connectors with potentially inconvenient wires - Ethernet, HDMI 2.1 and proprietary power.
I would probably like the side ports to be a little further away from the user, as they can get in the way under the right hand during gaming. But in principle, there's nothing to complain about, especially since the number of ports and the convenient placement of some of them at the back eliminate many problems.
Keyboard and trackpad
As is typical of large models, the MSI Raider 18 has a full keyboard with a NUM block. Moreover, it was "stretched" on the top case in such a way that the latter was also full-size, and not "squeezed" next to it. From the point of view of ergonomics, one can have different opinions about such a solution, because users accustomed to smaller keyboards will have to adapt minimally. But on the other hand, those owners who need a numeric keypad will find it much more convenient to work with it.
And the keyboard itself is good. The mechanisms are clear and moderately loud, there is a large left Ctrl, a transparent WSAD block, and the obligatory RGB backlight. It would not hurt to highlight the navigation keys a little, but you can get used to it. And since MSI's gaming lines also have a collaboration with SteelSeries, there is also a corresponding utility. And it is used not only for adjusting the backlight, but has a number of additional functions that do not even concern the keyboard.
The trackpad is located almost in the center of the top case. It seems relatively small, but with a size of approximately 131×82 mm, the touch surface is enough for everyday tasks. Moreover, it does not get in the way of the hand, which will be a nice bonus for fans of shooters. And the manufacturer did not add any unusual functions, and in a laptop of this class this is not a fundamental point. The main thing is that there are no problems with cursor positioning and gestures.
On the other hand, it's unlikely that users of such systems will use the trackpad often. And disabling it, just in case, while gaming is also quite simple - Fn+F4.
Camera and sound
Manufacturers are cautious about webcams for such laptops, so the MSI Raider 18 has a fairly standard 2-megapixel sensor. There is support for several additional effects options and the image is generally quite good. In addition, the camera tries to reduce the amount of digital noise, and it is quite good. For online communication in indoor conditions, this will be enough.
The situation with the microphones located nearby is also similar to most modern ones. By default, they are too sensitive to any small sounds and have strong static noise. However, with literally one switch in the AI Noise Cancellation Pro section in MSI Center, you can get rid of all this. And it works surprisingly well. Of course, gamers already have headsets or separate microphones without this, but for basic communication you can also use built-in solutions.
And for sound reproduction, the laptop received four speakers and two more subwoofers, and for their arrangement there is the Nahimic utility from SteelSeries. And with additional settings you can get a more interesting sound than the basic one. However, with such a number of speakers and the overall size of the laptop, expectations were higher. Music will still be more pleasant in headphones, although the speakers will be enough for the sound of movies, TV series, podcasts, etc.
But let's be realistic, it's unlikely that the owner of such a laptop doesn't have an external sound source for entertainment, and for gaming it's still better to use headphones, because the cooling of such laptops has never been quiet.
Productivity and software
MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW also offers variability in the choice of the main components of the system. There is both an Intel and AMD platform, and both cases are accompanied by fresh graphics from NVIDIA. Moreover, the configurations available in Ukraine offer flagship processors and a choice of graphics accelerators between RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. All this is also accompanied by a decent memory capacity, and most of the other components practically do not differ from model to model (only, again, there are the aforementioned matrix options).
The test laptop offers an Intel platform, namely: a 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor (8 powerful cores up to 5.5 GHz, 16 energy-saving cores up to 4.6 GHz, 24 threads, 36 MB cache, up to 85 W), discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 video (16 GB GDDR7, up to 2,287 MHz, up to 175 W), Intel AI Boost NPU (13 TOPS), 64 GB of DDR5-6400 RAM (the maximum for this model is 96 GB) and a PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive with a capacity of 2 TB, and there is also a free slot with support for a higher standard. The official price of such a sample in Ukraine at the time of preparation of the review is 199,999 hryvnias.
The laptop's wireless connection is provided by Intel's Wi-Fi 7, if there is a wired connection, there is an Ethernet port with support for 2.5 Gbps, and for accessories there is Bluetooth 5.4.
Traditionally, the system has several operating modes: ECO-Silent, Balanced and Extreme Performance. At the same time, AI can help with these processes thanks to the MSI AI Engine. For video work, there are also options for working exclusively with discrete or integrated graphics, or MSHybrid (switching to each also requires a quick system reboot).
By choosing the most powerful options, you can get the appropriate test results. Despite the fact that we have almost a flagship model, its performance is still enough for any games or demanding tasks. We practically have a substitute for a good desktop with powerful components that will not force us to limit ourselves in certain moments for several more years. And the manufacturer still left some space for memory upgrades. And be that as it may, the benchmark results do not disappoint.
Games, in principle, too. In our case, the MSI Raider 18 is equipped with a 4K matrix, and the system is quite capable of providing good FPS indicators for such a resolution. Of course, you can reduce it and gain additional frames, but in fact there is not much point in this. So you will be able to enjoy the gameplay.
Conversely, for simpler work, even when there is no power supply or outlet nearby, you can switch to maximum power saving, leave the discrete graphics and still have enough power to bypass some ultrabooks. And I wouldn't say that in such a scenario, basic tasks require more. (It's still difficult to imagine such work with such a "machine", unless the power goes out...)
| Chain | Battery | |
| 3DMark (Steel Nomad) | 5,308 | 323 |
| 3DMark (CPU Profile, max threads) | 17,876 | 3,217 |
| CineBench R24 (single/multi core) | 130 / 2 159 | 97 / 459 |
| PCMark 10 | 12,234 | 4,370 |
But let's get back to the load. The stability of the MSI Raider 18 does not significantly lose, but there was a certain discrepancy in the readings of different tests with the temperature. When the two 3DMark tests did not record a temperature above 75°C, AIDA indicated an average of 98.9°C. And despite this, there was almost no throttling (the 39% indicated in the screenshot occurred only at the start of the test, until the cooling began to reach the required speed). In games, the average temperature did not exceed 85°C. The top case, both during tests and games, heated up slightly in places, but this did not create any discomfort.
The Cooler Boost 5 cooling system itself consists of a pair of fans and seven heat pipes. There is even a small "hook" for the drive. And there is a lot of noise at maximum speeds from the cooling, but not more than from other similar models that we have come across. Still, it is much more comfortable to play with headphones. On the other hand, when there are no demanding tasks, the coolers calmly switch to passive mode and can only occasionally briefly and easily remind of themselves.
From additional "software" the manufacturer adds several utilities to the system. MSI Center is designed to manage work, diagnose problems, find brand updates, etc. It has not undergone significant changes in previous years. For image adjustment there is MSI True Color, and the keyboard and sound are adjusted using the SteelSeries GG and Nahimic Companion add-ons. Again, there is little new for MSI gaming laptops.
Battery life
As one of the largest models, the MSI Raider 18 also has a corresponding battery - 99.9 Wh. But given the large display and powerful components, you shouldn't expect any battery life records. The result of the gaming test was 1 hour 10 minutes, and the "office" test - almost 6 hours. So, for demanding tasks, you still need to have a power outlet nearby. With simpler tasks, such as watching a two-hour movie and with comfortable volume and brightness settings, the laptop lost more than 40% of its charge.
The "against" mobility will also be the complete power supply. But with a capacity of 400 W, it will provide the system with the necessary power. It is also worth considering that the laptop has a proprietary port. And in order not to drain the battery too much, there is no very fast charging here. It takes a little less than 2.5 hours to fully restore the charge.
