MSI shakes up its Stealth lineup at CES 2026
MSI is rewriting its Stealth playbook by moving away from AMD’s Strix Point in the Stealth A16 AI+ and embracing Intel’s Panther Lake-HX for its latest 16-inch flagship. The shift signals a broader industry trend: premium gaming laptops pairing top-tier CPUs with mighty GPUs and smarter cooling. The new Stealth 16 AI+ is positioned to compete head-to-head with the best 16-inch gaming notebooks on the market, featuring a high-end Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop GPU and a refreshed cooling system known as Cooler Boost.
CPU and platform: Intel Panther Lake-HX steps in
While last year’s Stealth A16 AI+ leaned on AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Strix Point for extraordinary AI and performance, MSI now pivots to Intel’s Panther Lake-HX. This platform is designed to deliver elevated multi-threaded performance and strong single-thread efficiency, ideal for gaming, content creation, and AI workloads. The switch reflects Intel’s ongoing push to reclaim premium laptop performance and its synergy with modern, high-end GPUs. The Stealth 16 AI+ combines Panther Lake-HX with top-tier graphics to offer a compelling mix of speed, responsiveness, and power efficiency under load.
GPU: Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop arrives
At the heart of the Stealth 16 AI+ is Nvidia’s RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. This is a leap over previous RTX 50-series laptop options, delivering higher frame rates, more robust ray tracing, and advanced AI features like DLSS 4.0. For gamers, content creators, and researchers who rely on GPU-accelerated workflows, the RTX 5090 Laptop promises smoother performance in AAA titles, VR experiences, and demanding creative software. MSI’s design aims to keep the GPU well-cooled and stable, even during extended sessions on battery or plug-in power.
Cooler Boost tech: smarter cooling for longer sessions
MSI’s Cooler Boost technology is getting an upgrade to handle the thermal demands of the Stealth 16 AI+. The refreshed cooling system is designed to maintain lower thermals and quieter operation under load, which translates into more consistent clocks and better sustained performance. For a gaming notebook that pairs a powerful Intel CPU with a flagship Nvidia GPU, effective cooling isn’t just a feature—it’s a prerequisite for real-world usability and long-term reliability.
Design and display: a sleek, portable powerhouse
Beyond raw performance, the Stealth 16 AI+ keeps MSI’s hallmark blend of portability and premium aesthetics. A 16-inch display with a high refresh rate is expected, delivering vibrant colors and smooth visuals for fast-paced titles. The chassis design prioritizes durability and a quiet, refined silhouette, making it suitable for both on-the-go gaming and professional work trips. Connectivity options, keyboard quality, and speakers round out a package aimed at demanding users who expect premium features without sacrificing portability.
Why this shift matters
The move from AMD Strix Point to Intel Panther Lake-HX on the Stealth 16 AI+ isn’t just about branding. It signals MSI’s intent to optimize for the latest software and driver ecosystems, including AI-assisted workflows and optimized gaming stacks that leverage Intel’s platform advantages. The combination with an RTX 5090 Laptop positions MSI to challenge other premium 16-inch lines that balance CPU performance with top-tier GPU capabilities, all while offering improved thermals and sustained performance throughCooler Boost tech.
What’s next for MSI’s stealth strategy
As CES 2026 developments unfold, fans and professionals will want to see how MSI rounds out the Stealth 16 AI+ with battery life figures, real-world gaming benchmarks, and feature details like I/O options and storage configurations. If MSI can deliver on CPU-GPU synergy, cooler efficiency, and a compelling price-to-performance ratio, the Stealth 16 AI+ could redefine expectations for high-end 16-inch gaming laptops in 2026.
