Cutting-Edge Performance: The MSI Sword 15 Strikes Again
Though pricey, the MSI Sword 15 (Amazon) handles most games well, save the most graphically demanding. Clunky “AI” software, a jet engine cooling arrangement, a bad design, and an uncomfortable keyboard/trackpad layout keep this laptop from gaming brilliance. If you can locate the Sword 15 on sale for under $1,000, it’s a better deal for pushing frames with gobs of storage, RAM, and networking.
The MSI Sword 15 Specifications and Features
| Camera | 720P |
| Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 1, 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0 HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm headphone jack, Ethernet. |
| Networking | Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Battery | 53 Whr |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 15.6- inch, 1920x 1080, 144 Hz, 16:9 |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR4-3200 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-12650H |
| Graphics | RTX 3060 (6GB GDDR6, 1525 MHz Boost Clock, 105 W Max Graphics power) |
| Power Adopter | 240 W |
| Weight | 4.96 pounds (2.23 KG) |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Dimentions | 14.13x 10.20x 0.98 inches (inches (358.9 x 258 x 24.89 mm)) |
| Price as configured | $1,349.99 |
| processor | Intel Core i7-12650H |
| RAM | 16 GB of DDR4-3200 RAM |
Design
The MSI Sword laptop has an attractive look because of its keyboard and lid deck. The keyboard deck and lid are made up of white shimmering plastic, which gives the effect of a pearlescent finish. The MSI Sword 15 laptop has matte finish display features, and the bezels are less along with left and right. However, the top bezels are generally thicker in comparison to the bottom bezels, which have the logo of MSI, which is also situated on the chunky side. The lid and keyboard deck are situated on top and are very smooth; the side features have a brushed finish.
The Sword 15 has the logo of MSI embossed on the lid, which is devoid of color. After lifting up the lid, the keyboard displays white keycaps backlit with blue LEDs. The display of this laptop is about 15.6-inch (16:9) 144 Hz IPS, and the webcam is placed above the top part of about 720P. The design of this laptop is thin, and the weight of this laptop is 4.96 pounds, which is very reasonable for gaming purposes. The port system of this MSI Sword 15 is very plentiful. The basic setup of this laptop is very good for users. On the left side, this laptop has one USB 3.2 Type-A port and one USB 2.0 Type-A port, and the input capacity is about 240 watts. On the right side, this laptop has a 3.5-mm headphone jack and one USB 3.2 Type-A port.
Keyboard and touchpad
The MSI Sword 15 has a full keyboard with a number pad. There are no dedicated keys that will function like screen brightness or volume, but users can access them by using the Fn key. For example, one can use the Fn + F8 combo, which allows the user to process through the different brightness levels for the keyboard backlit. The touchpad of this laptop is about 2.5 x 4.12 inches and is placed to the left of the centre on the keyboard deck. The MSI laptop is designed to make room for a wider and taller touchpad. The accuracy level of this keyboard is about 90.53 percent.
Audio
The MSI Sword laptop has wonderful speaker quality and is placed at the top of the keyboard deck, directly below the display. This laptop has twin 2-watt speakers, and the sound is very good. On this laptop, users can adjust audio settings with the included Realtek and Nahimic apps. The sound of this laptop is very impressive, especially the beat-related songs, action movie sounds, or any horror movie sound effects that are very nicely depicted.
Webcam
The MSI Sword 15 A12UE’s 720p camera is bad. Soft, faded colors and a webcam that struggles to adjust to illumination make the image soft. The camera’s limitations are apparent when streaming or recording video at higher resolutions, but Zoom and Google Meet work fine for 720p or lower video conferences. My microphone captures my voice well and reduces background noise. Audio sounds thin and metallic, but all laptop mics have this issue. In this price range, laptops won’t perform better.’
Connectivity
A variety of USB-C and USB-A ports flank the Sword 15. It has one USB-C and three USB-A (two USB 3.2). We have HDMI, Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. The USB-C port is limited. DisplayPort video and laptop charging are not supported. Testing with a Power Delivery USB-C monitor and power brick confirmed this. It’s disappointing. The latest Lenovo Legion 5 laptops provide up to 135 watts of USB Power Delivery and a USB-C connector with DisplayPort Alternate Mode, like the Dell G7 15. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6. I like the newer Wi-Fi 6E standard; however, a router is needed to take advantage of its performance. Most residences haven’t upgraded.
| PROS | CONS |
| The build-up structure of this laptop is solid with a subdued design. | The audio performance of this laptop is very poor. |
| The ports of this MSI Sword 15 laptop is a wide variety | The quality of the webcam is mediocre. |
| The performance of gaming is good overall. | The fans are thunderous when it is under load. |
FAQs
Should you buy the MSI Sword 15 A12UEL?
The MSI Sword 15 A12UE performs well at an affordable price. Old games run at 60 FPS or higher. Even the hardest games may reach 30 FPS with a few parameters lowered.
Is the MSI Sword 15 good?
We got 60 steady frames per second in most gaming tests—not bad. With its 1080p display and RTX 3060 graphics card, the MSI Sword 15 performed well in most games we tested.
How long do MSI laptops last?
MSI laptops typically last. Like every laptop, an MSI laptop’s lifespan depends on use and care. Properly maintained MSI laptops can last five years or more.
