One loud and proud gaming mega-laptop
While many gaming laptops balance portability and power, MSI’s Raider 18 HX AI throws compromise out the window: This machine goes for power, top to bottom. Starting at $3,999 (as tested), this 18-inch beast tips the scales at nearly eight pounds and delivers top-tier performance with its Intel Core Ultra 9 HX processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. You’ll find all the latest, most power-packed technology in this laptop, including a breathtaking 4K mini-LED display, Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and PCI Express 5.0 storage. For gamers seeking the pinnacle of performance, the Raider 18 earns our Editors’ Choice award for big-screen gaming laptops.Configurations: Strictly High Performance
At the time of this writing, the Raider 18 HX AI comes in two configurations. Our test unit, if it can be called the « entry level » model, features a Core Ultra 9 285HX processor (24 cores, 5.5GHz turbo), an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with a 175W power ceiling, 64GB of DDR5-6400 RAM, and a 4TB SSD array (two 2TB drives in RAID 0, one of which is PCI Express 5.0). The step-up $5,099 version gets a more powerful GeForce RTX 5090 but cuts the storage to 2TB, with all other specs remaining unchanged. MSI also sells an AMD variant of the Raider dubbed the A18, which includes a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and a GeForce RTX 5080 for $4,099. (A $5,099 RTX 5090 version with that AMD X3D chip is also coming.)
Positioned beneath the Titan line in MSI’s lineup, the Raider family of gaming machines delivers comparable performance in a less elaborate chassis. In turn, it’s more powerful but less portable than MSI’s Stealth line.Design: Bigger and Badder Than Almost Everything
There’s no mistaking the Raider 18’s size: At 1.26 by 15.9 by 12.1 inches (HWD) and 7.94 pounds, it’s hefty, even by the standards of 18-inch laptops. By comparison, the Razer Blade 18 (0.86 by 15.7 by 10.8 inches, 6.8 pounds) and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (1.2 by 15.7 by 11.6 inches, 6.61 pounds) are noticeably lighter and more compact. (Not that any 18-inch machine qualifies as truly portable, mind you.)
While the Raider’s sheer size already makes it visually imposing, red-accented air vents along the rear and sides amplify its aggressive look. RGB elements, including a glowing lid logo and a front-facing light bar, further the flair and can be customized for effects and colors via the MSI Center app. The per-key RGB backlit keyboard adds another layer of flash, providing nearly limitless lighting effects through the SteelSeries GG app.
MSI’s build quality is reliable and thorough, prone to only minimal flex. That said, the predominantly plastic chassis’ lower half doesn’t impart the premium feeling you might expect from a laptop this expensive, even if the lid is metal.
The arsenal of ports on this laptop includes two Thunderbolt 5 (USB Type-C, 80Gbps), four USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an SD card reader, an HDMI 2.1 video output, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The laptop also includes a Killer wireless card supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
MSI ships each Raider with a clean install of Windows 11 Home, free of bloatware. MSI’s Center app handles system updates, hardware monitoring, and customization options, including toggling the Windows key, swapping Fn and Windows key functions, enabling an on-screen crosshair, and switching between hybrid and discrete GPU modes via the MUX switch. Additional software includes the Nahimic app for audio tuning and the SteelSeries GG app for keyboard customization. While MSI covers the laptop with an industry-standard one-year warranty, more extended coverage would have been preferable on a laptop this expensive.Display, Keyboard, and Touchpad: 4K Mini-LED Is Unreal
The Raider’s hallmark feature is undoubtedly its mini-LED panel. It’s the closest laptop alternative to a desktop monitor, measuring 18 inches diagonally and with a tall 16:10 aspect ratio.
