Excellent value!
There has been a little FUD and disparaging commentary out there in the tech press regarding the Intel integrated G7/Xe graphics. My advice is **Pay no attention** This reviewed MSI system has an Intel i7-1185G7 with integrated G7 graphics. Intel finally has an integrated graphics with really decent graphics performance. It won't compete with high-end Nvidia and AMD discrete GPUs for gaming, but, for everything else, it is more than adequate. Specifically, I tested a number of "4K" 3840x2160p60 HDR video streams, and, the system is actually cruising, running cool and silent. A Youtube 4K 60fps test video used by some as a benchmark showed 0 (zero, zed) frame drops in 4K. Unfortunately, the MSI doesn't have a built-in HDMI port, but, I inserted a TB3/4 USB-C => HDMI 2.1 adapter, it negotiated with the TV to 3840x2160p60 10-bit HDR, and the results from 25-30 Mbps quality 4K videos are great. And, while viewing 4K videos, the system was so cool and quiet that it could actually be used as a laptop. In fact, it even tested out with one of the few 8K 60 fps (7680x4320p60) videos available and it looked fine with less than .1% frame drops (at 4K - I don't have an 8K monitor).
Note that this is a 16GB system-- I would advise anyone to get 16GB (not 8GB) to ensure that you get full use-- the integrated graphics sometimes does requisition 4-5GB of the available memory.
Other features about the MSI that I like are the two TB4/power USB-C ports, the almost symmetric keyboard that thankfully has no numeric keypad, the very-good not-glossy HD display, the decent keyboard, and the excellent touchpad (far better than most windows laptops - more like an Apple in fact). Overall, the system feels a lot like a MacBook Air-- that is a good thing compared to most Windows laptops. Graphics performance is comparable to a previous generation laptop a family member uses that has an Nvidia 960M GPU. That system is heavier and noisier, and, when I compared graphics performance, is similar in graphics performance. In my testing, the 1185G7 has similar performance to the 960M.
This laptop is an ultralight - light, compact, quiet, runs cool, has a great-feeling trackpad, and phenomenal performance for such a minimalist system. Less is more in several ways -- no discrete GPU, and no numeric keypad. The Intel 1185G7 and the Apple M1 represent the next wave of integrated CPU/GPU that have more than enough CPU and GPU speed for almost all everyday uses.
What's missing from this MSI? Built-in HDMI 2.1 port, built-in wired Ethernet port, one more USB-A port. I would have sprung for a 4K display, but, unfortunately, it is difficult to find one without a discrete GPU added. So I went with the HD display. I would have appreciated 1 and 2 TB SSD options. For the price, this ultralight has amazing performance.
| Standing screen display size | 13.3 Inches |
|---|---|
| Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Max Screen Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz core_i5 |
| Hard Drive | 512 GB SSD |
| Graphics Coprocessor | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Chipset Brand | Intel |
| Card Description | Integrated |
| Number of USB 3.0 Ports | 3 |
