If you’re on the hunt for a sleek, lightweight gaming laptop that delivers solid performance without breaking the bank. The MSI Cyborg 15 might just be what you’re looking for, with its futuristic design, RTX Series GPU, and 144Hz display promise a great balance of style and power. But is it worth your money? Let’s dive into the details and find out!
Design & Build Quality: Thin, Light, and Edgy
One of the standout features of the MSI Cyborg 15 is its ultra-thin chassis, measuring just 0.9 inches thick and weighing 1.98 kg. This makes it one of MSI’s sleekest gaming laptops to date. The laptop also embraces MSI’s signature translucent aesthetic, which extends to parts of the chassis and keyboard area.
The lid is reinforced with metal, reducing flex and improving durability. However, if you’re a fan of RGB lighting, you might be disappointed—the only lighting present is a blue-backlit keyboard. While this keeps the design more minimalist, some gamers may find the lack of customizable RGB a downside.
Port Selection: Functional but Limited
The Cyborg 15 offers a fairly standard selection of ports, though most are placed on the sides rather than the back, which could be inconvenient for cable management.
Left Side:
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- Headphone/Microphone combo jack
- Kensington lock
Right Side:
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (supports DisplayPort)
- HDMI 2.1
- RJ45 Ethernet port
- DC-in for charging
Keyboard & Trackpad: Comfortable for Typing, Decent for Gaming
The trackpad is spacious and supports Windows Precision drivers, making it responsive and easy to use. Click feedback is satisfying, and the larger size provides ample room for navigation.
The keyboard feels comfortable for both typing and gaming, with good key travel and feedback. However, as mentioned earlier, RGB lovers will miss customizable lighting as the only available color is blue.
Display Quality
The Cyborg 15 features a 15.6-inch 1080p IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming. The viewing angles are great, and for competitive gamers, the high refresh rate provides a smooth experience.
While the color accuracy isn’t the best, it’s still great for gaming and everyday use. The brightness levels are also on the lower side, which could be a drawback for those who frequently use their laptop in well-lit environments.
Webcam & Audio: Basic at Best
The 720p 30FPS webcam provides a basic video experience, suitable for casual video calls. While the colors are soft and the sharpness is limited, it gets the job done for Zoom meetings and everyday use. The microphone is functional, capturing voices well, though it may pick up some background noise.
On the bright side, the dual-speaker setup is a pleasant surprise, delivering clear vocals, solid mids, and decent bass. While it won’t replace dedicated speakers or gaming headsets, it outperforms expectations for a laptop in this price range.
Performance & Thermals: A Mixed Bag
Now, let’s talk about the hardware and performance. The MSI Cyborg 15 series offers configurations with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20, 30, and 40 Series Laptop GPUs, specifically the RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 models. These GPUs provide advanced AI capabilities and support features like ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex, enhancing gaming performance and responsiveness.
Performance Benchmarks
Here are some benchmark results:
- PC Mark: 6,541 Score
- Cinebench R23: 1,724 (single-core) and 12,459 (multi-core)
- CPU-Z: 730 (single-thread) and 5980.3 (multi-thread)
- 7-Zip: 75,944 MIPS
These scores show that the MSI Cyborg 15 competes is decent.
Gaming Performance: Good for 1080p
We tested the laptop in several popular games, and here are the results:
| Game | Settings | Average FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel Rivals | Optimized (High) Settings Ultra Settings | 60 to 80 FPS 40 to 60 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Ultra Settings Ray Tracing: Ultra Settings | 80 to 100+ FPS 50 to 60+ FPS |
The GPU performs well in most titles, especially when DLSS and Frame Generation are enabled. Esports titles run smoothly, but more demanding AAA games might require tweaking settings to maintain high FPS.
Marvel Rivals Optimized (High) Settings
Cyberpunk 2077 Ray Tracing Ultra Settings
CPU & GPU Temperatures
When it was tested in a graphic-heavy games like Cyberpunk 2077, the i7-13620H averaged 38.9W, while the RTX 4060 hovered around 31.7W. Thermal throttling was observed, particularly on the CPU, which impacted performance consistency during prolonged gaming sessions.
The CPU reached an average temperature of around 90°C under extended workloads, which is on the higher side. On the other hand, the GPU managed a more stable temperature of 69°C, showcasing better thermal efficiency.
Cooling System: Could Be Better
Inside, the Cyborg 15 features a shared heat pipe for the CPU and GPU, a total of three heat pipes, and only one cooling fan. The single-fan setup struggles to keep temperatures in check and on under heavy loads, the fan may get a little bit loud and may not be favorable for some users.
Consider optimizing airflow or investing in external cooling solutions, such as a laptop cooling pad to greatly improve thermal performance.
Upgradability: Streamlined and Efficient
Accessing the back panel reveals a clean, straightforward design that focuses on simplicity. While there’s no additional M.2 slot for expanding storage, the presence of solder pads suggests MSI thoughtfully considered future possibilities.
The RAM slots are easily accessible, offering a total of 16GB (via two 8GB sticks), which is a solid amount for most users. If you ever need more memory, upgrading is possible by replacing the existing RAM sticks, providing an opportunity to customize your setup to meet evolving needs.
Battery Life: Decent for General Use
The 53.5Wh battery delivers:
- 7 hours (idle use)
- 6.4 hours (video playback)
- 5.8 hours (general office tasks)
- 1.2 hours (gaming on battery)
For a gaming laptop, this is fairly standard. Expect to be plugged in most of the time while gaming for optimal performance.
Check out our full video review here:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Final Verdict
The MSI Cyborg 15 is an excellent choice for gamers who value portability and a sleek, modern design. Its thin and lightweight build makes it perfect for gaming on the go, while the 144Hz display ensures smooth and enjoyable gameplay. The laptop delivers solid 1080p gaming performance, complemented by a comfortable keyboard, responsive trackpad, and surprisingly good speakers. While there is room for improvement in display color accuracy and brightness, and the single-fan cooling system may lead to some thermal throttling during extended sessions, these trade-offs are manageable for many users. Though it lacks an extra M.2 slot for storage expansion and Thunderbolt support, the MSI Cyborg 15 remains a strong contender for those seeking a stylish and portable gaming laptop with good performance.
Get Discounts & Freebies on the Cyborg 15!
The Cyborg 15 is currently included in MSI’s ongoing promo for laptops until the end of March. You can get it for as low as Php 37,995 (P3,000 discount) and receive a gift bundle worth up to Php 2,000, including a gaming mouse and mousepad. Check the promo here for more details.
