I tested MSI's latest gaming laptop, and it works just as hard as it plays

pros and cons

Pros

• Powerful hardware
• Sleek build
• Powerful speakers

Cons

• Gets warm
• Limited color accuracy

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As a midrange model, the MSI Cyborg 15 isn't the strongest gaming laptop, but it doesn't need to be. Instead, it's a well-rounded machine that pulls double duty. On one hand, it is a solid gaming PC with enough horsepower to run modern titles at high settings. 

On the other, it can easily act as a low-cost workstation, capable of handling hardware-intensive projects and seamless multitasking. It also boasts a slimmer form factor than most gaming laptops for easier travel.

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That said, it isn't without compromises. The performance of the Cyborg 15 comes up short in a few areas: the display leaves much to be desired, and it can run warm. Even so, if you're looking for a laptop that can work just as hard as it plays, this PC comes recommended.

Debatably bold

Rather than an all-black chassis, MSI opted for a "cyberpunk-inspired" design for the Cyborg 15. I wouldn't call it "bold" as MSI does on the product page (it's still predominantly black and gray) but it has enough personality to distinguish itself. The most distinctive of these elements is the textured palm rest. MSI states this finish has anti-scratch properties to ensure the laptop looks good long after purchase. Apparently, the texture is supposed to invoke the grittiness of cyberpunk aesthetics. While that is open to interpretation, it does give the Cyborg 15 a unique look.

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In fact, design details are largely cosmetic. The curvature of the rear exhaust vents, for example, doesn't appear to serve any practical purpose beyond matching the laptop's aesthetics. Around the Cyborg 15, you'll find the letters "C" and "Y" arranged in the shape of a heart as the line's logo, further reinforcing the theme. 

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Contrary to its rugged appearance, the Cyborg 15 is surprisingly sleek. At 4.37 pounds, it is relatively lightweight for a gaming laptop. Its weight is evenly distributed, making it feel lighter than its specs sheet suggests. It even passes the one-finger test. The trackpad however, is on the small side. I found it a bit cramped while navigating the internet and would've liked a larger surface. Thankfully, it supports multitouch gestures, like two-finger scrolling, to improve the navigation experience. 

The laptop's audio system was a pleasant surprise. MSI's machine houses a pair of 2W speakers enhanced by DTS Audio Processing. The result is crystal clear audio with punchy bass and enough volume to completely immerse the listener. But I wish I could be more positive toward the display.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

The Cyborg 15 features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) screen with a 144Hz refresh rate to ensure gameplay feels fluid. Color reproduction is accurate enough, I would say. It supports the entire RGB color space, but nothing about this screen is impressive. There isn't any special visual enhancement software to improve the output. Compared to other gaming laptops, the Cyborg 15 could come off as a little dull.

Performance and use case

My review unit came with a well-balanced configuration: an Intel Core 7 240H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. It's close, but compared to other laptops in its class, the Cyborg 15 gets inched out by more expensive machines. 

Still, the Cyborg 15 still performs quite well. Running dozens of Chrome tabs alongside Discord, Spotify, VLC Media Player, and Microsoft Office apps didn't slow the system down a twinge. It has enough power to handle heavy image editing on Photoshop and video editing on Adobe Premiere Pro quite well: I was able to freely edit some 4K drone footage I recorded on this PC. Also, as a generic work/school laptop, MSI's model performs perfectly. Apps launch almost instantly, web pages load just as fast, and it wakes from sleep the moment you open the lid.

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As a productivity machine, my testing shows that so long as you keep things light, the Cyborg 15 can handle it. My personal projects weren't so heavy that I encountered any significant throttling. Benchmarks tell a different story. Test results show that performance may throttle under specific heavy workloads, such as editing a long 4K video with complex timelines or multiple effects.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

As you'd expect from a laptop equipped with 16GB of RAM and an RTX 5060 GPU, this is a solid gaming machine. I spent several hours playing Civilization VI, and the laptop handled the game's large maps and hundreds of on-screen units without any noticeable slowdown. It also remained responsive throughout lengthly sessions: I saw similarly strong performance across Monster Hunter Wilds, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Call of Duty, and Remnant 2.

The biggest issue with the hardware is heat. The Cyborg 15 features MSI's proprietary thermal tech, Cooler Boost, which draws in more air to keep temperatures as low as possible. However, I found the cooling system less effective here than on other models. While playing Civilization 6, the fans became quite loud, and the chassis got pretty warm. I couldn't really use the keyboard without some discomfort. Performance, thankfully, stayed consistent despite the high heat -- it never once throttled under load.

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Heat varies depending on the game you play. Civ 6 caused temperatures to rise, and it was the only one to do so. None of the other titles caused major heat spikes. Regarding battery life, the Cyborg 6 lasted a bit longer than the average gaming laptop. It averaged about six hours on a single charge, and that's after I optimized the hardware to prioritize efficiency over power.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're interesting in buying the same configuration I had, you'll have to wait a little while. An MSI representative told me that my model isn't expected to launch until mid-August. If you don't want to wait, Newegg is selling a Cyborg 15 configuration that is nearly identical for $1,199. The main difference is that Newegg's listing has only 512GB of storage, not 1TB.

Overall, I can comfortably recommend the MSI Cyborg 15 to anyone shopping for a midrange gaming laptop. I've found its shortcomings don't hamper the user experience in any major way.