MSI Crosshair 15 review
The MSI MSI Crosshair 15 ranks as the #471 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 72. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #117-ranked connectivity among 666 laptops. Consider the MSI Cyborg 14 or LG gram 15, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The MSI Crosshair 15 is an average gaming laptop that's pricey at $2000. While it offers great gaming performance, the battery life is surprisingly poor for its 90Wh size. The fans are either too loud or too quiet, with no middle ground. The ports are also lacking, especially the presence of USB 2.0 in 2022. Overall, it's a decent laptop but not worth the premium price tag. Other gaming laptops offer more features at lower prices. If you're set on this design or need top-tier specs, consider waiting for a potential price drop. Otherwise, there are better value options available.
Build
The MSI Crosshair 15's build quality is largely satisfactory, with an overall plastic construction that doesn't impress. However, the 1440p screen boasts good color gamut and acceptable brightness, although response time is merely adequate. The overdrive mode disappointingly fails to deliver any noticeable improvement. A notable concern is the screen wobble issue, which detracts from the laptop's otherwise decent build quality. Additionally, my unit suffered from a peculiar touchpad problem that resulted in an annoying clunky noise on one side. It's unclear if this is a widespread issue or a unique problem with my specific model. MSI Raider GE67 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded build.
Display
The MSI Crosshair 15's display is a highlight, boasting good color gamut and brightness. The 1440p screen delivers decent performance for gaming and everyday use. However, the response time could be improved, and the overdrive mode doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Overall, the display is average, but gets the job done. Its 14-inch size may not be ideal for some users, but it's a minor quibble in an otherwise decent package. The display's quality is adequate, but not exceptional, making it an okay feature among this laptop's overall performance. For an improved display, MSI GV15 Thin is worth considering.
Performance
The MSI Crosshair 15 delivers solid performance for gaming and content creation. The laptop's 3070 GPU handles modern games at 1440p with decent settings, although it may not outperform others with MUX switches or higher power limits. The 12th gen processor also shines in professional workloads like DaVinci Resolve and SPECviewperf. However, battery life is surprisingly poor despite the 90Wh battery size. Gaming performance modes offer customization options, but the fan noise can be inconsistent - either too loud or too quiet. Overall, the Crosshair 15 provides respectable performance for its price point, although some may find it overpriced compared to other 3070 gaming laptops with more features. You might want to check out MSI Modern 15, featuring an upgraded performance for a superior experience.
Battery and Charging
The battery life of the MSI Crosshair 15 is surprisingly poor, considering its 90Wh size. In my tests, it struggled to last more than 5 hours with moderate use. The charging speed is also not impressive, taking around 2 hours to fully charge from empty. Overall, the laptop's power management could be improved to make it a more competitive option in the gaming market.
Connectivity
The MSI Crosshair 15's connectivity is somewhat lacking. The laptop features USB 2.0 ports, which feels outdated in 2022. The I/O ports are also located on the right side, which can make cable management awkward. A more comprehensive port selection, including newer USB standards, would be a welcome addition to this otherwise solid gaming laptop. If you're after top-notch connectivity, consider MSI Raider GE67.
Features
The MSI Crosshair 15 boasts a 1440p screen with good color gamut and brightness, although the overdrive mode is underwhelming. It features a 90Wh battery with decent RAM, but poor battery life. The laptop runs hot and has loud fans that can be customized to some extent. It’s worth checking out MSI Thin GF63, delivering remarkable features.
Support and Maintenance
The MSI Crosshair 15 offers decent gaming performance, but its build quality is somewhat lacking. The laptop's maintenance aspect is also subpar, with a large battery size that surprisingly yields poor battery life. While the keyboard and touchpad work fine out of the box, screen brightness adjustment and audio functionality require additional drivers. Overall, maintenance and support are not the Crosshair 15's strongest suits.
Pros
1. Gaming performance was great, I mean yeah sure, not quite as good as some other 3070 laptops with a MUX switch or higher GPU power limits, but regardless you'll be running modern games at 1440p decent settings no problem on this hardware.
2. The 1440p screen was quite good in terms of color gamut and brightness was acceptable. Response time was alright, but the overdrive mode didn't seem to do anything.
3. Shipping it with decent RAM was a plus
4. You can still use the up arrow key to max out the fans and keyboard lighting adjustment works too.
Cons
1. The laptop was surprisingly poor considering the 90Wh size of the battery
2. The fans could use some tuning. The laptop is more audible compared to a lot of others, and it's either too loud or too quiet.
3. The screen wobble and weird touchpad problem were notable issues
4. The ports weren't amazing, USB 2.0 in 2022 feels a bit rough
FAQ
Compare with other laptops
See how this item stacks up against any other model
Choose two different items to see a detailed comparison of their specifications, performance, and features