MSI Cyborg 14 A13V Laptop Review: A Stylish, Compact Laptop With Decent Performance
We attended the MSI laptop launch event here in the Philippines this year and were able to see the MSI laptops that will be available in the country. Even the MSI Claw, their gaming handheld device, was showcased, and we had the opportunity to try it out for a few minutes. Hopefully, we will get a chance to review it and share our thoughts about it.
This time, we will be reviewing the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V laptop, positioned for portability while still offering decent performance. Read the full review to learn about the capabilities of this laptop.
Table of Contents
MSI Cyborg 14 A13V Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13620H |
|---|---|
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Display | 14″ 144Hz IPS 16:10 Aspect Ratio |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD PCie Gen 4 |
| Accessories included in the box: | 120W Adaptor |
| Price | Php 76,995 |
The Design
It’s great to see that MSI didn’t go overboard with the gaming design aspect, as we usually see with other gaming laptops from MSI. I really like how they made the bottom chassis translucent, matching the simple, classy design of the display panel. Additionally, they didn’t make the MSI Gaming logo stand out too much; it blends in nicely with the panel.
When you open up the laptop, you’ll notice it doesn’t open up much, making it a bit difficult to use when placed on your lap. The keyboard lacks a numpad, and the arrow keys are cramped on the edge, grouped with the page down and page up keys. In our experience, typing on this keyboard often leads to accidental hits of these keys. The keyboard design features translucent accents on the WASD keys and the power button to match the chassis design.
Additionally, I want to share what my friend Kevin Evangelista mentioned about the font used for the gaming keyboard of MSI, which bears a striking resemblance to the font from Spiderman 3, which I found amusingly similar upon closer inspection. The keyboard only illuminates one color, light blue, which complements the translucent accents it has.
Typing with the keyboard is clicky and satisfying. Below the keyboard is the trackpad that is decently size. Using it was smooth and responsive but we encounter some issues when my palm is resting hard on the palm area of the laptop which tends the touchpad registered it was clicking. So if you will be getting this just a heads up with the palm area.
At just 1.6kg, the laptop offers impressive performance without sacrificing portability, making it comparable to standard work laptop in weight.
The placement of the I/O ports on the MSI Cyborg 14 struck me as a bit unconventional. They positioned the ports that you’ll likely use most frequently on the right side, where most people typically place their mouse. On the right side, you’ll find the Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, Type-C (USB3.2 Gen2 / DP), HDMI 2.1 port, and DC power connection. In contrast, the left side has fewer ports, including another Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, Audio Jack port, and a Kensington lock. Surprisingly, they managed to include an ethernet jack on the back of this laptop.
As for the webcam that is placed on the center top of the laptop display it is only a 720p.
The Display and Speaker
The display of the MSI Cyborg 14 A13V is a 14-inch 144Hz IPS display. It has a display ratio of 16:10 and a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. The screen bezels are average.
Checking the display quality of the MSI Cyborg 14 using the SpyderX Pro, we obtained the following results: 99% of sRGB, 75% of AdobeRGB, 76% of P3, and 70% of NTSC. For the Display Gamma, we got a 2.0 which moderately saturated that is leaning towards accuracy without being overly vibrant or muted. It will give you a good visual experience across different type of content and environments. You can also do graphics or video editing as it is accurately reproduces a vast majority of colors within the sRGB color space.
With a peak brightness of 900 nits, this screen remains easily visible even in direct sunlight, ensuring clear visibility of your work. Its high brightness makes it ideal for use in various environments, providing clarity and comfort without straining your eyes.
For the speakers, there are two located underneath the laptop. They deliver clear and loud sound, providing a satisfying audio experience.
The Performance
The MSI Cyborg 14 A13V features an Intel Core i7-13620H, boasting 10 cores—6 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores—with a max turbo frequency of 4.9GHz. Its GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPU, reaches up to a 1470MHz Boost Clock and is equipped with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM. Additionally, it comes with 16GB DDR5-5200 RAM in dual-channel configuration, expandable up to 64GB, and a 512GB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4 for storage.
In our performance test, we employed various benchmarking applications and game tests, all conducted while the laptop was plugged in and set to AI Smart Auto, automatically adjusting system settings based on usage. Benchmark results demonstrated strong performance within its price range. Gaming performance allows for smooth gameplay in esports and casual titles, though AAA games may require some graphics settings adjustments for optimal performance.
In real-world usage scenarios such as video editing, graphic design, web browsing, and document typing, the laptop performed admirably, handling tasks without any notable issues.
During our temperature testing, the CPU peaked at around 92°C during benchmarking, which is acceptable. During normal usage, CPU temperatures hovered around 80°C, while GPU temperatures remained around 60°C, showcasing excellent thermal management despite utilizing only one fan.
The Battery
As it has a smaller chassis, they only managed to fit a 3-cell 53.5Whrs battery. Despite this limitation, they have extended the battery life through tweaks such as automatically reducing the monitor refresh rate to 60Hz when running on battery. Additionally, it switches to Super Battery mode when the battery hits 30% to further prolong usage. In our YouTube playback test at 50% brightness, it managed 4 hours and 47 minutes, which is decent for a gaming laptop of this size. In our real-world test, after an hour of use from 100%, it dropped to 56%, and after another hour, it reached 20% battery.
MSI Cyborg 14 A13V Verdict
The MSI Cyborg 14 A13V is priced at Php 76,995, making it competitively priced. It features a stylish design with minimalist gaming aesthetics, appealing to those who prefer a more understated look for work or school. Despite its small size, the laptop offers decent performance, and certain individuals may be particularly drawn to it for its inclusion of an ethernet port.
My only complaints about the laptop is the hinge, which opens to a limited angle, and the touchpad, which sometimes responds oddly when my palm rests firmly on the palm rest area. But some people might want the keyboard to be RGB to be. However, aside from these issues, it’s a pretty good laptop for its price.
