MSI Raider 18 HX review: “the RTX 4090 at its best”

2024-11-04

GamesRadar+ VerdictThe MSI Raider 18 HX is an incredibly powerful gaming laptop that doesn’t top even its own brand’s price charts. If you’re going all in on performance, this is where you need to be looking right now.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$2,384.99at Walmart$3,399at TargetCheck AmazonPros+Incredible power+Solid 4K performance+Cheaper than the Titan+High-end 4K display+Solid port selectionCons-Lower quality build than the Titan-Particularly loud fans

GamesRadar+ Verdict

The MSI Raider 18 HX is an incredibly powerful gaming laptop that doesn’t top even its own brand’s price charts. If you’re going all in on performance, this is where you need to be looking right now.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$2,384.99at Walmart$3,399at TargetCheck Amazon

TODAY’S BEST DEALS$2,384.99at Walmart$3,399at TargetCheck Amazon

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

$2,384.99at Walmart$3,399at TargetCheck Amazon

$2,384.99at Walmart

$3,399at Target

Check Amazon

Pros+Incredible power+Solid 4K performance+Cheaper than the Titan+High-end 4K display+Solid port selection

Incredible power

Solid 4K performance

Cheaper than the Titan

High-end 4K display

Solid port selection

Cons-Lower quality build than the Titan-Particularly loud fans

Lower quality build than the Titan

Particularly loud fans

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy.

The MSI Raider 18 HX isn’t the only behemoth weighing down this brand’s shelves. I recently reviewed the astronomically priced MSI Titan 18 HX, a machine that topped my own benchmarking charts with a massive chassis and top-of-the-range components.

What’s different here? Mostly, the price. The MSI Raider 18 HX is the Titan for those who don’t want to break $5K, packing the same high-end RTX 4090 / Intel i9-14900HX configuration as well as cheaper RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 options. The cheaper model drops some fancier features like the built-in glass trackpad, mechanical keyboard, and full aluminum chassis, but it’s still the same core experience - a luxury powerhouse for the wealthiest gamers among us. With the Titan currently sitting among thebest gaming laptopson the market due to its sheer power, the Raider certainly has a lot to live up to.

Swipe to scroll horizontallyKey SpecsSpecsTestedAlso AvailablePrice$3,999.99 / £4,699.99$3,179.99 / £3,699.99Display18-inch 4K Mini LED at 120Hz18-inch QHD+ at 240HzProcessorIntel Core i9-14900HX-GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090RTX 4070 | RTX 4080RAM64GB DDR5 5,60032GBStorage2TB NVMe SSD PCle Gen41TBConnectivityIntel Killer WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4-Ports2x Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Micro SD, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x Ethernet-Dimensions1.26 x 15.9 x 12.1 inch-Weight3.6kg-

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Key SpecsSpecsTestedAlso AvailablePrice$3,999.99 / £4,699.99$3,179.99 / £3,699.99Display18-inch 4K Mini LED at 120Hz18-inch QHD+ at 240HzProcessorIntel Core i9-14900HX-GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090RTX 4070 | RTX 4080RAM64GB DDR5 5,60032GBStorage2TB NVMe SSD PCle Gen41TBConnectivityIntel Killer WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4-Ports2x Thunderbolt 4, 3x USB Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x Micro SD, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x Ethernet-Dimensions1.26 x 15.9 x 12.1 inch-Weight3.6kg-

Design

(Image credit: Future)

Side view of MSI Raider 18 HX on a wooden gaming desk

The MSI Raider 18 HX is no slimline machine, following in the same Titan footsteps as the more premium model. It retains the same proportions as the more expensive laptop, sitting thicker than both theRazer Blade 18(0.86-inches) and theAlienware M18(0.98-inches) with a 1.26-inch height and a 3.6kg weight. That’s considerably heavier than the 3.1kgRazerBlade, but actually lighter thanAlienware’s 18-inch entry (4.23kg). This is a big, chunky footprint, but not necessarily a dense one, then. That means it’s still difficult to transport the Raider with any real semblance of comfort, but it’s not going to weigh down your bag quite as much as an Alienware device if you do need to take it on the road.

From the top down, the Raider bears a striking resemblance to theMSI Titan 18 HX. MSI has been preaching from the same design book with both of these machines, with a textured rear shelf, clean black lid, RGB-lit MSI shield, and angular side paneling. Last year I lamented the outdated look and feel of theMSI Raider GE78, with its red lining, squat design, and simple textures. This is a night and day difference.

Whereas the premium Titan features higher-end materials across the shelf, the Raider sticks with a softer plastic, but the matte aesthetic still remains across the top. The sides and rear vents feature a splash of MSI-style red within the grills themselves, and while the Titan boasts a hardcore metallic underside the Raider trades this industrial vibe for a more relaxed black plastic. This is still a beast of a machine with a sturdy feel overall, but the drop in build materials shows its face in wobble and flex.

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Raider 18 HX rear lid panel shot from the back of the laptop, with RGB on

The main deck area inside is a lot easier to manipulate and the keyboard itself is partial to just a slight flexing when pressure is increased a little over usual typing force. Screen wobble is most noticeable when opening the lid, but is still perceived when typing particularly hard or quickly. The hinge itself feels solid and smooth with no creaks, but it’s not quite tight enough to keep things completely still. It sits in line with most gaming laptops - but this isn’t a price tag that many of them share.

Inside, the main deck has a vastly different visual design compared to the Titan. The main deck has been gamerfied, with two diagonal lines raising the edges on the left and right. It’s far from the more gaudy aesthetics I’ve seen in cheaper machines, but you may still struggle to forget you’re using a gaming laptop during business hours. There’s no cringey text or ‘Warning’ stamps on here, though, (looking at youAsus TUF A15). Instead, those diagonal cut-outs are framed with grills that sit fairly subtly in an all-black design. It’s a statement, but it’s certainly not screaming it in your face.

(Image credit: Future)

Keyboard and trackpad on inside of MSI Raider 18 HX

Thankfully, MSI has removed the all-in-one glass trackpad design from the Titan. The premium model features a fancy RGB clicker that blends seamlessly with the rest of the palm rest area - which looks cool and everything but is a nightmare to actually use. I was constantly missing the trackpad, running over the edge of it, and accidentally swiping during use - so I’m glad things are more restrained in the Raider. This is still a fairly thick rest area, with the keyboard feeling just a little squished into the top portion of the deck. That’s par for the course in these larger 18-inch models, though, and you’re still getting a full keyboard layout.

Features

The star of the show here is that 18-inch Mini LED 4K UHD panel, it’s a massive, super-bright display with excellent color saturation and a particularly vivid effect. The screen packs a 120Hz refresh rate, the slowest speed one would expect from a gaming laptop but a far more common spec in 4K machines. That’s still going to be a deal-breaker if you’re dropping resolution down to FHD or QHD for a boost in framerates, and even 4K performance from my RTX 4090 configuration could stand to benefit from at least a 144Hz panel in lighter games. For the most part, though, a 120Hz refresh rate is going to serve your UHD gameplay just fine. That’s the same display that features on the Titan model, with the same pinpoint attention to detail, eye-popping clarity, and local dimming HDR support. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, with a slightly higher range than that of the Razer Blade 18.

(Image credit: Future)

Close up on MSI Raider 18 HX display running Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark in 4K

This is a gaming laptop set up for high-resolution, immersive gameplay rather than high-speed 1080p competitive settings. That means MSI has gone big on internal components. The configuration I’ve been testing comes tricked out with an RTX 4090 graphics card, top-of-the-range Intel i9-14900HX processor, and 16GB RAM. At its most conservative, you’re still looking at that high-end CPU paired up with an RTX 4070 and 32GB DDR5 RAM. To fully make the most of that 4K Mini LED display, though, the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 models are going to be the main sellers here. Those kinds of specs are going to see you through new releases for years to come, especially with WiFi 7 under the hood.

18-inch gaming laptops are designed to completely replace desktop options, which means they need a substantial collection of ports. Whereas more portable machines prioritize efficiency in their connections, rigs like the MSI Raider 18 HX need to provide tower-like compatibility. The 2024 Raider matches the Titan’s impressive port offerings in both breadth and placement. You’re getting not just one but two Thunderbolt 4 ports as well as three USB-As packed in here, with an HDMI 2.1, micro SD card reader, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio for good measure. Both of those USB-C Thunderbolts also carry DisplayPort compatibility for more video-out options.

That’s an excellent supply of ports, making light work of most headset, keyboard, and mouse setups while also keeping USB-Cs free for more dynamic uses. Most of these connections are split across the left and right - at least, the ports you’re likely to swap in and out regularly are. The rear flank houses more permanent cables, hosting the HDMI, power, and Ethernet ports nicely. That’s excellent for keeping things a little tidier, though with all that space I would have appreciated at least one of those USB-As and USB-Cs to be placed at the back - especially considering both Thunderbolt options.

(Image credit: Future)

Left side of MSI Raider 18 HX with hinge slightly closed, showing ports and ventilation

In the middle of all that you’ll find a full-sized keyboard and a sizeable but ultimately disappointing trackpad. While fewer players are going to pay too much attention to that pointer, I would have expected something a little more sophisticated than this heavy, mushy pad from a $4,000 laptop. There’s a particularly high travel in this pad which makes pushing for a click hard work. Interestingly, the keyboard (another departure from the Titan’s high-end build) seems to suffer from the opposite problem. There’s not quiteenoughfeedback on the keyboard itself to feel truly satisfying.

A low travel distance, lack of distinct snap, and softer feel make this feel like a much cheaper keyboard than it really should. I quickly found myself missing the full mechanicalSteelSeriesimplementation in the Titan. Still, I’m glad to see full-sized arrow buttons remain in here. Many gaming laptops (even larger 18-inch models) halve these clickers to save space on the main deck area. Reaching over to these in-game feels natural and easy with no missed taps.

Like most MSI gaming laptops, the Raider 18 HX ships with the brand’s own control software. This is still a fiddly piece of kit, with strangely counterintuitive menus and simple controls hidden behind multiple layers of navigation. It is, however, a nicely clean piece of software with no marketing gimmicks or overly ‘gamey’ graphics. The Raider can also take advantage of the MSI AI Engine, a more optimized power setting that allows the system to divert resources to systems it bets will need them next.

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Center running on MSI Raider 18 HX display

If you’re replacing your entire setup with an 18-inch gaming laptop, the webcam and speaker need to live up to expectations. The 1080p lens on the Raider is fine - it performs much better than a cheaper 720p iteration and produces some crisp images under natural daylight. When those lights dim (as I recently found out with the move to GMT), image quality suffers considerably. Color contrast is far more muddied and movement is slower overall.

Performance

In-game benchmarks saw the Raider claiming the throne across both easier runs like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and The Talos Principle 2 in FHD, though it still dropped below the Alienware M18’s excellent Returnal performance. This is a beast that can speed through the majority of today’s bigger games, but more complex on-screen effects can give it something else to think about. Still, 174fps in high settings at FHD is certainly nothing to be sniffed at - especially considering QHD performance stacks up as well.

The Raider takes a similar minute lead over the Titan when the resolution is cranked up, again only forfeiting that top spot in Returnal’s run. Nevertheless, this is a machine that brings its components together beautifully to deliver flawless quality and three-figure framerates across even the more demanding benchmarks.

That processor isn’t quite doing as much heavy lifting as in other models, though. It’s third in my comparison pool from PC Mark 10’s results, coming behind both the MSI Titan 18 HX andAsusROG Strix Scar 18’s implementations. All these laptops are running the same Intel i9-14900HX, but the Raider’s 8,609 average score suggests there’s something gunking up the works a little. That could prove problematic as game demands from individual CPUs grow higher, especially if you’re pairing your gaming laptop with more content creation tasks.

Overall, the MSI Raider 18 HX offers up fantastic performance, with numbers that beat the Titan (a gaming laptop that currently occupies the ‘most powerful’ moniker in our tier list). This is the fastest gaming laptop I’ve tested yet - but that speed does come with a drawback. The MSI Raider 18 HX is the only rig to have ever left my ears ringing after a benchmark session. When I say these fans are loud, I mean they’re the loudest I’ve ever heard a laptop in all my years of reviewing. You won’t just need one of thebest gaming headsetsto drown these bad boys out - I’d invest in something with dedicated noise canceling.

Should you buy the MSI Raider 18 HX?

(Image credit: Future)

MSI Raider 18 HX laptop on desktop screen on a wooden desk

Today’s best dealsMSI Raider 18 HX$2,384.99ViewSee all pricesLow StockMSI Titan 18 HX$6,649ViewSee all pricesAlienware m18 R2$1,899.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Today’s best deals

MSI Raider 18 HX$2,384.99ViewSee all pricesLow StockMSI Titan 18 HX$6,649ViewSee all pricesAlienware m18 R2$1,899.99ViewSee all prices

MSI Raider 18 HX$2,384.99ViewSee all pricesLow Stock

MSI Raider 18 HX$2,384.99ViewSee all prices

MSI Raider 18 HX 18

MSI Raider 18 HX

Walmart

$2,384.99View

$2,384.99

See all prices

Low Stock

MSI Titan 18 HX$6,649ViewSee all prices

HIDevolution [2024] MSI Titan…

MSI Titan 18 HX

Amazon

$6,649View

$6,649

See all prices

Alienware m18 R2$1,899.99ViewSee all prices

Alienware m18 R2 Gaming Laptop

Alienware m18 R2

Dell

$1,899.99View

$1,899.99

See all prices

We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

How I tested the MSI Raider 18 HX

I used the MSI Raider 18 HX for daily work and play over the course of three weeks. I spent most of that time with the device in the middle of my desk setup, using only the dedicated display and keyboard (I had a gaming mouse plugged in for most of the time, but spent one workday on the trackpad alone). I also tested the rig when connected to a UGreen desk dock and 240Hz QHDSamsungOdyssey monitor for a couple of days. During this time, I was primarily playing through my own backlog, including Hogwarts Legacy, Fallout 4, and - of course - TCG Card Shop Simulator, while also testing directly across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Returnal, and The Talos Principle 2. Synthetic benchmarks were carried out in 3D Mark’s Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad tests, with CPU testing taking place across PC Mark 10, Cinebench R24, and Geekbench 6. For more information onhow we test gaming laptops, check out the fullGamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If you’re between brands, you can also check out thebest Alienware laptopsand thebest Razer laptopsI’ve been testing recently. Or, take a look at thebest gaming PCsfor a full desktop experience.

MSI Raider 18 HX: Price Comparison

$2,384.99ViewLow Stock$3,254.99View$3,284.99View$3,399ViewNo price informationCheck Amazon

$2,384.99ViewLow Stock

$2,384.99View

MSI Raider 18 HX 18

Walmart

$2,384.99View

$2,384.99

Low Stock

$3,254.99View

MSI Raider 18 HX…

Walmart

$3,254.99View

$3,254.99

$3,284.99View

MSI Raider 18 HX…

Walmart

$3,284.99View

$3,284.99

$3,399View

MSI Raider 18 HX 18” 120Hz…

Target

$3,399View

$3,399

No price informationCheck Amazon

Amazon

No price informationCheck Amazon

No price information

We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

CATEGORIESPC GamingPlatforms

Most Popular

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”

Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became”

Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”

Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now"2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Design

Features

Performance

Should you buy the MSI Raider 18 HX?

How I tested the MSI Raider 18 HX

Contents