MSI’s new skinny and light-weight laptops are some of the nice surprises at CES

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• MSI launched two new business-minded laptops at CES 2026 with Intel “Panther Lake” chips. 
• The Status sequence includes a 13, 14, and 16-inch, with commonplace OLED shows. 
• The Trendy sequence is available in a 14 and 16-inch and is priced across the $1,000 mark. 

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MSI is doing one thing totally different this yr at CES.  The gaming laptop computer maker that launched such beasts such because the Titan 18 HX AI final yr, simply introduced two new lineups of skinny and light-weight professionally-minded laptops.

The brand new Status AI+ sequence is the model’s flagship ultraportable line, obtainable in a 13-,14-, and 16-inch clamshell or 2-in-1 convertible within the latter two sizes. They function the brand new Intel Core Extremely Collection 3 “Panther Lake” processors, have commonplace OLED shows, and showcase MSI’s tackle the pro-minded ultraportable with minimalist types. 

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The Trendy sequence is the extra accessible lineup, with a 14- and 16-inch clamshell and barely extra modest {hardware}, with the Intel Core Extremely Collection 3 chips, OLED or IPS shows, and extra restricted battery capacities.

I went hands-on with the brand new laptops forward of CES and located them to be simple opponents to different skinny and light-weight shopper laptops available on the market proper now, with a impartial, MacBook-like design, massive trackpads, and vivid shows. 

The bodily builds alone are definitely fairly nondescript however nonetheless smooth, with a way more fashionable aesthetic than the model’s Enterprise sequence IT launched final yr — which regarded extra like its gaming laptops shrunk right down to measurement. 

There aren’t any flaming Norse dragons right here, as a substitute choosing an all-metal construct with a skinny and exact, prismatic-cut MSI brand on the highest of the clamshell for a minimalist aesthetic that matches their compact builds.  

Additionally: CES 2026 traits to observe: 5 largest matters we’re anticipating on the world’s largest tech present

The Status 13 AI+, specifically, is exceedingly gentle, weighing only one.98 kilos (899 grams). With its 2.8K OLED show and max 64GB of RAM, IT’s a distinct segment product however may doubtlessly compete with a tool like Microsoft’s Floor Professional. Battery life appears to be like equally good, with MSI quoting as much as 19 hours of video playback with the 75Whr cell. 

The 14- and 16-inch variations are equally moveable, weighing 2.9 kilos (and 0.46 inches thick) and three.5 kilos respectively, with the Intel Core Extremely X9, 9, or 7 processors and commonplace OLED shows on each. 

The 16-inch has barely extra premium specs, with a 2.8K show and 120Hz variable refresh fee, whereas the 14-inch comes loaded with a FHD+ decision and caps out at 60Hz refresh fee.

The two-in-1 “Flip” variations have related specs, with the extra premium show on the bigger laptop computer. Each of the Flips include the related stylus, MSI’s Nano Pen, which magnetically snaps right into a groove on the again aspect of the laptop computer. 

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The Status sequence is loaded with the newest chip Technology from Intel, the Core Extremely Collection 3 “Panther Lake” processors, Intel graphics, as much as 64GB of LPDDR5x twin channel RAM, and a couple of.8K OLED shows with 120Hz variable refresh charges. 

The MSI Trendy 14S and 16S AI+ intention for a extra accessible shopper base with Intel Core Extremely 7 Collection 3 chips, smaller reminiscence configurations, and equally light-weight type elements: 2.8 kilos on the 14-inch, and as skinny as 0.43 inches. Customary reminiscence begins at 16GB for the Trendy sequence, scaling as much as 32GB. 

Once more, you’ll be able to’t assist however make comparisons to the MacBook with these laptops’ bodily type, from the black, recessed keyboard to the silver end, however that isn’t essentially a foul factor. There’s a purpose why producers proceed making gadgets with this aesthetic: they promote. 

Concerning pricing, MSI doesn’t have precise numbers but, however the ballpark quantity I used to be cited was $1,099 as a place to begin for the Trendy sequence laptops, placing IT in a aggressive bracket of different reasonably priced enterprise laptops