While larger 16/17-inch gaming laptops will be ideal if you need a semi-portable solution, the 14-inch offering that we’ve had the pleasure of looking at today clearly emphasises the notion of portability by serving up a lightweight solution with tighter dimensions.

Clean lines and elegance are something we’ve become accustomed to after reviewing a number of MSI laptops throughout different generations. The designers behind these models clearly like to maintain a cohesive scheme and it definitely works.

The list of components which form the basis for GS43VR work very well together. Having a capable CPU like the Intel Core i7-7700HQ guarantees good performance in CPU-based tasks and for the graphics delivery, NVIDIA’s GTX 1060 is another reliable component for 3D-based operations. The GTX 1060 in its 6GB variant is widely regarded as the go-to choice for gamers desiring competent 1080p performance in-game and we can certainly verify this in our experience.


Across the laptop, we have a decent selection of features including USB 3.1 Gen2 by way of a Type-C port. However, we are disappointed to only see two type-A ports via USB 3.0. Having just two ports is quite a limitation, especially if the intention is to pair this laptop up with a USB mouse.

Having already reviewed the GE62VR (which also features the GTX 1060) and seeing the GS43VR’s GPU jump up by an additional 20 degrees, it’s evident that the cooling system inside our laptop isn’t as efficient as other MSI models. This is likely down to the physical design of GS43VR as the restricted dimensions limits the calibre of thermal design – a compromise must come for a smaller unit bearing such specification of hardware.

Currently the GS43VR sits at a price of £1400 GBP in the UK and $1400 USD in the US. At this price point we have a proficient gaming laptop that is able to accommodate a multitude of different uses and all of this is backed by a 2 year warranty.

Though smaller in size compared to other MSI gaming laptops, the GS43VR tackles 1080p gaming with ease and establishes itself as the ideal mobile system for content creators.




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