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Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025) vs Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)

MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025) vs MSI Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)

What Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025) does better (3) and where Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026) wins (6) — every spec side by side.

MSI · 2025Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025)

7.9Score

3 advantages≈ $5,900

MSI Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)

MSI · 2026Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)

9.2Score

6 advantages≈ $6,100

Higher score

9.5Graphics8.8

9.3Overall performance9.5

3.6Display7.7

5.7Memory & storage8.6

3.5Battery & portability3.5

6.2Features & cooling6.1

Dimensions

Size comparison

Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025)Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)

	Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025)	Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)	Difference
Depth	308 mm	308 mm	=
Width	404 mm	404 mm	=
Thickness	32 mm	32 mm	=
Weight	3.6 kg	3.6 kg	=

Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).

Why is Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025) better than Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)?

Refresh rate144 Hz vs 120 Hz+20%
3DMark Steel Nomad Light31,723 vs 29,489+8%
SSD (base)4,000 GB vs 2,000 GB2×

Why is Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026) better than Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025)?

RAM (up to)64 GB vs 128 GB2×
Panel typeIPS vs Mini-LED
SSD (up to)4,000 GB vs 8,000 GB2×
Pixel density126 ppi vs 252 ppi2×
HDRNo · Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025): Yes
Max. supported RAM96 GB vs 128 GB+33%

Specifications

Side by side

Only differences	MSI Raider 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5090 (2025)≈ $5,9007.9	MSI Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)≈ $6,1009.2
Graphics
Graphics card	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop	GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop
GPU maker	NVIDIA	NVIDIA
GPU power (TGP)	175 W	175 W
Video memory	24 GB	24 GB
Video memory type	GDDR7	GDDR7
GPU shader cores	10,496	10,496
GPU compute (FP32)	51.4 TFLOPS	51.4 TFLOPS
3DMark Steel Nomad Light	31,723	29,489
Processor
Processor	Core Ultra 9 285HX	Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
CPU maker	Intel	Intel
CPU cores	24	24
CPU threads	—	24
Max CPU clock	5.5 GHz	5.5 GHz
Processor options	Core Ultra 9 275HX, Core Ultra 9 285HX, Ryzen 9 9955HX3D	Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus
Geekbench 6 multi-core	—	23,055
Geekbench 6 single-core	—	3,459
Cinebench 2024 multi-core	—	2,594
Display
Screen size	18″	18″
Resolution	3840 × 2400	3840 × 2400
Resolution class	4K (2160p/2400p)	4K (2160p/2400p)
Refresh rate	144 Hz	120 Hz
Panel type	IPS	Mini-LED
Brightness	—	1,000 nits
sRGB coverage	—	100%
DCI-P3 coverage	—	100%
Pixel density	126 ppi	252 ppi
Aspect ratio	16:10	16:10
G-Sync / FreeSync	No	No
Advanced Optimus	No	No
MUX switch	Yes	Yes
HDR	No	Yes
Touchscreen	No	No
Memory & storage
RAM (up to)	64 GB	128 GB
RAM (base)	64 GB	64 GB
RAM type	DDR5	DDR5
RAM speed	6,400 MHz	6,400 MHz
Max. supported RAM	96 GB	128 GB
RAM slots	2	2
Upgradable RAM	Yes	Yes
SSD (up to)	4,000 GB	8,000 GB
SSD (base)	4,000 GB	2,000 GB
M.2 SSD slots	2	2
SSD interface	PCIe 5.0 x4	PCIe 5.0 x4
Battery & power
Battery capacity	99 Wh	99 Wh
Power adapter	400 W	400 W
USB-C charging (Power Delivery)	Yes	Yes
USB-C charging power	140 W	140 W
Design & cooling
Weight	3.6 kg	3.6 kg
Thickness	32 mm	32 mm
Width	404 mm	404 mm
Depth	308 mm	308 mm
Body material	Aluminium, Plastic	Aluminium, Plastic
Colours	Black	Black
Cooling fans	2	2
Vapor chamber cooling	No	No
Liquid metal (CPU)	No	No
Fan noise (max. load)	45.8 dB	—
Ports & wireless
Thunderbolt / USB4	Thunderbolt 5	Thunderbolt 5
Thunderbolt or USB4	Yes	Yes
USB-C ports	2	2
USB-A ports	3	3
HDMI	HDMI 2.1	HDMI 2.1
HDMI 2.1	Yes	Yes
(Mini) DisplayPort	No	No
Ethernet	5 Gbit/s	5 Gbit/s
Ethernet port	Yes	Yes
SD card reader	Yes	Yes
3.5 mm audio jack	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi standard	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7
Bluetooth	5.4	5.4
Keyboard & camera
Keyboard backlight	—	Per-key RGB
Per-key RGB	—	Yes
Backlit keyboard	Yes	Yes
Numeric keypad	Yes	Yes
Webcam	1,080p	1,080p
IR camera (face login)	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint reader	Yes	Yes
Audio
Speakers	6 speakers	6 speakers
Dolby Atmos	No	No