MSI Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026) vs MSI Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025)
What Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026) does better (4) and where Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025) wins (6) — every spec side by side.
vs
7.1Graphics7.2
8.4Overall performance8.0
7.7Display3.6
3.9Memory & storage4.6
3.5Battery & portability9.6
6.1Features & cooling5.8
Dimensions
Size comparison
Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026)Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025)
| Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026) | Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 308 mm | 290 mm | +18 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 400 mm | +4 mm |
| Thickness | 32 mm | 24 mm | +8 mm |
| Weight | 3.6 kg | 2.9 kg | +0.7 kg |
Drawn to the same scale from the official dimensions (front and side).
Why is Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026) better than Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025)?
- Panel typeMini-LED vs IPS
- Pixel density252 ppi vs 126 ppi2×
- HDRYes · Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025): No
- USB-A ports3 vs 2+50%
Why is Stealth 18 HX AI A2XW RTX 5080 (2025) better than Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026)?
- RAM (up to)32 GB vs 64 GB2×
- Weight3.6 kg vs 2.89 kg+25%
- Refresh rate120 Hz vs 144 Hz+20%
- Thickness32 mm vs 24 mm+33%
- RAM (base)32 GB vs 64 GB2×
- Vapor chamber coolingNo · Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5080 (2026): Yes
Specifications
Side by side
| Graphics | ||
| Graphics card | GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop | GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop |
| GPU maker | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| GPU power (TGP) | 175 W | 175 W |
| Video memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Video memory type | GDDR7 | GDDR7 |
| GPU shader cores | 7,680 | 7,680 |
| GPU compute (FP32) | 42 TFLOPS | 42 TFLOPS |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 26,001 | 26,447 |
| Processor | ||
| Processor | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| CPU maker | Intel | Intel |
| CPU cores | 24 | 24 |
| CPU threads | 24 | — |
| Max CPU clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.4 GHz |
| Processor options | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Core Ultra 7 255HX, Core Ultra 7 265HX, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 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 | 120 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Panel type | Mini-LED | IPS |
| Brightness | 1,000 nits | — |
| sRGB coverage | 100% | — |
| DCI-P3 coverage | 100% | — |
| Pixel density | 252 ppi | 126 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| G-Sync / FreeSync | No | No |
| Advanced Optimus | No | No |
| MUX switch | Yes | Yes |
| HDR | Yes | No |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Memory & storage | ||
| RAM (up to) | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM (base) | 32 GB | 64 GB |
| RAM type | DDR5 | DDR5 |
| RAM speed | 6,400 MHz | 6,400 MHz |
| Max. supported RAM | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM slots | 2 | 2 |
| Upgradable RAM | Yes | Yes |
| SSD (up to) | 2,000 GB | 2,000 GB |
| SSD (base) | 2,000 GB | 2,000 GB |
| M.2 SSD slots | 2 | 2 |
| SSD interface | PCIe 5.0 x4 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |
| Battery & power | ||
| Battery capacity | 99 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Power adapter | 400 W | 280 W |
| USB-C charging (Power Delivery) | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C charging power | 140 W | 140 W |
| Design & cooling | ||
| Weight | 3.6 kg | 2.89 kg |
| Thickness | 32 mm | 24 mm |
| Width | 404 mm | 400 mm |
| Depth | 308 mm | 290 mm |
| Body material | Aluminium, Plastic | Aluminium |
| Colours | Black | Black |
| Cooling fans | 2 | 2 |
| Vapor chamber cooling | No | Yes |
| Liquid metal (CPU) | No | No |
| Fan noise (max. load) | — | 63 dB |
| Ports & wireless | ||
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Thunderbolt or USB4 | Yes | Yes |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-A ports | 3 | 2 |
| 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 |
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