MSI Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026) vs MSI Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025)
What Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026) does better (14) and where Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025) wins (5) — every spec side by side.
vs
8.8Graphics9.0
9.5Overall performance7.3
7.7Display2.3
8.6Memory & storage8.3
3.5Battery & portability9.6
6.1Features & cooling5.5
Dimensions
Size comparison
Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025)
| Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026) | Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025) | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 308 mm | 289.7 mm | +18.3 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 5090 (2026) better than Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025)?
- Resolution class4K (2160p/2400p) vs Full HD (1080p/1200p)
- Panel typeMini-LED vs IPS
- SSD (up to)8,000 GB vs 4,096 GB+95%
- Geekbench 6 multi-core23,055 vs 19,366+19%
- Cinebench 2024 multi-core2,594 vs 1,915+35%
- Pixel density252 ppi vs 126 ppi2×
- HDRYes · Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025): No
- RAM (base)64 GB vs 32 GB2×
- CPU cores24 vs 20+20%
- SSD (base)2,000 GB vs 1,024 GB+95%
- USB-A ports3 vs 2+50%
- CPU threads24 vs 20+20%
Why is Stealth 18 HX AI RTX 5090 (2025) better than Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026)?
- Weight3.6 kg vs 2.89 kg+25%
- Refresh rate120 Hz vs 144 Hz+20%
- 3DMark Steel Nomad Light29,489 vs 30,526+4%
- Thickness32 mm vs 24 mm+33%
- Vapor chamber coolingNo · Raider 18 Max HX A2W RTX 5090 (2026): Yes
Specifications
Side by side
| 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 | 29,489 | 30,526 |
| Processor | ||
| Processor | Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus | Core Ultra 7 255HX |
| CPU maker | Intel | Intel |
| CPU cores | 24 | 20 |
| CPU threads | 24 | 20 |
| Max CPU clock | 5.5 GHz | 5.2 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 | 19,366 |
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 3,459 | 3,130 |
| Cinebench 2024 multi-core | 2,594 | 1,915 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 18″ | 18″ |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2400 | 1920 × 1200 |
| Resolution class | 4K (2160p/2400p) | Full HD (1080p/1200p) |
| 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) | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| RAM (base) | 64 GB | 32 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) | 8,000 GB | 4,096 GB |
| SSD (base) | 2,000 GB | 1,024 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 | 289.7 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 | — |
| 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 | 2.4 |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
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