Nvidia 50-Series Gaming Laptops: A Luxurious Option with Compromises

Yes, Nvidia 50-series gaming laptops are coming, and they’ll come with a hefty price tag. In an economy where many of us are worried about the price of food and other essentials, spending upwards of $2,000 on a laptop isn’t feasible. For those on a tight budget, looking at a previous-generation model or a less powerful system to save some cash is not a bad idea. One such option is the MSI Cyborg 14.

A Sub-$1,000 Gaming Laptop: The MSI Cyborg 14

As a sub-$1,000 gaming laptop, the Cyborg 14 is playing the game of compromises. On the one hand, you have a lightweight, surprisingly stylish design, vivid display, comfortable keyboard, decent gaming, and overall performance. On the other hand, the display could be brighter, the audio more powerful, and you’re missing RGB backlighting and macros. However, for budget-savvy or entry-level gamers looking for their first gaming laptop, the MSI Cyborg 14 is a good choice.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Performance

In terms of performance, the MSI Cyborg 14 delivered respectable scores. On the Blender benchmark, where the system’s CPU is tasked with rendering an image of a BMW, the MSI took 3 minutes and 28 seconds. While this is a respectable score, it’s not enough to beat the Asus TUF Gaming A14, which completed the task in 2:15.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Battery Life

Gaming laptops aren’t known for their battery life, so it was no surprise that the Cyborg tapped out in under four hours. In the PCMark 10 Modern Office benchmark with the display brightness set to 100%, the MSI lasted 3 hours and 42 minutes. However, when running the Gaming version of the test, the Cyborg was done after just 59 minutes.

MSI Cyborg 14 Review: Verdict

Is the MSI Cyborg 14 the most powerful gaming laptop in the land? No, but it’s also not the most expensive. This sub-$1,000 gaming system delivers solid gaming and overall performance in a stylish, relatively lightweight chassis. The keyboard is extremely comfortable to type on, and there’s a fair amount of ports. However, at this price point, you have to expect a few compromises. In the case of the Cyborg, that means a vivid display but not the brightest, weak audio, and a lack of RGB backlighting and macros. Still, for a gaming laptop under $1,000, the MSI Cyborg 14 is a great option for entry-level gamers or folks on a budget.