For a number of reasons, the MSI Thin 15 B12VE is a bit of an outlier in the current laptop era. First of all, for well under $1000, it’s quite affordable. Its actual nature as a laptop is another feature that sets it apart greatly. That may sound unusual, but after covering a wide range of high-end devices, it feels weird to refer to them as laptops because the majority of them are too large, too hot, or both to be used as intended. Without a doubt, the MSI Thin 15 B12VE is an inexpensive laptop, but in the current context, that fact must be noted. For better or worse.
To begin with, don’t anticipate receiving the best possible definition. The laptop GPU is an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, but if you want to spend a little bit more, you can upgrade to a Ti model. The 15.6-inch 1080p screen and the 144 Hz refresh rate on some versions mean that while frame rates aren’t a problem, you’ll have to seek elsewhere if you’re looking for a 4K laptop. A 1080p monitor works perfectly for me as long as it can perform well. An i5 processor and 16GB of RAM won’t blow your home computer away, but they can make up for it in terms of lightweight design, reduced cost, and overall feel.
But let’s go back to the warning at the beginning. It’s vital to remember that although it comes with a 512GB PCIe-based SSD for storage, you’ll probably want to add external storage to increase that. Additionally, if you have a fast internet connection, you could be disappointed by the SSD’s write-speed. Although it’s not required, I personally get most of my PC games through Steam, which is also typically the fastest option to download a game. I’m not sure if this is a result of the supplied WiFi card or the SSD, but I discovered that the write speed was slower than the download speed. It’s not a huge concern, but you should account for the fact that even the verification process may take a while if you’re downloading a large game (around 80GB) and are accustomed to quick downloads.
Whether it’s basic office document or spreadsheet work or Photoshop picture editing, the MSI Thin 15 B12VE will not have any problems with day-to-day tasks. It’s also not too bad as a gaming machine, but the outcomes are undoubtedly inconsistent. Remnant II is a contemporary game that I enjoy testing on computers because, all things considered, it’s rather demanding. It’s also an excellent statistic because, although it functions perfectly on my desktop computer, the game isn’t usable in any manner on a Steam Deck or similar device.
It would be an understatement to say that Remnant II’s performance astonished me. When the game identifies the hardware, VSync is enabled and the resolution is set to 720p in a window. Even in high-density places, the frame rate was comparatively steady (though it did occasionally drop). The graphic settings were by default set to “low,” but on a 15-inch screen, that is more than acceptable—especially for a game that demands so much of the machine.
However, it’s a good idea to verify the 1080p performance because you might want to connect wirelessly using an Xbox controller or DualSense and plug into a TV if your laptop has an HDMI output. Once more, surprisingly, it went rather smoothly. Remnant II is definitely playable on the MSI Thin, even though there were a few more frame drops that gave me the impression that it would become unplayable if I tried harder.
In light of this, other contemporary games like the early access industrial builder Foundry and Hades II function flawlessly; in fact, the list is truly endless. Yes, some games require you to adjust the settings, but considering the machine’s technology and pricing, it still offers respectable gaming performance. With the more demanding games, I imagine the GeForce upscaling settings are doing some of the heavy lifting, but DLSS is meant to be used for precisely that.
It does feel like the keyboard might use some work, and the mouse area feels a touch cheap in comparison to the more expensive models available. The screen’s lack of vibrancy won’t help either, and I’d be surprised if customers didn’t want to get an external storage device to make more room practically right away. In addition, it is slim; unlike some of the more recent, tank-shaped laptops, this is not a device you would want to carry around. It’s much less expensive than many of the more expensive versions, so I can’t pretend it has that “premium” feel.
There is no singing or dancing, yet the screen and sound work well together. Similar to the audio, the screen is a little plain-looking, but that’s just when compared to more expensive devices, which is almost unfair considering the performance and value for the money you’re getting here. Since it’s so cheap, I’ll overlook the slight increase in screen real estate and slight decrease in bezel. It does warm up a little below, but surprisingly not to the point where it becomes uncomfortable to use as a lap cushion. This is fortunate given the laptop’s overall thin profile.
This laptop has been created to address a mostly forgotten gap. Its price is competitive, and its purpose is not to attract potential customers by flashing a variety of LED colors while sitting in a room. Connectivity has been compromised a little bit since, although there are several USB ports and even a USB-C slot, there isn’t a media card reader—which is unfortunate because a media card reader is necessary when using a laptop while on the go. Although it’s not quite a full-fledged “gaming laptop,” the performance is more than adequate for playing games on anything when you’re away from your primary PC or consoles. The webcam does its job, and the battery is what I would like from a laptop of this type.
In a time when laptops typically cost four figures, it’s great to see a machine that is actually affordable. The MSI Thin 15 B12VE falls into a sort of mid-range where you won’t get 60 frames per second in every game and 4K isn’t available, but it’s also not a ChromeBook or something that’s only meant for office work. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if I had to use the MSI Thin 15 B12VE as my only computer, but I wouldn’t want to. The MSI Thin 15 B12VE is a fantastic option to take into consideration if you want to get into PC gaming but don’t want to invest hundreds of dollars on a large laptop that might as well be a desktop.
Summary: The MSI Thin 15 B12VE is an excellent option for anyone looking for a gaming laptop in a world when most laptops cost four figures. It provides an almost traditional laptop experience while still meeting most gaming needs.