When it comes to gaming laptops, most people often associate high-performance rigs with a hefty price tag. However, in recent years, AMD has been shaking up the gaming laptop market with its powerful processors that not only deliver impressive gaming performance but also come at a more budget-friendly price point. One such laptop that has been turning heads in the gaming community is the MSI Bravo 15 B7ED. In this review, we'll take a closer look at this gaming laptop and see if it lives up to the hype.
AMD Ryzen Dominance
The heart of the MSI Bravo 15 B7ED is undoubtedly its AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor. This octa-core CPU is part of AMD's Ryzen 4000 series, which has gained a reputation for its remarkable performance in both gaming and productivity tasks. With a base clock speed of 2.9 GHz and a turbo boost up to 4.2 GHz, the Ryzen 7 4800H is more than capable of handling even the most demanding games and software.
Graphics Prowess
Accompanying the powerful Ryzen processor is the AMD Radeon RX 5500M GPU. This dedicated graphics card boasts 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM and is built on AMD's RDNA architecture, providing excellent gaming performance for its class. It's important to note that this laptop uses AMD components exclusively, which contributes to its affordability compared to laptops with similar specs that feature NVIDIA graphics cards.
Display Delight
The MSI Bravo 15 B7ED features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS-level display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The high refresh rate ensures smoother gameplay, which is a crucial factor for competitive gamers. While the color accuracy and brightness might not be on par with some premium laptops, it's more than sufficient for an enjoyable gaming experience.
Design and Build Quality
In terms of design, the Bravo 15 has a sleek and modern look with a brushed aluminum lid featuring MSI's dragon logo. The laptop is relatively slim and lightweight, making it portable enough for gaming on the go. The keyboard is comfortable to type on and features RGB backlighting, adding a touch of customization to the laptop's aesthetics.
Cooling and Thermals
One of the challenges with gaming laptops is managing heat, especially with powerful components packed into a compact chassis. MSI has equipped the Bravo 15 with its Cooler Boost 5 technology, featuring two fans and six heat pipes to keep temperatures in check during extended gaming sessions. The laptop's cooling solution is effective, although it can get quite loud under heavy load.
Gaming Performance
The MSI Bravo 15 B7ED truly shines when it comes to gaming. Thanks to the potent combination of the Ryzen 7 4800H and Radeon RX 5500M, you can expect to play the latest AAA titles at 1080p with solid frame rates. In our tests, games like "Cyberpunk 2077" and "Red Dead Redemption 2" ran smoothly on high settings, which is impressive for a laptop in this price range.
Storage and Memory
This laptop comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough for gaming and multitasking. It also boasts a fast 512GB NVMe SSD that ensures quick boot times and snappy application loading. If you need additional storage space, there's an extra M.2 slot available for future upgrades.
Connectivity and Ports
In terms of connectivity, the Bravo 15 offers all the essential ports for gaming and productivity. It includes USB Type-C, HDMI, multiple USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, and an audio combo jack. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6, ensuring a reliable and fast internet connection.
Battery Life
Gaming laptops are not known for their stellar battery life, and the Bravo 15 is no exception. Under regular usage, you can expect around 4-5 hours of battery life, but this significantly drops when gaming. As with most gaming laptops, it's advisable to keep the laptop plugged in during gaming sessions for the best experience.
The Verdict
The MSI Bravo 15 B7ED is proof that you don't need to break the bank for a capable gaming laptop. With its AMD Ryzen processor, Radeon graphics, and budget-friendly price tag, it offers excellent value for gamers and content creators alike. While it may not have the premium build quality and display of some higher-end laptops, its gaming performance more than makes up for it. If you're in the market for an affordable gaming laptop that doesn't compromise on power, the MSI Bravo 15 B7ED is definitely worth considering. AMD has once again shown that full AMD gaming laptops can be both powerful and budget-friendly.