MSI Stealth 15M review: Coasting on its good looks

It’s only natural that a person’s tastes and preferences change over time. So after years of thirsting for big, beefy gaming laptops with shiny lights, I’ve started gravitating towards more understated all-rounders that don’t scream “Look at me.” And for the last few generations, MSI’s Stealth 15M line has been one of the best at balancing good performance with a discreet appearance. But unfortunately, it feels like MSI is coasting with the 2022 model. While there aren’t a ton of major flaws, things like the Stealth’s display, battery life and audio just aren’t quite as nice as I would’ve liked.

Design

For a gaming notebook, the Stealth 15M is about as incognito as it gets. It’s got a simple, somewhat boxy build with a matte black finish (which is a bit of a fingerprint magnet, by the way). The only visual flair, at least on the outside, is MSI’s dragon logo, which gets a new holographic treatment for 2022.

Then you open it up and you get MSI’s lovely Spectrum backlit keyboard, a big speaker grill that runs the width of the deck and a smallish touchpad. Along its sides MSI includes a good selection of ports including four USB 3.2 ports (two Type-A and two Type-C, one of which supports DisplayPort), a full-size HDMI 2.1 connector and a combo headphone/mic jack. And with a weight of just under four pounds (3.96 lbs), the Stealth is actually a touch lighter than a lot of other 15-inch gaming laptops (and some 14-inch systems too).

Display, sound and webcam

On paper, the Stealth 15M’s screen looks like a perfect match for its specs. It’s a 15.6-inch IPS panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. It even has a matte finish to help prevent distracting reflections. The issue is that because it has somewhat dull colors and a tested brightness of around 250 nits, movies and games look kind of lifeless. Sure, if you like gaming in darker environments, it’s not a big deal. But its mediocre light output also means that in sunny rooms, it can be difficult to read text, especially if you’re someone who prefers dark mode apps.

The Stealth 15M features a 15.6-inch IPS display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Sadly, with a brightness of around 250 nits, it can look a bit dim and lifeless, particularly in sunny rooms.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

As for audio, the Stealth features dual two-watt speakers that can get pretty loud, though they are lacking a bit of bass. Don’t get me wrong, they’re perfectly fine, I was just hoping for a little more considering the size of its grille. And then perched above the display is a 720p webcam which is serviceable but it doesn’t deliver the kind of quality you’d want for live streaming. It’s more so you can show your face during Zoom meetings, and that’s about it.

But once again, while nothing is egregiously bad, I feel like MSI is doing the bare minimum here. Its speakers are just ok, its webcam doesn’t even capture full HD and that big chin below the display makes the whole laptop look sort of dated.

Performance

The Stealth 15M has a great selection of ports including two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port and a combo headphone/mic jack
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

When it comes to performance the Stealth has plenty of oomph thanks to an Intel Core i7-1280P CPU and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU. Our review unit even comes with a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM, the latter of which is arguably overkill given the rest of the system’s specs. However, you’ll want to make sure you figure out where the Stealth’s fan speed settings are in the MSI Center app, because when this thing spins up, you’re in for more than just a subtle whoosh.

In Shadows of the Tomb Raider at 1920 x 1080 and highest settings, the Stealth averaged 106 fps, which is just a tiny bit better than the 102 fps we got from the similarly-sized Alienware x14. Meanwhile, in Metro Exodus, the Stealth tied the Alienware’s performance, with both machines hitting 55 fps at full HD and ultra settings. So not exactly face-melting horsepower, but still more than enough to play modern AAA titles with plenty of graphical bells and whistles enabled.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Spectrum keyboard on the Stealth 15M has a soft, cushy press, though sadly, you can't adjust its color pattern like on a lot of other gaming laptops.
The Spectrum keyboard on the Stealth 15M has a soft, cushy press, though sadly, you can’t adjust its color pattern like on a lot of other gaming laptops.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

One thing I really like about the Stealth 15M is its Spectrum keyboard. Not only do the keys have a soft, cushy press, they let just the right amount of light to leak out the sides, adding a little razzle dazzle without searing your retinas. And of course, you can turn everything off if you want to go fully undercover. Below that you get a touchpad that measures just four inches wide and two and half inches tall, which can feel a bit cramped at times. That said, having an undersized touchpad isn’t as big of a deal as it might be on a more mainstream notebook. Most gamers will probably carry an external mouse since touchpads really aren’t ideal for gaming.

Battery life

Perhaps the biggest weakness of the Stealth 15M is its battery life. It comes with a 53.8Whr power cell, which feels frustratingly small compared to the Alienware x14, whose battery is 50 percent larger at 80Whr, despite both systems being about the same size. That results in some pretty disappointing longevity, with the Stealth lasting just four hours and 15 minutes on our local video rundown test versus 9:45 for the x14 and 5:42 for the more powerful Razer Blade 15.

Wrap-up

Unfortunately, on the 2022 Stealth 15M it feels like MSI neglected the line, because aside from a new badge on its lid and a refreshed CPU and GPU, it feels like not a ton has changed from the previous model.
Sam Rutherford/Engadget

After using the Stealth 15M for a while, I’m not really mad, I’m just disappointed. I love the general design and aesthetic and the Stealth delivers a great balance of performance and portability. In a lot of ways it feels like a more grown-up take on thin-and-light gaming laptop.

The issue is that it almost feels like MSI has neglected the Stealth line. Compared to previous years, the main upgrades for 2022 are a refreshed CPU and GPU along with a new badge on its lid. That’s not nothing, but I know MSI can do better and I’m really hoping to see the Stealth get a full redesign sometime soon.

Ultimately, assuming you can stomach the short battery life, the value of the Stealth 15M hinges a lot on its price. I’ve seen this thing listed as high as $1,700 from retailers like Walmart, which is simply too much. At that point, you’re much better off going for a notebook with a slightly smaller screen like the Alienware X14 and getting very similar performance, or opting for Asus’ Zephyrous G14 while also saving a couple hundred bucks in the process. But if you can nab the Stealth for under $1,400, a lot of the system’s trade-offs become a lot more palatable. I just wish this version of the Stealth felt more like James Bond and less like Agent Cody Banks.

Here are the new features Amazon is adding to Alexa

While new gadgets tend to dominate Amazon’s annual Devices and Services Event, the company still has a few upgrades planned for its ubiquitous digital assistant. So here are all the fresh features and skills Amazon is planning to add to Alexa. 

For people trying to shop for a new outfit, the Echo Show is getting an AI-based skill that allows it to more easily search for clothes using a customer’s references or specific characteristics. For example, Amazon says you can ask things like “Alexa, show me the one-shoulder top.” Amazon explained the skill was created using the Alexa Teacher Model, which was trained using images and captions sourced from the company’s product database. 

In the car, Alexa is also getting a new Roadside Assistance feature that will connect you with an agent in case you need do something like calling a tow truck or get help changing a flat tire. On top of that, BMW is expanding its partnership with Amazon, with BMW announcing plans to build its next-generation voice assistant using the Alexa Custom Assistant solution. BMW’s goal is to support more natural language controls that are easy to use while driving. 

Alexa is also getting integration with the new Halo Rise, allowing it to do things like automatically turn off your lights when you get in bed or play your favorite song to help you wake up in the morning. Amazon will also be adding the Fire TV experience to the Echo Show 15, so users will be able to watch all their favorite shows or purchased content on a smaller screen. There’s also a new Alexa Voice Remote Pro for Fire TVs, that allows you to more easily switch between various inputs, control routines and use your voice to find the remote if you lose it thanks to the controller’s built-in speaker. 

Meanwhile for Disney fans, Amazon is adding a new “Hey Disney” command that gives anyone with a Kids+ subscription access to immersive entertainment experiences featuring big-name Disney characters. 

Follow all of the news from Amazon’s event right here!

Volvo has developed the world’s first interior radar system for cars

Volvo has introduced a number of important safety features in its vehicles throughout the years including the first three-point seatbelt back in 1959. But now the company has developed something a bit more techy with what it’s calling the world’s first interior radar system for cars. 

Set to debut on its upcoming flagship EX90 electric SUV, Volvo’s new radar system is designed to monitor both the cabin and trunk of a vehicle in order to prevent the car from being locked while anyone is still inside. The idea is to guard against situations where pets or children may be inadvertently trapped inside a car on a hot day, with the car surfacing reminders if it recognizes that there are still occupants inside when being locked. Additionally, the car’s climate control can also be set to stay on if a passenger is detected, further lowering the risk of heatstroke. 

While the thought of leaving a pet or child inside a car on a hot day is unimaginable to most people, it can happen to anyone. In its press release, Volvo cited statistics from the US where more than 900 children have tragically died due to hyperthermia since 1998. 

Volvo’s senior technical specialist for injury prevention Lotta Jakobsson says “No one chooses to be distracted or tired, but we know it can happen. We’re all human and distraction is a fact of life. With the help of cutting edge technology, we’ll support you when you’re not at your best and help you avoid leaving family members or pets behind by accident.”

In order to cover as much of the inside of the EX90 as possible, Volvo says it will use multiple radars positioned in the car’s overhead console, roof-mounted reading lamps and in the trunk that can detect “sub-millimeter” movements. Unfortunately, we won’t get a more detailed idea of how Volvo’s new interior radar system really works until the EX90 is officially revealed on November 9th. But given that the new feature will come standard on the company’s forthcoming EV (where allowed by regulation), we’re hoping to see similar systems become basic equipment on more cars and makes in the future. 

Amazon’s updated e-book return policy looks like a big win for authors

Anyone who has been taking advantage of Amazon’s liberal return policy regarding e-books could soon be in for a shock. That’s because following discussions with the Authors Guild, Amazon has agreed to block automatic returns on digital books that are more than 10 percent read. 

Currently, the problem for authors on Amazon is that customers can return e-books online anytime within seven days of purchase no matter how much content has been consumed. That means if you can you read a book in less than a week, you can simply return it when you’re done for free, resulting in a loss of profits for the author. 

However, under the new policy which is scheduled to go into effect sometime before the end of the year, Amazon will begin blocking automatic returns on e-books that are more than 10 read, which will then need to be reviewed by a representative to ensure that the return is genuine. The Authors Guild says the goal is to create a deterrent for people who abuse Amazon’s current policy and to prevent people from treating Amazon’s e-book marketplace as an ersatz library. 

Issues with Amazon’s e-book return policy date back more than a decade, but had recently come under fire again after lifehacks about the company’s guidelines began circulating online. And according to NPR, in some cases, abuse of the company’s return policy even resulted in some authors having negative earnings balances, which typically happened when customers returned an e-book after the creator had been paid out by Amazon.

Thankfully, after concerns were raised by both the Authors Guild and the Society of Authors in the UK earlier this year, it seems Amazon has finally decided to update its policy, with the Authors Guild posting a statement thanking the company for “taking good faith action” against returns abuse. 

Yale’s redesigned Assure Lock 2 will be one of the first Matter-compatible smart home devices

We’ve already written about the convenience of Yale’s smart locks. But now after five years on the market, Yale is updating its flagship product with a brand new design, a wider range of connectivity options and even more styles to suit your home.

Priced between $160 to $260, the new Assure Lock 2 will be available in four main variations: two touchscreen models (both with and without a key cylinder) and two keypad models (one keyed and one key-free). By default all models with include Bluetooth connectivity, though you can also upgrade to a version with built-in WiFi. But perhaps most importantly, because users will be able to buy and install add-on modules that enable additional wireless connectivity, it’s easy to upgrade your lock post-purchase. Additionally, Yale says the Assure Lock 2 will be one of the first Matter-compatible smart locks on the market when it releases its Matter add-on module shortly after the Matter spec officially goes live later this fall.

Yale's Assure Lock 2 will be available in four main models: a keypad with deadbolt, a touchscreen with deadbolt, a key-free keypad and a key-free touchscreen.
Yale

Alongside a wide range of connectivity options, Yale also says WiFi models will no longer require the use of a dedicated Connect Bridge, which should help streamline installation. And as for the lock itself, the company claims that the Assure Lock 2 is 30 percent smaller than its predecessor while still being compatible with most standard door sizes used in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, to ensure the lock blends in better with your door, customers will be able to choose from three different finishes including black suede, oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel. And as before, on models without a physical key cylinder, if your lock runs out of juice, you can still unlock the door by tapping a 9-volt battery to the contacts on the bottom of the device’s housing. 

Once installed (which Yale says can be done using only a standard screwdriver), users can enable a number of security functions ranging from voice controls (via Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri), two-factor authentication and even the ability to unlock your door by using biometric verification on your phone. Other standard features include auto lock and unlocking, virtual keys/entry codes for shared access and more. 

So while we haven’t had the chance to test out Assure Lock 2 just yet, it really seems like Yale has covered all the bases with its new flagship smart lock. The Assure Lock 2 is available today starting at $160 for the key-free Bluetooth/Apple HomeKit model, with WiFi models starting a bit higher at $240. Sometime later this year, there will also be a version that supports Z-Wave out of the box starting at $190, with additional modules (including the upcoming Matter add-on) slated to cost $80 each.

ASUS Zenbook 17 Fold OLED review: Great screen, now do the keyboard

Just like a relationship, going on a trip with a gadget is one of the best ways of finding out how well you and your partner work together. So to really test ASUS’ first go at making a laptop with a flexible display, I took the Zenbook 17 Fold OLED on …