The MSI Summit E16 Flip (2023) is a mid-range 2-in-1 Windows laptop. It replaces the MSI Summit E16 Flip from 2022 (Intel 12th Gen). This 2023 version is available with an Intel 13th Gen Core i5 or i7 P-series CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics (Evo model) or an NVIDIA 40-series discrete GPU (RTX 4050 or 4060), up to 32Gb of RAM, and up to 2TB of storage. Display options include a FHD+ and a QHD+ IPS panel; both have a 165Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI P3 coverage. It has a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, a 1080p webcam, and an 80Wh battery. While its port selection includes two USB-C ports, only models with Intel Iris Xe graphics (no discrete GPU) have Thunderbolt 4 support.
You can see our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.
Our Verdict
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for school use. It feels well-built, and it isn't overly bulky for a 16-inch laptop, so it's relatively portable. It provides a good user experience overall with its bright, sharp display, comfortable keyboard, and large, responsive touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and NVIDIA discrete GPU can handle fairly demanding workloads, making it suitable for students in fields like engineering and 3D graphic design. Unfortunately, it gets hot and loud under load, and its battery doesn't quite last a full day.
- Fairly portable for a 16-inch device.
- CPU and discrete GPU can handle fairly demanding tasks.
- Large screen for multitasking.
- Comfortable keyboard, large touchpad.
- Battery lasts less than eight hours of light use.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for gaming. It's available with Intel 13th Gen P-series CPUs and NVIDIA discrete GPUs, which are fast enough to deliver a fairly smooth gaming experience at 1080p or 1440p. You can configure the laptop with a 165Hz FHD+ or QHD+ display; both have a fast response time to deliver a clear image, though neither supports VRR to reduce screen tearing. Its keyboard is comfortable for long gaming sessions, and there's a good port selection if you want to connect another keyboard or an external monitor. Thermal throttling is minimal; however, the laptop does get hot and loud under load. RAM isn't user-replaceable, though the minimum 16GB is enough to run most games.
- CPU and discrete GPU can handle fairly demanding tasks.
- Minimal thermal throttling under load.
- 165Hz display with fast response time.
- Gets hot and loud.
- No VRR to reduce screen tearing.
- Soldered RAM.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for media consumption. It's fairly portable for a 16-inch device, and its battery lasts over six hours of video playback, giving you enough time to get through a couple of full-length movies. Since this is a 2-in-1 convertible, you can put the laptop in tent mode when viewing content or use it as a tablet. It has a bright, sharp, and colorful display; the downside is that it's an IPS panel with a low contrast ratio, so it isn't the best for dark room viewing. Unfortunately, while its speakers get very loud, they sound tinny and unnatural.
- Bright display with 100% DCI P3 coverage.
- Speakers get very loud with minimal compression.
- Can set up laptop in tent mode for media consumption.
- Battery lasts over six hours of video playback.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings.
- Speakers sound tinny and unnatural.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is excellent for use as a workstation. It's available with powerful Intel 13th Gen P-series CPUs and discrete NVIDIA GPUs. These processors aren't the best you can get on the market; however, they're still adequate for demanding tasks like video editing and 3D graphics. The display has full DCI P3 coverage, so you can fully rely on it for your color-critical work. Thermal throttling on the CPU and GPU is minimal, but the laptop does get hot and loud under load. Unfortunately, the RAM isn't user-replaceable, and Thunderbolt 4 support is only available on models with integrated graphics.
- CPU and discrete GPU can handle fairly demanding tasks.
- Minimal thermal throttling under load.
- Bright display with 100% DCI P3 coverage.
- Wide port selection.
- Gets hot and loud.
- No Thunderbolt 4.
- Soldered RAM.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for business use. It isn't overly bulky for a 16-inch laptop, and its power adapter is also relatively compact, so you can easily bring it on business trips. It has a large, sharp display that's well-suited for multitasking, a comfortable keyboard, a responsive touchpad, and a great 1080p webcam. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU is more than adequate for productivity tasks like text processing, emails, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can even edit videos for your business, thanks to its discrete NVIDIA GPU. Its battery doesn't quite last a full workday, but it's close, so you only have to plug it in for a short time.
- Fairly portable for a 16-inch device.
- Large screen for multitasking.
- Comfortable keyboard, large touchpad.
- Good 1080p webcam.
- Wide port selection.
- Battery lasts less than eight hours of light use.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 18, 2024: Added mention of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023) as an alternative with a longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Dec 19, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
- Updated Dec 19, 2023: Added mention of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023) as an alternative with better thermal and noise performance in the Thermals and Noise section.
- Updated Dec 12, 2023: Review published.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the MSI Summit E16 Flip (model A13VFT-060US) with a QHD+ display, an Intel Core i7-1360P CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage. The display, CPU, GPU, memory, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below.
Note: The MSI Summit E16 Flip Evo (model A13M) is the same laptop but with integrated graphics only. It's the only model that supports Thunderbolt 4.
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You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a very good laptop overall. It has more processing power than most business-oriented laptops, great for those needing to do the occasional light video editing for their business. Its Intel P-series CPU isn't as fast as the H-series CPUs typically found in mobile workstations; however, it's still adequate for intensive workloads, making this laptop a good budget-friendly option for full-time content creators. Unfortunately, it's among the worst when it comes to heat and fan noise.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best workstation laptops, the best laptops for video editing, and the best laptops for programming.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip (2023) and the ASUS Zenbook 14 Flip OLED (2023) are very different laptops. While both are 2-in-1 convertibles available with Intel 13th Gen P-series CPUs, the MSI is available with discrete graphics, making it a better option for those needing to do some intensive tasks like video editing and graphic design. The ASUS' smaller chassis and weaker cooling system cause more thermal throttling, so it's best suited for lighter productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, and video playback.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M1, 2021) is better than the MSI Summit E16 Flip (2023) for most uses. The MacBook Pro 16's build feels much sturdier, and its battery lasts almost twice as long. It has a brighter display with better contrast, a larger and more responsive touchpad, and significantly better-sounding speakers. It also has a wider port selection and doesn't get as hot or loud under load. On the other hand, the MSI is a 2-in-1 convertible with touch and pen input support, making it more versatile than the MacBook Pro. Also, it's a better option if you want to play some games on the side, as its display has a higher refresh rate and faster response time.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip (2023) and the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) are both 16-inch 2-in-1 convertibles available with Intel 13th Gen CPUs. The main difference is that the MSI is configurable with discrete NVIDIA 40-series GPUs, while the Lenovo is only available with integrated graphics. The Lenovo feels slightly sturdier build-wise, and its battery lasts much longer. However, the MSI has a better 165Hz display with 100% DCI-P3 coverage.
The LG gram Pro 16 (2024) is better than the MSI Summit E16 Flip (2023) for most uses. The LG feels more sturdily built and is more portable, as it’s thinner and lighter. It has a wider port selection for peripherals and external displays, much longer battery life, as well as better thermal and noise handling. However, you can get more processing power from the MSI, especially when it comes to the GPU because it’s available with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 and 4060, whereas the LG is only available with an older RTX 3050.
Test Results
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