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The MSI GS70 is a consistently impressive laptop: it's got more power than most machines twice its size, and it's crammed inside a stylish, strong chassis that's got more in common with Ultrabooks than traditional desktop replacements.
The screen is good, and the speakers are decent, although battery life isn't great - and it's noisy when it runs tough applications, too.
We liked
There's little we can criticise about the MSI GS70's design. It's made almost entirely from brushed aluminium, its gunmetal-grey finish looks classier than most of the gaming-laptop competition, and it's covered in smart, demure details that are a far cry from the tacky stickers and garish lights that litter many other machines.
Build quality is excellent, and the keyboard and trackpad don't go far wrong: the former has consistent, comfortable keys with plenty of travel, and the latter is large and responsive.
The processor has enough oomph to handle high-end work applications, and the graphics card is powerful enough to play the latest games without too much compromise in terms of graphics quality. The storage is great, too: the dual SSDs are rapid, and the 1TB hard disk is more than big enough.
And, finally, there's the screen. Its 17-inch diagonal and 1,920 x 1,080 are good, and quality is generally high, with impressive measured brightness and contrast levels. As it's a TN panel, it's also got excellent viewing angles.
We disliked
The MSI GS70 has a sealed battery that can't be replaced or swapped, and it's not exactly a class leader when it comes to longevity.
The screen's colour accuracy is only average, and that means it's not suitable for imaging work that depends on this kind of thing - a hard-nosed workstation machine, or an Apple MacBook Pro, will have a more accurate screen.
Final verdict
The MSI GS70 is a fantastic marriage of style and substance: plenty of power and a great screen crammed inside a chassis that's thinner, lighter and better-looking than most of its rivals.
Heavy, staid machines such as the Schenker XMG P703 are better for pure power, but if you want a machine that's powerful and portable - and you can afford the £1,679 price tag - the MSI GS70 is a contender.
