Reviews · Updated 2026-10-16

MSI Raider 16 HX Review: RTX 5070 Ti and QHD+ 240Hz at £2,399

The MSI Raider 16 HX is MSI's performance flagship 16-incher, here configured with the RTX 5070 Ti 12GB, Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX and a 16-inch QHD+ 240Hz display. At £2,399 from Currys it goes head-to-head with the HP Omen Max 16 on price. But with RAM, weight and battery details missing from the listing, is this Raider worth your money in 2026?

Illustrative stock photo (Pexels / Unsplash)

RTX 5070

Specifications

Battery	Not stated by retailer
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX
Display	16-inch QHD+ 240Hz
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 12GB GDDR7
Price (UK)	£2,399 at Currys
RAM	Not stated on fetched page — omitted; confirm with retailer before buying
Storage	1TB SSD
Weight	Not stated by retailer

Check live UK price

Verified listing.

View on Amazon UK

Design and build quality

The Raider line has always been MSI's no-compromise performance flagship, and the 16 HX continues that tradition: a substantial 16-inch chassis built to house full-power HX-class silicon and high-wattage graphics. This is unapologetically a desktop replacement — expect presence on a desk rather than portability in a bag.

MSI's Raider designs tend towards bold gamer aesthetics with per-key RGB keyboards and aggressive venting, and the build quality is generally a step above MSI's budget lines. Without stated weight figures we cannot be precise, but the Raider 16 HX will be among the heavier machines in this roundup — plan for a permanent desk spot with occasional transport, not daily commuting.

The notable gap is information: Currys did not list the RAM configuration, weight or battery capacity for this SKU. For a £2,399 purchase, that is worth a phone call or live-chat session before ordering — particularly the RAM, where 16GB versus 32GB materially changes the value equation.

Display

The 16-inch QHD+ (2560x1600-class) 240Hz panel is a highlight: high resolution for sharp detail, high refresh for smooth motion, and a combination the RTX 5070 Ti is well equipped to drive. For gamers who split time between competitive shooters and immersive single-player titles, QHD+ at 240Hz is arguably the ideal single-panel compromise.

The 240Hz refresh rate puts it alongside the HP Omen Max 16 as one of the fastest displays in the UK RTX 5070 Ti class, and the extra pixels over 1080p-class panels make everything from game worlds to desktop text look crisper. G-Sync-style adaptive sync is standard fare at this tier and smooths out any frame-rate variation.

As with several listings in this roundup, colour coverage was not stated — so creators should verify sRGB or DCI-P3 figures before assuming colour accuracy. For pure gaming, though, this is an excellent panel on paper and a strong reason to shortlist the Raider.

Gaming performance

The RTX 5070 Ti's 12GB of GDDR7 is well matched to QHD+ gaming: enough VRAM headroom for high settings at 2560x1600, with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation on the 50-series providing extra performance in supported titles. This is a GPU tier that should handle 1440p-class gaming comfortably for years.

Intel's Core Ultra 7 255HX is a full-power HX-class processor, meaning desktop-derived performance rather than a power-limited mobile chip. It should have no trouble keeping the GPU fed in demanding scenes, and its multi-core performance covers streaming, video editing and heavy multitasking alongside gaming.

The 1TB SSD keeps the system responsive and load times short, though — as ever — 1TB fills quickly with modern game installs. We have not benchmarked this exact Currys SKU, so treat third-party frame-rate claims cautiously; on specification alone, this is a strong upper-mid-range 2026 gaming package.

Thermals and noise

MSI's Raider cooling has traditionally been among the more substantial in the gaming-laptop world, with large dual fans, extensive heat-pipe arrays and aggressive exhaust designs — necessary hardware for taming HX-class Intel silicon, which is known to run hot when unleashed. The 16-inch chassis gives the cooling system room to work.

We have not thermally tested this configuration, so we will not quote temperatures or noise levels. Expect the usual pattern: clearly audible fans under sustained gaming load, quieter operation for everyday tasks via MSI Centre's silent, balanced and extreme performance profiles. HX-class Intel chips in particular benefit from the higher fan curves, so performance mode will not be subtle.

Practical advice: keep the rear and side vents clear, use the machine on a hard surface, and consider a cooling stand if you run long sessions. As with any £2,399 purchase, use the retailer's return window to check for excessive heat or fan issues in your first weeks of ownership.

Battery life

Currys did not publish battery capacity or tested battery life for this SKU, so we will be straight about expectations: an HX-class Intel processor plus an RTX 5070 Ti is not a recipe for long unplugged endurance. This is a machine designed to live plugged in, and gaming on battery will be both short-lived and reduced in performance.

For lighter tasks the picture is better — modern platforms with hybrid graphics can sip power when the discrete GPU sleeps — but without a stated cell size we will not estimate hours. If you need to work away from the mains regularly, confirm the battery capacity with Currys or MSI before buying, and set expectations modestly.

Honest summary: the Raider 16 HX is a plugged-in performer. If battery life ranks high on your priority list, a thin-and-light RTX 5070 machine like the Zephyrus G14 is a more sensible direction.

Price and value in the UK

At £2,399 from Currys, the Raider 16 HX is priced identically to the HP Omen Max 16 — and that comparison is the crux of the buying decision. Both offer the RTX 5070 Ti, a 240Hz 16-inch display and a 1TB SSD; the HP counters with a stated 32GB of DDR5 and a Ryzen AI HX processor, while the MSI's RAM configuration was not stated on the listing we saw.

Against the wider market, £2,399 undercuts the £2,999 Lenovo Legion Pro 5i by £600 while offering the same GPU tier, and sits £200 above the ASUS ROG Strix G16's £2,199.95 list price (sold out at our check). On headline hardware alone, the Raider's pricing is competitive.

The caveat is information: buying a £2,399 laptop without a stated RAM capacity requires a verification step most buyers should not have to take. Confirm the memory spec with Currys first — if it is 32GB, the Raider is fairly priced; if it is 16GB, the Omen Max 16's stated 32GB makes the HP the better buy at the same money.

Price at check: £2,399 at Currys (RAM, weight and battery not stated on listing)
Closest rivals: HP Omen Max 16 (£2,399), ASUS ROG Strix G16 (£2,199.95), Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 10 (£2,999)
Value verdict: competitive on hardware, but verify the RAM spec before buying

Pros & Cons

✓ What we like

RTX 5070 Ti 12GB — strong high-refresh 1440p gaming
16-inch QHD+ 240Hz display suits competitive and immersive play
Core Ultra 7 255HX — full-power HX-class Intel processor
1TB SSD keeps load times short
£2,399 matches the Omen Max 16; £600 under the Legion Pro 5i

✕ Worth knowing

RAM configuration not stated on the Currys listing — confirm before buying
Weight and battery figures not published
£200 more than the Strix G16's list price
Raider line traditionally prioritises power over portability

Verdict

The MSI Raider 16 HX is a proper flagship-spec gaming laptop: RTX 5070 Ti, Core Ultra 7 255HX and a QHD+ 240Hz display at £2,399 put it squarely in the fight with the HP Omen Max 16. The hardware fundamentals are strong for high-refresh 1440p-class gaming, and the price undercuts Lenovo's Legion Pro 5i substantially. The sticking point is the Currys listing's missing RAM, weight and battery details — at this price, confirm the memory configuration before ordering. If it ships with 32GB, this is a fair buy; if 16GB, the identically priced Omen Max 16 looks better.

Check live UK price

Verified listing.

View on Amazon UK

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the RTX 5070 Ti enough for the QHD+ 240Hz display?

The RTX 5070 Ti 12GB is well suited to the Raider's QHD+ 240Hz panel: the 12GB frame buffer handles 2560x1600 gaming comfortably, and DLSS 4 support on the 50-series gives extra headroom in demanding titles. It is a strong tier for high-refresh 1440p-class gaming without paying RTX 5080 money.

How much RAM does the MSI Raider 16 HX come with?

The Currys listing we saw did not state the RAM capacity or configuration, which is unusual and worth flagging. Contact Currys or check MSI's specification for this exact SKU before buying — you will want to know whether you are getting 16GB or 32GB, and whether it is upgradeable.

What is the Core Ultra 7 255HX?

The Core Ultra 7 255HX is an Intel HX-class processor — a full-power chip designed for performance laptops rather than thin-and-light efficiency. It should keep pace with the RTX 5070 Ti in gaming and handle demanding productivity and creative workloads without issue.

What is the UK price of the MSI Raider 16 HX?

We saw it at £2,399 at Currys, matching the HP Omen Max 16. Currys pricing moves with promotions, so check the live price — and confirm the RAM specification — before comparing it against the £2,199.95 Strix G16 and £2,999 Legion Pro 5i.