excellent 120 Hz TN panel with fast 3 ms and 5 ms response time options ; faster than GTX 1060 without consuming significantly more power ; respectable CPU and GPU temperatures when gaming ; quieter than most "standard" GTX gaming notebooks ;...

small battery capacity; unimpressive battery life ; no IPS, 4K UHD, or touchscreen display options ; fans tend to pulsate when running low loads ; louder than most Max-Q gaming notebooks ; chassis could be stronger and more rigid ; end-user servicing...

The GS73VR Max-Q refresh makes this the best iteration of the series yet. Not only does it perform faster than the older GTX 1060 SKU under a very similar power envelope, but it also runs quieter and cooler as well. These are exactly the kinds of steps...

excellent CPU/GPU performance ; best-in-class keyboard ; thin, light chassis ; improved thermal performance ; color accurate display (with calibration) ; plethora of ports ; sharp 4K display (optional)...

...that results in some scaling issues ; lots of bloatware ; buggy behavior ; slow SD card speeds ; lackluster touchpad ; annoying fans ; coil whine ; poor port placement

The MSI GS73VR 7RF is less an upgrade and more a refinement. Where the 6RF was an overhaul of MSI's 17.3-inch thin-and-light line, the 7RF is the completion of that idea. As such, it improves upon the positives of its predecessor but keeps the cons as...