MSI Status 14 Flip hands-on: Enjoying it secure

Recent off CES 2026, I obtained the possibility to take a look at MSI’s new Status 14 Flip laptop computer sporting considered one of Intel’s new Panther Lake chips.

The Status 14 sports activities numerous attention-grabbing options, from the power to fold 360 levels right into a pill, to the stylus that may be stashed securely beneath. However the headline characteristic, after all, is the brand new Intel chip.

Intel organized for me to check out the Status 14 and despatched me a model of the laptop computer sporting the corporate’s Core Extremely X7 358H chip. For context, the Extremely X7 sits close to the highest of Intel’s Panther Lake line. And whereas I’d love to essentially dig into the brand new chip right here, the unlucky actuality is that I haven’t had the Status 14 lengthy sufficient to make a good judgment.

With that stated, I’m going to concentrate on among the laptop computer’s different options on this hands-on and save the brand new Intel chip for a broader evaluation within the coming weeks. For now, I’ll simply say the preliminary impressions are good, with efficiency being fairly strong general. The larger query for me, nevertheless, is battery life, and that wants a bit extra time to determine.

Boring flexibility

The Status 14 isn’t precisely essentially the most thrilling laptop computer on the market. That’s not solely a foul factor — the Status is aimed extra towards professionals, so a extra refined design is predicted. I all the time recognize when a model does a bit of extra with its {hardware}. The Status performs it secure with a boring gray aluminum alloy chassis with rounded edges which might be snug to carry. I do just like the lid, which sports activities a singular, shimmery MSI brand, however that’s about the place my reward ends for the design.

On the within, issues are a bit of extra grim. The show lives in a chunky body with bigger bezels than I’d like. The show itself is fairly strong, a 14-inch 60Hz OLED panel with a 1920×1200 pixel decision. It appears fairly good and presents strong colors, so no complaints right here.

Beneath the show is a really normal laptop computer keyboard with a serviceable backlight. Nonetheless, the typing expertise is subpar, with the keys providing minimal tactile suggestions and a bit of an excessive amount of journey for my style. You’ll be able to sort on it, nevertheless it’s not one of the best.

Smudge-resistant enter

One upside is the smudge resistance. MSI says the keycaps are UV-cured to assist resist fingerprints and smudges. To date, that’s proved true, however I haven’t used the Status 14 lengthy sufficient to completely choose that. And never only for the keyboard, however the observe pad too — even after numerous use, I can solely see finger smudges on the observe pad once I look from simply the suitable angle.

Talking of the trackpad, MSI presents what it calls an ‘Motion Touchpad.’ In different phrases, it helps some gestures and shortcuts, resembling double-tapping the top-left nook to activate the calculator, or swiping alongside the sting to regulate the quantity. These options have been disabled out of the field on my Status 14, and I’d suggest you permit them that means.

The swipe gestures didn’t work notably properly, and the 2 shortcut choices — calculator and the MSI Middle S app — aren’t all that helpful. Perhaps it’s simply me, however who makes use of the calculator app so usually they want a devoted shortcut for it? And the MSI Middle S app undoubtedly doesn’t want a devoted shortcut, however MSI has two of them; one on the trackpad, and one on the keyboard, although the latter solely cycles by means of the completely different efficiency choices. The MSI Middle app does allow you to customise the Motion Trackpad, however solely the swipe gestures. The shortcuts can’t be modified.

I’ll give MSI kudos for together with a privateness shutter for the webcam and together with a fingerprint scanner within the energy button. You’ll be able to decide to make use of Home windows Whats up facial recognition to unlock the laptop computer as an alternative, however I’d relatively maintain the webcam shutter closed and use my finger. Far too many laptops decide to incorporate the webcam shutter whereas additionally counting on Home windows Whats up, making for an incongruous login expertise.

The Status 14 does have a very good variety of port choices, together with HDMI and two USB-C ports on one facet, and two USB-A ports and a 3.5mm audio jack on the opposite. I’d possibly wish to see another USB-C port on the suitable facet for extra charging choices, however what MSI delivers right here isn’t dangerous.

AI Pen… sure, actually

Lastly, there’s the matter of the stylus. The Status I examined got here with an MSI Nano Pen within the field. It’s a small, plastic stylus harking back to the S Pen discovered on some Samsung Galaxy smartphones. The Nano Pen clips right into a slot on the underside of the Status laptop computer, which retains it charged and out of the way in which but additionally makes it a bit awkward to seize when wanted. I’d favor if MSI included a slot for the Nano Pen above the keyboard or one other place the place it’d be simpler to entry, however the present storage resolution is healthier than nothing.

The Nano Pen sports activities an eraser button and a context button, and in case you maintain down each buttons on the similar time, you should use the built-in microphone to speak to Microsoft Copilot. I’m not solely positive why the Nano Pen wants a microphone and Copilot assist when the Status already has microphones and Copilot buttons. Whichever you utilize, it simply launches the Copilot app, so it actually feels redundant to me. Nonsense AI options apart, the stylus works properly sufficient for writing on the Status 14, although its small dimension generally is a bit uncomfortable for longer writing classes.

General, the MSI Status 14 Flip is an honest Home windows laptop computer, with a couple of quirks that could possibly be improved. For those who’re on the lookout for a secure Home windows laptop computer that doesn’t take a ton of dangers and is throughout good, the Status 14 Flip undoubtedly matches the invoice. It does a bit of little bit of all the pieces properly, however doesn’t do a lot to face out from the gang.

By way of Canadian availability, the laptop computer is obtainable for pre-order, although discovering it may be a little bit of a trouble. The MSI Canada web site lists a bunch of shops that carry the Status 14, however when clicking by means of, many don’t truly listing the latest model of the laptop computer. Some retailers additionally solely carry the bigger Flip 16 variant. Some retailers marked the laptop computer as out there for pre-order.

Right here’s a listing of shops that carry the laptops, and the respective pricing they provide:

• Finest Purchase Canada – Status Flip 16 ($2,199.99).
• Reminiscence Categorical – Status Flip 14 ($1,699.99), Status Flip 16 (a number of fashions beginning at $1,949.99).
• Canada Computer systems* – Status Flip 14 ($1,699), Status Flip 16 (a number of fashions beginning at $1,949).

*Observe: Canada Computer systems is coping with a current safety incident that noticed infostealing malware seize buyer data from its web site. It is perhaps finest to keep away from buying from Canada Laptop’s web site till the retailer has totally addressed the state of affairs.