Earlier, a Sword line laptop reached us in a different configuration. Today the focus shifts to the younger model – MSI Sword 15 A12UE-487XRU. The aim is to understand its capabilities using popular games as benchmarks. It is worth noting that the design of the model draws inspiration from the Japanese illustrator Tsuyoshi Nagano.
Learn more about the laptop
Appearance and hardware
The MSI Sword 15 A12UE-487XRU stands out with a color palette that is uncommon in today’s devices. The lid and keyboard showcase a snow-white finish, complemented by black accents around the display and along the bottom. Beyond striking looks, the plastic surface feels pleasant to the touch and resists fingerprints. The chassis features smooth, rounded edges and seamless joints with no rattling or misalignment.
Airflow is routed through vents on the left side that resemble jet engine intakes, while bottom cutouts assist with air intake—an approach MSI has used before. The cooling scheme is not flawless: during demanding gaming sessions the keyboard area can heat up. While temperatures won’t reach critical levels, heat can travel toward the hands during long, intensive play.
The display tilts through 180 degrees, and the lid opens with one hand. Weighing about 2.25 kg and measuring 359 mm wide, 259 mm deep, and 24.9 mm tall, it is portable enough for commuting or travel. It’s unlikely to fit in a compact pouch, but a standard backpack will handle it with ease.
The keyboard includes a standard 107 × 62 mm touchpad and a compact numeric keypad with arrow keys. The ANSI layout is standard, featuring a longer left Shift and a single-height Enter. Function keys provide quick access to volume and keyboard backlight controls, microphone and webcam toggles, and other default options. The arrow keys sit above a dedicated button for the maximum cooling mode and a feature that helps align screen viewing—handy for snipers in shooters.
The keyboard is backlit in a turquoise hue with three brightness levels and an option to turn it off. Even at low brightness, finding the right key is straightforward. All keys register a solid press with a 1.7 mm stroke.
The sides host a practical set of ports. On the left, there is a USB 3.2 Type-A and a USB 2.0 Type-A power connector. On the right, users will find a RJ45 Ethernet port, HDMI 2.0 capable of 4K at 60 Hz, USB 3.2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, and a 3.5 mm combo headset jack. The configuration supports easy use with monitors, phones, and other peripherals without fuss.
The display is a 15.6-inch IPS panel with Full HD resolution (1920×1080) and a 144 Hz refresh rate. These specs deliver smooth visuals in fast-paced shooters. A standard webcam sits atop the lid for video calls, providing adequate quality for meetings. In terms of multimedia, the onboard speakers are pleasant for gaming and streaming, though some users may prefer external audio for movie watching.
Under the hood, the MSI Sword 15 A12UE-487XRU pairs a modern processor with capable graphics: Intel Core i7-12700H, RTX 3060 graphics with 6 GB of memory, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200 MHz, a 512 GB NVMe SSD, and a Wi‑Fi 6 with Bluetooth 5.2 module.
The battery capacity is 53.5 Wh, enabling about two hours of work at maximum brightness. In modern games, this runtime typically drops to about half that duration. The bundled power supply is a 240 W Chicony unit.
Specifications
- Display: 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080, IPS, 144Hz
- Processor: Intel Core i7-12700H
- Memory: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR4-3200 expandable
- Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 Notebook
- Disk subsystem: 512 GB NVMe SSD
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2
- Connections: 1x Type-C USB3.2 Gen1, 2x Type-A USB3.2 Gen1, 1x Type-A USB2.0, 1x RJ45, 1x (4K @ 60Hz) HDMI
- Battery: non-removable, 53.5 Wh
- Dimensions: 359 (W) x 259 (D) x 24.9 (H) mm
- Weight: 2.25 kg
Performance. Synthetic testing
CPU-Z specifications and CrystalDiskMark results are presented in the included screenshots. The system was also evaluated with Full HD 3DMark tests including Time Spy, Port Royal, Fire Strike Extreme, Wild Life, Night Raid DirectX Raytracing, PCIe Feature Test, VRS Feature Test, and a DLSS Quality test.
Performance. In-game testing
For testing, the following games were used: The Callisto Protocol, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remaster, and Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, all run at the highest settings feasible on the hardware.
In The Callisto Protocol, after patches, it is possible to maintain around 60–70 FPS with occasional drops to 30–35 during intense moments with many effects. Reducing the graphics slightly, as suggested by the game, improves frame rates.
Cyberpunk 2077 with ultra-ray tracing remains around 40–45 FPS; lowering to minimum boosts to 60–62 FPS. Disabling ray tracing and enabling DLSS can yield even better performance. At maximum settings, the game remains playable with occasional frame-rate fluctuations.
In The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt with ray tracing on Ultra, the frame rate barely reaches 28–30 FPS. Disabling RT, selecting the Outrageous quality mode, and maintaining DLSS yields 57–60 FPS. With balanced or performance DLSS presets, an extra 8–10 FPS can be gained. The current-generation Witcher 3 looks impressive at high detail.
Metro Exodus benchmarks show averages of 30, 45, and 56 FPS in Extreme, Ultra, and High. Enabling DLSS in Extreme with Ultra Performance raises to about 46 FPS.
Results and verdict
MSI Sword 15 A12UE-487XRU sits in the high-end gaming segment with a distinctive design and a strong hardware package capable of handling modern titles at acceptable settings for gamers on the go. It won’t perform miracles, but it is far from underpowered. The RTX 3060 handles demanding workloads well, making it a solid mobile option for gamers who need performance in a portable form factor.
Price will vary; the configuration with the Core i7-12700H, 16 GB RAM, and a 512 GB SSD is typically positioned around competitive levels for the segment.
Pros: balanced price-to-performance, stylish design, capable gaming performance.
Cons: heat near the keyboard under heavy load, battery life limited during intense gaming sessions.