MSI challenges Lenovo and HP with tile-tracking laptops

MSI’s latest top performance and business line laptops are now easier to find if you lose them. The updated Summit laptops include the new Summit E14 Flip Evo model, and they take a cue from HP and Lenovo laptops by integrating Tile Bluetooth trackers.

Once users enable this feature in the pre-loaded Windows Tile app (which requires internet), they can use the Tile smartphone app to track down their missing PC. The distance from which the phone can track the laptop depends on the Bluetooth version of the phone, MSI spokesman Ars Technica said. For example, with Bluetooth 5.0, tracking will work up to 400 feet, according to MSI.

The new MSI Summit notebooks will be able to use the Tile Ring My PC feature, which causes the PC to make noise if it is within Bluetooth range, even if the PC is turned off.

The tile also supports a proximity meter and can show you the last tracked location of a lost PC. The Tile network can also alert you if someone with a smartphone running the Tile app approaches the laptop.

The inclusion of MSI Tile puts the Summit series on par with HP business and productivity laptops such as the EliteBook 1000, EliteBook 800 G8 and Zbook Firefly G8 series. HP was the first brand to sell laptops with built-in Tile trackers, and Lenovo followed suit with the ThinkPad line (X1 and T series). With more and more people working on the go, it’s time to capitalize on building powerful laptops that are getting smaller and easier to find.

Other security considerations for the new Summit laptops include physical covers for 1080p webcams, support for fingerprint and facial login, and Tobii Aware. The latter is similar to a feature Lenovo uses, including on some non-business laptops, that locks up the laptop or blurs its screen as soon as the camera sees that you’re no longer looking or someone is peeking over your shoulder.

Specifications and dimensions

MSI’s announcement today includes the release of the 14-inch version of the Summit Flip Evo 2-in-1 laptops.

The Summit E14 Flip Evo, as well as the updated Summit E14 Evo, Summit E13 Flip Evo, Summit E16 Flip, and Summit E16 Flip Evo, feature 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P processors. While the broader Summit lineup includes offerings for both Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics and an Nvidia RTX 3050 or 3050 Ti laptop, the new Summit E14 Flip Evo only has Iris Xe integrated graphics. However, its screen has the highest resolution in the Summit lineup: 2880×1800. The RAM is up to 32GB LPDDR5-4800 and the 14″convertible comes with up to 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

MSI’s Summit E14 Flip Evo has the same ports as its non-flip counterpart: two Thunderbolt 4 ports, USB-A (3.2 Gen 2), microSD card reader, HDMI, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

MSI’s highest-configured Summit E14 Flip Evo will be the most expensive in the Summit line at $1,800 ($1,500 starting price). The E16 series will cost between $1,549 and $2,199, while the E13 Flip Evo will cost between $1,400 and $1,700.