The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is more expensive but offers a premium experience with a more powerful CPU and GPU, better screen resolution and quality, and a 2-in-1 convertible design that allows it to be used as a tablet. It's also more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17, while less costly, provides a larger screen and a full keyboard with a numeric keypad, which could benefit productivity tasks. However, it is heavier, making it less portable, and its screen resolution is lower than the ASUS. If you need high performance in a versatile, portable form and don't mind the higher cost, the ASUS could be a great choice. Alternatively, if you prefer a larger screen for work or gaming and are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the MSI Katana 17 might be the better fit for you. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X13
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow X13.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.9/10
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 likely boasts a high-resolution display with excellent color accuracy, satisfying both general users and professionals in engineering and design by offering crisp visuals and vibrant colors that are essential for detailed work. Although the panel type and resolution contribute to overall quality, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is a priority. Conversely, the MSI Katana 17 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but its color reproduction may not be as precise for professional design work, and similarly, its refresh rate might fall short for the immersive gaming experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,500
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a price of $2,500 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X13 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 excels in general use due to its high-quality screen and portability, featuring a high-resolution touchscreen in a lightweight, convertible form factor with respectable battery life. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 offers a larger screen and double the RAM for multitasking but trades off with less portability and shorter battery life, making it less suited for on-the-go usage despite its strong performance capabilities.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS ROG Flow X13 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 excels in gaming and 3D applications thanks to its high refresh rate screen and powerful GPU, offering fluid visuals which is crucial for a responsive gaming experience. In comparison, the MSI Katana 17 also provides strong gaming and 3D performance with a capable GPU, larger screen real estate, and substantial memory upgrade, although with a slightly lower screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
8.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 and MSI Katana 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, abundant RAM, superior screen quality with higher resolution, and the added versatility of a 2-in-1 convertible design for both laptop and tablet use. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17, while less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, offers twice the RAM, which can be crucial for demanding engineering software, but has a lower screen resolution and does not provide the same convertible functionality.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.8/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X13 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.5/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X13 to be very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the ASUS ROG Flow X13 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"The Asus ROG Flow X13 is not an off-the-shelf convertible. This quickly becomes clear when you take a closer look at the technical specs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is a state-of-the-art SoC with 8 cores and 16 threads, which also makes the 2-in-1 interesting as a work device. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, gamers are also well taken care of. The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q fits well into the overall concept and ensures a solid 3D performance. With the eGPU dock, which is equipped with a GeForce RTX 3080, the small convertible transforms into a full-fledged desktop replacement in terms of performance."
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X13 or the MSI Katana 17
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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