Choosing between the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the MSI Katana 17 depends heavily on your use case. The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a 2-in-1 convertible design for versatility and a more powerful AMD processor. It also has a better battery life, making it suitable for long hours of work or play on-the-go. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17 offers a larger screen, and more traditional laptop design, and a newer generation Intel processor paired with a more powerful Nvidia graphics card, which could be better for demanding games and heavy graphics work. The ASUS is lighter and more portable, while the MSI, with its larger screen and higher graphics power, may be less portable and have a shorter battery life but better for stationary use and high-performance tasks. 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 X16
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow X16.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.5/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
When considering general use, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 shines due to its higher resolution and brightness, which offer a crisper and more vibrant display compared to the MSI Katana 17. For engineering and design tasks, the ASUS's display supports a wider array of colors, vital for precision work, while the MSI's limited color range might not be as suitable for color-critical applications. In contrast, neither laptop is ideal for gaming or 3D due to their poor refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion and slower response times during fast-paced activities.
Battery
5.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 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
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 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 X16 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.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X16 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16, with its higher screen resolution, better touch capability, and more vibrant screen colors, is ideal for tasks demanding superior visual quality, in a portable and versatile 2-in-1 form factor with a 5.5-hour battery life. In comparison, the MSI Katana 17 offers more RAM and a larger screen, but with a lower resolution, and its heavier build and short battery life make it less portable while providing lesser visual fidelity.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
7.9/10
7.2/10
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
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, which offers solid gaming performance and 3D capabilities, alongside a high refresh rate screen that benefits fast-paced games but has a less powerful GPU than the MSI Katana 17, which features a superior Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU for higher gaming performance and is paired with a standard refresh rate screen, balancing immersive visuals and responsiveness. While both have quality IPS screens, the Flow X16's flexibility as a 2-in-1 with touchscreen might appeal to those looking for versatility, the Katana 17's focus is raw power and a larger screen for dedicated gaming sessions.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
8.4/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 excels in engineering and design due to its high-quality screen with a high resolution, brightness, and color coverage, alongside a powerful AMD CPU and Nvidia GPU combo, but is also highly portable being a lighter 2-in-1 convertible. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 17 offers a larger screen and superior RAM, which can handle complex engineering tasks more efficiently, equipped with a high-end Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU, but it trades off some portability due to its larger size and lesser battery life.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.8/10
8.1/10
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 X16 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
7.7/10
7.5/10
8.1/10
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
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 and MSI Katana 17 are both good for software development.
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.
Cost
$1,300
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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How the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average 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 X16 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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