The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a strong choice for intensive gaming with a larger screen and robust heat management, but it's heavier which reduces portability. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 packs more storage and memory for better multitasking and is ideal for 3D rendering or machine learning tasks, and it's also lighter making it easier to carry around. If you prioritize having a larger display and gaming aesthetic, the ASUS may suit you, while if you value performance for productivity and a more portable design, the MSI is preferable. Both have backlit keyboards, Ethernet ports, and USB-C, but only the ASUS has a fingerprint reader. 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 TUF Gaming F17
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Katana 15.
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 offers better gaming and 3D performance primarily because of its superior GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4060, which outperforms the Asus TUF Gaming F17's RTX 3050 Ti, leading to smoother graphics and better handling of more demanding games and 3D applications. Additionally, even though both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the MSI's higher quality screen with better color coverage and contrast ratio contributes to a more vibrant and detailed visual experience during gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 features an Intel i5 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks, but with less RAM and storage compared to the MSI Katana 15, which boasts an Intel i5 CPU, Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, doubled RAM, and storage capacity to better handle resource-intensive applications.
Screen Quality
6.9/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17's panel type, resolution, and brightness make it suitable for everyday tasks, but its lesser coverage of color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB may reduce accuracy for engineering and design work, and its lower refresh rate limits the smoothness for gaming and 3D applications. Similarly, the MSI Katana 15, with a fair balance of resolution and brightness, provides an adequate display for more casual use but may not satisfy professionals in fields that rely on precise color representation. Both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D rendering because high refresh rates, which are crucial for fluid motion and responsiveness in these areas, are not their strong suit.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 15 stands out for general use primarily due to its higher RAM, which makes multitasking smoother, and its more capable CPU that improves overall performance. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has less RAM, which could slow down performance when multiple applications are open, and its CPU is not as powerful; however, the ASUS model offers a larger screen and a slightly longer battery life, which may benefit those valuing screen real estate and unplugged usage over peak performance and portability.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for content creation.
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
6.7/10
7.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Katana 15 to be good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.2/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"One of the Asus TUF Gaming F17’s highlights is without a doubt its excellent gaming performance. The fact that Asus configured the RTX 3060 GPU for its specified maximum of 140 W is became immediately noticeable in our benchmarks. For a 17-inch notebook the F17 also offers a very long battery life, which makes it somewhat portable. On the flip side is the display. It may be saved by its good overall contrast ratio, but its overall brightness is simply too low, and its response times are too slow for a gaming device. The F17’s successor needs to improve upon this."
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 or the MSI Katana 15
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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