When choosing between the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the MSI Katana 17, consider the following: if you prioritize saving money and are content with solid gaming performance and durability, the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is a sound choice. However, if you are willing to spend a bit more for likely enhancements in display quality, overall design, or brand-specific features, the MSI Katana 17 could be attractive. Keep in mind that the TUF series is known for bulkier builds, which might affect portability, whereas the MSI Katana models might offer a more balanced compromise between performance and design. Depending on the specific configurations you are looking at, battery life can vary, so for extended use away from power outlets, check the battery specs. For more intensive engineering applications, ensure the laptop you pick has the necessary hardware capabilities like a higher-end processor and ample RAM. Both models are designed with gaming in mind, so they should handle 3D applications and machine learning tasks effectively, but the exact performance will depend on their individual specifications such as the GPU model. Remember to factor in the weight if you plan to carry your laptop frequently. 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 17.
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Key differences
General Use
7.1/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
264.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is outfitted with a lower-tier CPU and less RAM compared to the MSI Katana 17, which means it might struggle with more demanding tasks and multitasking; additionally, the MSI offers superior screen quality which enhances the user experience for general use. The ASUS does have a robust build with satisfactory heat management, but the advantages of the MSI's more powerful processor, greater memory, and finer display, paired with its substantial battery capacity, make it stand out for daily computing needs.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.9/10
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 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 is considered very good for gaming and 3D due to its superior GPU — the Nvidia RTX 4060 — which offers better performance than the RTX 3050 Ti in the ASUS TUF Gaming F17. Additionally, the MSI Katana 17 has a higher screen quality, indicated by better brightness and color coverage, which is important for an immersive gaming experience, though both laptops share the same screen refresh rate, making them equally smooth during gameplay.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, and significantly higher RAM, which accelerates complex computations and graphic processes compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming F17. However, both have similar portability and good build quality, although the ASUS model may present a slight advantage in battery life and has a comparable keyboard and speaker quality.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming F17 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
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
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 is 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.
Screen Quality
6.9/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
264.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS TUF Gaming F17 and the MSI Katana 17 offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness, ensuring comfortable viewing in various lighting conditions and sharp text and images for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, the screens may fall short due to limited color gamut coverage, which can affect the accuracy when working with color-critical applications. While both laptops have decent resolutions and panel types for 3D work, their lower refresh rates could hinder the experience in fast-paced gaming and 3D rendering environments where smoother motion representation is needed.
Battery
4.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has 4.5 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming F17 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
"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 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 TUF Gaming F17 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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