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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the ASUS Vivobook 16X and the MSI Katana 17 mainly revolves around portability, performance, and use case preferences. The Vivobook 16X is more affordable and lightweight, making it a better option for those who prioritize portability and budget. It features a high resolution display, adequate for general use and multitasking. On the other hand, the Katana 17 has a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, which alongside its superior graphics capabilities, makes it more suitable for gaming and visually intensive tasks, despite it being bulkier and pricier. However, it also has more storage and memory, which enhances performance for demanding applications such as video editing or 3D modeling. Consider what's more important for your needs - if you need a machine for on-the-go productivity, the Vivobook might be best; for power-intensive tasks, the MSI is the better bet despite its higher cost and lesser portability. 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 Vivobook 16X
- Good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook 16X.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X offers a balance of resolution and brightness, making text and images sharp and visible for activities like web browsing and document editing, satisfying general use needs. Its display covers a broad range of colors which is vital for precision in engineering and design work, ensuring that colors are accurately represented. However, with a lower refresh rate, the Vivobook's display may not be as smooth for high-speed gaming or 3D rendering as other models designed specifically for those purposes.
Battery
5.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 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
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,200
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is favored for portability with higher ratings in this area, likely due to its smaller screen and lighter weight compared to the MSI Katana 17, which offers more storage and RAM for potentially better multitasking and storage capacity but sacrifices portability. The Vivobook's superior battery life also likely contributes to its suitability for on-the-go use, while the MSI may be more appropriate for stationary use where power and larger screen size are priorities over battery life and ease of transport.
Gaming and AI
7.7
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X are both good for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.4
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X stands out in engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 CPU, ample 16GB RAM, capable Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and clear IPS screen with a resolution that suits detailed work, while remaining relatively portable. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 17 also excels with a similarly robust CPU and GPU, double the RAM for more complex tasks, a larger but less sharp screen, and enhanced portability due to a lighter build, though it may lose out slightly on screen color fidelity and resolution for design work.
Content Creation
7.7
7.8
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X 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
7.4
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X 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.
Build Quality
7.0
7.2
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook 16X both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Vivobook 16X and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Vivobook 16X | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,200 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.8'' x 0.74'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.25 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.12" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.81" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 70 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Vivobook 16X
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Tech Critter
Kok Kee | February 2023
"I think the ASUS Vivobook 16X is fantastic. Great performance, decent battery life, good keyboard and trackpad, and a massive screen – just that the screen quality itself is kinda subpar. If you’re okay with the screen, then I think this is an okay laptop. However, I’d like to see a price drop."
MSI Katana 17
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NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | February 2023
"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 Vivobook 16X 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.
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