The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 offers a good balance of portability and performance at a lower price, ideal for general use and light productivity tasks with its high-resolution OLED display. However, if you need increased power for gaming, 3D work, or more intensive engineering tasks, the MSI Katana 17 is the stronger option with its advanced processor, dedicated graphics, and larger screen, but it comes with a higher price tag and is less portable due to its size and weight. The choice depends on whether portability and cost savings are prioritized over high-end performance and screen size. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
385.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14, with a modest processor, less RAM, and a smaller high-resolution OLED screen, is more portable and offers a longer battery life but may struggle with multitasking compared to the MSI Katana 17, which boasts a more powerful processor, significantly more RAM, and a larger, lower-resolution IPS display suitable for heavier workloads, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 offers superior gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which outperforms the integrated graphics in the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14, and its higher screen refresh rate of 144hz compared to the Vivobook's 90hz, providing smoother visual gameplay. While the Vivobook's OLED screen may offer better color quality and resolution, the Katana's advantages in GPU and refresh rate make it more suitable for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
8.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
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 Vivobook Pro 14 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.8/10
5.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 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.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
385.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 17 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 excels in general use and engineering tasks due to its high resolution and panel that delivers vibrant and accurate colors, crucial for detailed work and media consumption. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate detracts from the experience, as these use cases benefit from smoother visuals that come with higher refresh rates. Conversely, the MSI Katana 17, with modest color range and brightness, offers an adequate display for general tasks, but falls short for color-sensitive engineering work and does not provide the optimal refresh rate for gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
8.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 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
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$548
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 has a price of $548 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
The ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 and MSI Katana 17 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 Pro 14 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"The Asus Vivobook Pro 14 OLED is a Pantone Validated laptop that packs a lot of processing power. The Asus VivoBook Pro 14 OLED's highlight is its outstanding display: Featuring a 3K resolution in the 16:10 format and nearly a 100% coverage of the Display P3 color space, the display hardly leaves anything to be desired. The Asus laptop also shows impeccable rates in terms of general system performance. Combined with long battery life, low noise emissions, and relatively good speakers, the laptop can be recommended to users who can accept compromises in terms of connectivity."
"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 Pro 14 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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