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Updated January 12, 2024·
Without specifics about these two laptops, I can provide general advice. If you're cost-conscious and prioritize a sharper display and portability, the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED with its typically superior screen quality and lighter design could suffice for everyday tasks. However, if your focus is on gaming or more demanding applications and you don't mind spending extra, the MSI Katana 17 usually offers better performance and a larger screen, though with less battery life and increased weight, making it less ideal for frequent travel. Consider what's more important to you: mobility and cost or power and screen real estate. 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 Zenbook 14X OLED
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.9
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, with an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a high-quality but relatively low refresh rate OLED screen, offers a fair gaming and 3D experience that balances vivid colors with mid-range performance. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it very good for gaming and 3D tasks, offering smooth motion and superior graphics handling at the cost of lower screen color quality.
Engineering and Design
7.7
8.4
8.5/10
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 Zenbook 14X OLED is good.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a good quality OLED screen and is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, while the MSI Katana 17, with more RAM, a higher-end CPU, and a dedicated GPU, delivers better performance that is particularly beneficial for intensive engineering tasks but at the expense of reduced portability. The Zenbook provides a balance for design work with its high-resolution touchscreen, but the Katana's powerful components make it more suitable for demanding engineering applications, even though it's larger and heavier.
Screen Quality
8.6
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
376.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED stands out for general use with its vibrant, high-resolution OLED screen that delivers sharp images and deep contrast, enhancing readability and multimedia quality. For engineering and design, the Zenbook's screen excels by covering a wide color spectrum, providing accurate colors essential for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its screen falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which is less ideal for the fast-paced visuals and fluidity that these tasks demand.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has 6 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.2
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$575
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED has a price of $575 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.9
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
376.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED, with its OLED screen, lighter weight, and longer battery life, excels in portability and display quality, suitable for users who need a device on the go and appreciate a vivid screen. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 offers a more powerful CPU, significantly more RAM, and dedicated graphics, making it a better fit for those who require high performance in tasks such as video editing or demanding software, but it is less portable and has shorter battery life.
Content Creation
7.6
7.8
8.5/10
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 Zenbook 14X OLED 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
7.5
7.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$575 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.9'' x 0.67'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.44 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.67" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.88" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-13500H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 70 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 376 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 14X OLED
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | September 2023
"While one of the more budget-friendly configurations of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED may make a compelling case as a top value pick, it’s difficult to be disappointed with the more expensive model we reviewed here. At its core, for all models, it’s a luxury-built laptop with extreme portability and a gorgeous OLED display. Our unit rocks with a snappy Core i9 processor for getting real work done, and the discrete GPU—even if it has a clear power ceiling—is a bonus for creative pros."
MSI Katana 17
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Zenbook 14X OLED 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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