A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, being a convertible, offers flexibility and portability, making it suitable for those who value a 2-in-1 device that can be used as a tablet or a notebook—ideal for presentations or on-the-go tasks. However, if your workload includes gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and likely more powerful graphics capabilities, would be a better fit despite its less portable nature. The bigger form factor of the MSI Katana 17 may also mean better heat management for prolonged intensive tasks. In choosing between the two, consider your primary use case: portability and versatility with the ASUS, or performance and screen size with the MSI, recognizing the cost implications of the former. 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 Flip S13
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.9
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
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 Flip S13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is less suited for gaming and 3D because it uses an integrated GPU and has a standard screen refresh rate, while the MSI Katana 17 is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a higher refresh rate display, both of which are very important for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.4
8.4
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 is rated very good for engineering and design due to its higher RAM capacity, powerful Nvidia RTX GPU, and larger screen with a higher refresh rate, which are critical for demanding tasks like 3D modeling or data simulations; however, it's larger and heavier, making it less portable than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 still stands as a good choice with ample screen quality, a decently powerful CPU and integrated GPU, and a touchscreen feature, which can be quite handy for design work, yet it has less RAM and a less powerful GPU compared to the MSI model.
Screen Quality
7.9
6.9
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
372.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers a vibrant display with high resolution and brightness, which enhances the general use experience by making text sharp and videos vivid. For engineering and design work, the Zenbook’s color accuracy and wide color gamuts ensure that the visuals are true to life, which is essential for precise color work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion and rapid screen updates are crucial for an immersive experience.
Battery
10.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent 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 Flip S13 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.9
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
372.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
10.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
7.8
7.8
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.6
7.5
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and MSI Katana 17 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.
Cost
$1,400
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.3'' x 0.51'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.65 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.01" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.31" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1165G7 | 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 | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 67 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 372 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 Flip S13
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Charles Jefferies | January 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
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 Flip S13 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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