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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a vibrant OLED screen with a higher resolution, which is great for creative work like photo and video editing, but it might be less battery efficient than the IPS screen on the MSI Katana 17. The MSI Katana 17, conversely, has a faster refresh rate display, which is better for gaming and fast-paced videos. It has double the memory of the Zenbook, providing an edge in multitasking or memory-intensive tasks. For portability, the Zenbook is lighter, making it easier to carry around. Both have ample storage, but the ASUS has a more premium build quality. The Katana's graphics card is a step up from the Zenbook's, offering better performance for gaming or 3D work, despite the Zenbook's processor being suitable for general use and engineering tasks. The Zenbook has a higher brightness level, which is beneficial in well-lit spaces, but the Katana offers more vibrant colors. Finally, while the Zenbook was released earlier, the Katana's more recent release could mean it benefits from newer technologies and optimizations. 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 Pro 16X
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Key differences
Content Creation
8.5
7.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
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
8.2
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
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
8.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
354.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X boasts a display with higher resolution and brightness suited for tasks like web browsing, document editing, and watching videos, which makes it excellent for general use. For engineering and design professionals, its wide color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color reproduction, important for tasks like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate can result in less fluid motion, making it less ideal when compared to laptops with higher refresh rates tailored for those experiences.
Battery
7.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
7.9
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
354.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X excels in general use with its high-resolution OLED screen ensuring superior image quality and accurate colors, complemented by a capable CPU and ample RAM, all contained in a lightweight and slim form factor for better portability and long battery life. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17, while still very good for general use, provides a larger screen with a higher refresh rate, more RAM for heavy multitasking, and a robust CPU, but it trades off some portability and screen resolution for these benefits.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.9
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
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 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a solid gaming and 3D experience, with a capable RTX 3060 GPU and a premium OLED screen, but it comes with a 60Hz refresh rate which may not be as smooth for fast-paced games. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, boasts a more powerful RTX 4060 GPU and a higher 144Hz refresh rate which is preferred for gaming, although it has an IPS screen with lower resolution and quality compared to the OLED display of the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.6
8.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
6.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and MSI Katana 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.2
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
Cost
$1,300
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,300 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.29 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 96 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 354 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 Pro 16X
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NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
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 Pro 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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