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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell G15 5520 is often less expensive and might be a better option if you are looking to save some money. It is suitable for general use and capable of handling gaming and engineering tasks, although the MSI Katana 17 has a newer processor and more powerful graphics card, making it better suited for intensive 3D, machine learning tasks, and the latest games. However, the larger screen size of the MSI Katana 17 may affect portability, and it tends to be heavier, which could be a consideration if you prefer a lighter laptop for travel or commuting. Additionally, both laptops offer similar battery life, but investing in the MSI may yield better long-term performance due to its updated hardware. 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 Dell G15 5520
- Good overall display quality
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell G15 5520.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.1
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell G15 5520's screen offers strong resolution and brightness, making it a solid choice for daily tasks and productivity software; however, its lower refresh rate could detract from the immersive experience needed for high-speed gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Katana 17 also provides a clear and vivid display for everyday activities and moderate work in engineering and design, but might fall short for professionals who rely on exceedingly accurate color representation due to its fair color gamut coverage. For gaming and 3D work, both laptops may not deliver the smooth visuals desired due to their screens not prioritizing high refresh rates, which are crucial for fluid motion in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
251.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell G15 5520 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 is rated higher for general use primarily due to its superior CPU and RAM, which translates to better overall performance and multitasking capabilities, along with a larger screen size that provides a more immersive experience. Although the Dell G15 5520 also offers a competent CPU and ample RAM for general tasks, its smaller screen, and shorter battery life limit its usefulness compared to the MSI Katana 17, which also has a marginally better screen quality and heat management.
Gaming and AI
7.7
7.9
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell G15 5520 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Dell G15 5520, with a higher screen refresh rate of 165, offers smooth visuals for fast-paced games and 3D rendering, but the MSI Katana 17, despite a slightly lower refresh rate at 144, compensates with a stronger graphics unit, the RTX 4060, providing overall better gaming and 3D performance. The Dell's CPU and screen quality are good for gaming and general use, whereas the MSI's comparable CPU and screen quality, in combination with more robust graphics, make it particularly adept for intense gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell G15 5520 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell G15 5520, with its RTX 3060, provides very good engineering and design capabilities but has a smaller amount of RAM than the MSI Katana 17, which boasts a more powerful RTX 4060 and twice the RAM, making it even better suited for demanding tasks. While both have high-quality screens and CPUs, the larger screen and higher GPU performance of the MSI make it an especially compelling choice for intensive work, though it is slightly less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the Dell.
Content Creation
7.9
7.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Katana 17 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
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell G15 5520 and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Dell G15 5520 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 Dell G15 5520 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell G15 5520 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.55 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.06" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.74" | 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 | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 251 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell G15 5520
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Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Dell G15 (2022) is a 15.6-inch budget gaming laptop, and is great for gaming. You can configure the laptop with powerful Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and various NVIDIA dedicated GPUs, all of which deliver a smooth gaming experience at 1080p. There's also a QHD 240Hz display option if you want better visuals, though you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti to get good frame rates. It doesn't get overly hot or loud under load, and there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU. Unfortunately, the 120Hz panel has a slow response time, causing noticeable ghosting, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate."
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 Dell G15 5520 or the MSI Katana 17
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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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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