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Updated January 16, 2024·
If performance for engineering tasks, 3D work, machine learning, or gaming is a priority and you don't mind a heavier laptop with shorter battery life, the MSI Katana 17 is a better choice due to its more powerful processor and graphics card. However, if you favor portability, longer battery life, and a lower price, the Dell Latitude 5430 is more suitable; it's lighter and has a less powerful processor and integrated graphics, making it well-suited for general use. 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 Latitude 5430
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
7.2
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
248.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Latitude 5430 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The Dell Latitude 5430's modest processor and RAM make it a fair choice for general use, while its lightweight and better battery life enhance its portability. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, offers a more powerful processor and significantly more RAM, leading to very good general use performance, but it's less portable due to its larger screen and heavier build.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 5430 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 excels in gaming and 3D applications because it is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a screen that refreshes at 144 times per second, offering smoother visuals and higher performance. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5430, with its integrated Intel graphics and a standard 60 Hz screen refresh rate, provides a fair experience, as it is not specifically designed for the high graphics demand of gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.5
8.4
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
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 Dell Latitude 5430 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 outshines the Dell Latitude 5430 for engineering and design due to its higher-performing CPU and GPU, more RAM and larger storage, coupled with a larger display with a higher refresh rate. However, the Latitude 5430 offers greater portability and a slightly longer battery life, which may appeal to those who need to frequently move their workstation or work for longer periods without charging.
Content Creation
7.2
7.8
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Latitude 5430 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
6.1
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
248.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5430 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Latitude 5430 offers balanced brightness and resolution, making it suitable for daily tasks, but its limited color range and modest refresh rates may not satisfy the vividness and fluidity desired by engineers or gamers. Conversely, the MSI Katana 17's superior brightness and resolution enhance general usability, but its color reproduction may not meet professional engineering standards, and gamers might find the refresh rate lacking for the most immersive experiences. Therefore, while both laptops can handle everyday activities, professionals and enthusiasts in engineering and gaming may seek more specialized features.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Latitude 5430 has 9 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 Dell Latitude 5430 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$790
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Latitude 5430 has a price of $790 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
Software Development
7.1
7.5
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Latitude 5430 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
7.2
The Dell Latitude 5430 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 Latitude 5430 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 5430 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$790 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.76'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.01 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.65" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.35" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 248 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 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 | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 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
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 Dell Latitude 5430 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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