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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a computer to handle heavy gaming or graphics tasks, the MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and more powerful graphics capabilities, would be a better choice, but it will be less portable and may have a shorter battery life than the Dell Latitude 5431. On the other hand, if portability and cost are significant factors for you, and your tasks are more in line with general use or business applications, the Dell Latitude 5431 could be a better option, as it is typically more affordable, lighter, and has longer battery life, making it easier to carry around for daily 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 5431
- 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
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.9
3.7/10
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 5431 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17, with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 144, is engineered for a superior gaming and 3D experience, while the Dell Latitude 5431, with its integrated Intel i5-1250P Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate of 60, provides only a fair performance in gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, the quality and capabilities of the GPU and display refresh rate are much more crucial in determining gaming performance compared to the CPU and overall screen quality.
Engineering and Design
6.9
8.4
7.1/10
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 Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 offers superior CPU and GPU performance, larger screen for detailed visual work, and significantly more memory, making it very good for complex engineering and design tasks. However, the Dell Latitude 5431 is lighter and more compact, which alongside its decent screen and good enough performance, makes it a good, more portable option for such 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
241.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize office tasks, web browsing, or watching videos, the Dell Latitude's screen is adequate, but the MSI Katana's superior brightness and resolution may offer a more pleasing visual experience. For engineering and design work, both laptops provide acceptable performance, but neither excels in color accuracy and range, which are vital for professional editing and rendering tasks. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop is ideal due to their lower refresh rates; however, the resolution and panel type are sufficient for casual gaming or entry-level 3D work.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Latitude 5431 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
Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Latitude 5431 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$950
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Latitude 5431 has a price of $950 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
241.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both good for general use.
The Dell Latitude 5431, while smaller and lighter which contributes to better portability and a longer battery life, is outperformed by the MSI Katana 17 which offers a larger screen, more RAM, and a more powerful CPU and GPU combination, enhancing screen quality and computing performance for general use despite its reduced portability due to larger size and weight.
Content Creation
7.4
7.8
7.1/10
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 MSI Katana 17 and Dell Latitude 5431 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
7.3
7.5
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 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 5431 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 5431 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 5431 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 5431 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$950 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.96'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.3 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.65" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.35" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1250P | 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 | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 64 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 | 241 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.9/10 | 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 5431 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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