If you prioritize a lightweight and highly portable laptop that's good for everyday tasks and comes with a lower price tag, the Dell XPS 13 is an excellent choice. However, if your focus is on gaming or demanding applications such as 3D modeling or video editing and you're willing to pay more, the MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and typically more powerful hardware, is likely a better fit despite being less portable and having a shorter battery life. 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 XPS 13
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17's superior performance in gaming and 3D applications is largely because it is equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060, which is a dedicated high-performance GPU, while the Dell XPS 13 uses an integrated GPU, which is less powerful. Additionally, the MSI Katana 17 features a higher screen refresh rate, which provides smoother visuals and is particularly beneficial for gaming, unlike the Dell XPS 13 which has a standard refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.4/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
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 XPS 13 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 offers superior performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and high-end dedicated GPU, which are crucial for demanding software and tasks, though it's less portable and has lower screen quality than the Dell XPS 13. The Dell XPS 13, while more compact and with a higher-quality screen, has less power under the hood due to its less capable integrated GPU and processor, and half the RAM, making it less ideal for intensive engineering applications but better for on-the-go usage.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
6.9/10
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 17 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When evaluating the Dell XPS 13 and MSI Katana 17 for general use, the XPS 13 is favored due to its higher resolution and brightness, providing crisp and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks. For engineering and design work, the XPS 13 again excels with a display that covers a wider range of color gamuts, ensuring greater accuracy for color-critical tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack high refresh rates that provide smoother motion, although their resolutions and panel types do offer a decent visual experience for less demanding users.
Battery
10.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 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
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The Dell XPS 13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,399
$1,015
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $1,399 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,015.
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell XPS 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance of portability, screen quality, and battery life, making it well-suited for on-the-go users who need a reliable laptop for everyday tasks. The MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and higher-end CPU and RAM, excels in more demanding applications, but it compromises on portability and may have a shorter battery life due to its more powerful components.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell XPS 13 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
7.5/10
7.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell XPS 13 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.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
"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 XPS 13 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.
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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