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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
For better performance in demanding tasks like professional video editing or 3D modeling, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is more suitable with its faster processor and high-resolution OLED screen. It is also more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, but with reduced battery life and connectivity options. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, offers a larger screen with a higher refresh rate which is advantageous for gaming and better battery life, making it suited for extended use away from power outlets. It also has a dedicated graphics card which is beneficial for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks but is heavier and less portable than the Dell. If portability and screen quality are top priorities and cost isn't a major concern, the Dell XPS 13 Plus is preferable. But if you prefer a larger display, better battery life, and gaming capabilities at a more budget-friendly price, the MSI Katana 17 would be the better choice. 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 Plus
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very 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
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.9
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
3840 x 2400
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 Plus is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17's higher screen refresh rate and the inclusion of a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card give it a significant advantage for gaming and 3D applications over the Dell XPS 13 Plus, which uses integrated graphics and has a lower refresh rate. Despite its excellent screen quality, the Dell's GPU and lower refresh capabilities do not match the higher performance gaming features of the MSI Katana 17.
Software Development
8.3
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus 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
8.4
6.9
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell XPS 13 Plus excels due to its high-resolution display and brightness, offering clear and vivid images, which are less pronounced on the MSI Katana 17. When it comes to engineering and design, the Dell's superior color accuracy and wider color spectrum support are crucial for professionals requiring precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short as they lack high refresh rates that are essential for these activities.
Battery
10.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus 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
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus 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
7.2
The Dell XPS 13 Plus 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
$1,849
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a price of $1,849 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
7.9
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
374.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers high screen quality with its OLED display, is lightweight for superior portability, and has a long battery life, making it excellent for general use on the go. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 17 provides a larger screen and more storage space, with a dedicated graphics card for better performance, but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable but more suited for tasks that may require better graphics processing.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.4
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is tailored for engineering and design with its high-quality OLED screen, powerful CPU, and integrated graphics suitable for less graphically intensive tasks; its smaller size and lighter weight enhance portability. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 offers a larger IPS display, more storage space, a dedicated high-end GPU for demanding graphical work, and a higher screen refresh rate, but it trades off with greater bulk and heft.
Content Creation
8.3
7.8
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be 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.
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How the Dell XPS 13 Plus and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell XPS 13 Plus | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,849 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.6'' x 7.8'' x 0.6'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.71 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.63" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.84" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1280P | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 55 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 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 | 374 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.2/10 | 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 | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell XPS 13 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | July 2022
"The XPS 13 Plus is powerful, but has its drawbacks. Dell did not only update the processor generation, but also decided to offer two completely different models from now on. The XPS 13 Plus gets the faster Intel Alder Lake-P chips, and the Core i7-1260P in our review unit offers good performance figures. However, the device once again shows the problems of the current Intel CPUs, because the high performance requires a lot of power. This affects the battery runtime as well as temperatures, so the new model (even with the Optimized power profile) is louder than the older model."
MSI Katana 17
See more
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 XPS 13 Plus 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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