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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Katana 15 cater to different needs. The Aero 17 is pricier but offers a more powerful processor, superior graphics performance, and a larger, higher resolution Mini LED screen, which is beneficial for tasks that require high color accuracy, such as video editing or graphical work. It also has a bigger battery but comes with greater weight and bulk, impacting its portability. In contrast, the Katana 15 is more affordable with a more modest processor and graphics card, suited for general gaming and everyday tasks. It's lighter and more portable but has a shorter battery life and a less impressive display in terms of color coverage and resolution. The Aero 17 would be preferred for intensive engineering, 3D work, and tasks requiring high screen quality, while the Katana 15 is a budget-friendlier option for users prioritizing portability and general use over top-tier performance and display quality. 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 Gigabyte Aero 17
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte Aero 17.
Key differences
General Use
8.1
7.5
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 offers high resolution and color accuracy which is excellent for graphic design and video editing, along with a strong CPU and plenty of RAM for smooth multitasking; however, it is less portable and has moderate battery life. The MSI Katana 15, while having adequate performance with a capable CPU and the same amount of RAM, provides more portability and is suitable for everyday tasks, but comes with a lower quality display and shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
8.8
7.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 excels in engineering and design use due to its higher-quality screen, more powerful CPU, superior GPU, and ample RAM, which are crucial for such demanding tasks. In contrast, while the MSI Katana 15 also offers decent performance with a capable CPU and GPU for design work, it falls short in screen quality and has a smaller battery, which may impact long work sessions, though it is lighter and thus more portable.
Content Creation
8.4
7.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 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.
Software Development
7.9
7.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 is somewhat better.
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
9.2
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte Aero 17's superior resolution and panel type offer sharp images and vibrant colors crucial for detailed engineering and design work, while its wide color gamut ensures color accuracy, benefiting professional creatives. However, its lower refresh rate might not be as suitable for gaming or 3D applications, where smooth motion is key. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 provides an adequate balance of resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, but its fair screen quality and potentially limited color gamut may not satisfy the precision needed for engineering, design, or the fluid visual experience desired in gaming and 3D environments.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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.
Build Quality
8.0
7.2
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,071
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a price of $2,071 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.6
7.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
3840 x 2160
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 stands out in gaming and 3D applications with its higher-tier Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a 120Hz Mini LED display which enhances visual depth and color accuracy, suitable for intensive graphics work. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15, equipped with a Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher 144Hz IPS screen refresh rate, also delivers a smooth gaming experience but may not match the color fidelity and visual sharpness offered by the Aero 17's screen technology and GPU performance.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and Gigabyte Aero 17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gigabyte Aero 17 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gigabyte Aero 17 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,071 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 9.5'' x 0.92'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.6" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 2048 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 368 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.7/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Gigabyte Aero 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | May 2021
"Not only is the Aero 17 a very good laptop for gamers but also for content creators. With the upgrade to the Intel Core i9-11980HK, Gigabyte particularly improved the system performance. In addition, the hardware package is rounded by the extremely fast SSD and 32 GB of working memory in dual-channel mode. Compared to the predecessor, the battery life is reduced only moderately, and the 4K display also basically keeps its good qualities."
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte Aero 17 or the MSI Katana 15
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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