Considering the price difference, if you prioritize high-end performance for tasks like gaming or 3D modeling, and don't mind the additional cost and potentially less portability, the Gigabyte Aorus 17G might be the better choice. On the other hand, if you're looking for a balance between cost and performance for everyday use or less demanding games and applications, and you value greater portability, the MSI Katana 17 could be more suitable for your needs. Remember that expensive laptops often have better build quality, more powerful components, and longer battery life, but this may come at the expense of being heavier and less convenient to carry around. 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 Aorus 17G
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Very good for engineering and design
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.6/10
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 Gigabyte Aorus 17G is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
8.0/10
6.9/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
282.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 17 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vivid display for tasks like web browsing, video streaming, or document work, then both the Gigabyte Aorus 17G and MSI Katana 17 will serve you well with their high resolution and bright screens. However, for color-sensitive work such as photo editing or CAD design, the Gigabyte Aorus 17G has an edge due to its wider color range, making it better suited for engineering and design. On the other hand, for a smooth and immersive gaming or 3D modeling experience, the lower refresh rate on both models might be a limitation, as faster refresh rates are essential for these activities.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G has 6 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.
Cost
$2,329
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G has a price of $2,329 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G offers a higher battery capacity, which translates to longer use between charges, and it's seen as having an excellent keyboard, both desirable for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 provides double the storage and RAM, making it better suited for multitasking and data-heavy tasks. However, the Katana 17 has a lower battery life which may require more frequent charging, and while it has a good keyboard, it doesn't match the feedback from the Aorus 17G.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
7.9/10
7.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G boasts a high screen refresh rate ideal for smooth gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Katana 17 has a newer and more powerful GPU that enhances gaming and 3D performance, along with a higher resolution screen for better image quality.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.8/10
7.4/10
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 Gigabyte Aorus 17G 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
7.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 17G both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 17G 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gigabyte Aorus 17G and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"The Aorus 17G isn't among the top RTX 3080 laptops due to its relatively low TGP of 105 watts. The device's gaming performance is average for an RTX 3080. For maximum performance, competitors like the Lenovo Legion 7 or the Alienware m17 R4 are recommended With the Aorus 17G, Gigabyte delivers a well-rounded gaming laptop. However, the device generates a high noise level. Throttling is not an issue. The CPU and GPU can develop their performance uniformly. Nevertheless, the device produces a lot of noise under load - more than many competitors."
"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 Gigabyte Aorus 17G or the MSI Katana 17
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.
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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