If you're looking for more storage and memory, and you often work with demanding applications, the MSI Katana 17 provides better specifications, plus it has a larger screen which can be more comfortable for multitasking. Even though it's bigger, which might affect portability, the price is more affordable. However, if you prioritize higher build quality and possibly better gaming performance with a more capable graphics card, the Gigabyte Aorus 5 would be preferable, albeit at a higher price. Keep in mind its smaller screen size might limit your workspace but makes for a more portable and travel-friendly option. 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 5
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte Aorus 5.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.0/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 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.
For general use, the Gigabyte Aorus 5 offers a clear and bright display with a resolution suitable for everyday tasks, while the MSI Katana 17 gives a similar quality with decent resolution and brightness, making both appropriate for casual use. In engineering and design, the Aorus 5 leads with a broader range of colors, capturing more nuances within the DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spectrums, essential for accuracy in professional edits. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are key, both fall short as they lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion and responsiveness.
Battery
5.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has 5 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
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability, though the Gigabyte Aorus 5 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,359
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 has a price of $2,359 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 5 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 is favored for general use over the Gigabyte Aorus 5 due to its superior main processor for enhanced performance, double the RAM which helps in multitasking and a larger, though similar quality, screen, despite being less portable and having a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.9/10
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 and MSI Katana 17 are both good for gaming and AI.
The MSI Katana 17 outperforms the Gigabyte Aorus 5 for gaming and 3D applications mainly due to its newer and more capable Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU which offers improved graphics performance over the Aorus 5's Nvidia RTX 3070. Although the Aorus 5 has a higher screen refresh rate, which could appeal to competitive gamers seeking smoother gameplay, the superior GPU in the Katana 17 makes it overall very good for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Aorus 5 being just good.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
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.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
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 Gigabyte Aorus 5 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
7.3/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Gigabyte Aorus 5 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 5 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 5 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 5 SE4 is a capable mainstream gaming notebook that will run the latest PC games with aplomb. However, it's not your stereotypical flashy gaming PC. Gigabyte has added some interesting tweaks. For example, the webcam placement and its Microsoft Azure AI tool — to automatically switch between power modes — are unusual for this genre. But more importantly, the pricing is fairly competitive and reasonable."
"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 5 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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