A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HP Omen 17 offers a more powerful processor and graphics card, making it suitable for intense gaming and demanding engineering programs, but it is heavier and larger, which reduces portability. It also has a higher resolution and larger screen, which can be beneficial for detailed work or multimedia consumption, but it may impact battery life. Alternatively, the MSI Katana 15 is lighter and slightly more portable, potentially less expensive, but with a less powerful processor and graphics card, which means it may not handle intensive tasks as well as the HP Omen 17. 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 HP Omen 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the HP Omen 17.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.0
7.6
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Omen 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The HP Omen 17 is excellent for gaming and 3D tasks with its more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate for smooth visuals, whereas the MSI Katana 15, while still good for gaming and 3D, offers slightly less graphic performance and a lower screen refresh rate. Furthermore, although both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the HP Omen's screen quality and CPU are superior, enhancing the overall gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
8.8
7.7
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Omen 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The HP Omen 17 is highly suitable for engineering and design due to its strong CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and high-quality, larger display, but it is less portable and heavier than the MSI Katana 15, which offers similar RAM and storage but a weaker CPU and GPU and a lower resolution screen, making it still good for design tasks but less ideal for the most intensive engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.0
7.4
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Omen 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
7.7
7.0
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development, though the HP Omen 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
7.9
6.8
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
350.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The HP Omen 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 HP Omen 17 offers a high-resolution display and brightness that makes for a crisp and vibrant experience, ideal for general tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming where smooth motion is key. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday use and professional design, but both models offer limited color range, less suitable for precision color work in engineering and design sectors. For gaming and 3D environments, the poorer refresh rates on both lead to less fluid visuals, making neither ideal for fast-paced interactive applications.
Portability
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and HP Omen 17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,700
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen 17 has a price of $1,700 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.5
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
350.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The HP Omen 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The HP Omen 17 offers a powerful CPU and high-res display, which is ideal for demanding tasks, though it is less portable and has a shorter battery life; whereas the MSI Katana 15 is lighter with longer battery life, better suited for mobility but with a less powerful processor and standard resolution screen. Both laptops come equipped with ample RAM and storage, ensuring smooth operation for general use, with the HP leaning towards higher performance at the cost of portability and the MSI offering greater convenience for on-the-go users.
Battery
3.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Omen 17 has 3.5 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
7.4
7.2
The HP Omen 17 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the HP Omen 17 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Omen 17 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,700 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.6'' x 10.3'' x 1.06'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.17 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.64" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.32" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13700HX | 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 | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 83 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 350 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Omen 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter | September 2022
"The HP Omen 17 (2022) gaming laptop has a stylish case and hardware with lots of potential. The HP Omen 17 is a fairly unobtrusive gaming laptop. A material combination of plastic and metal gives the case a high stability and a quality surface feel. The unspectacular design is pleasing and is hardly indicative of the laptop's high performance potential. The Intel Core i7-12700H in particular is able to perform well once again. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is also strong in the gaming notebook. Demanding games run smoothly in Full HD resolution. The HP Omen 17 is a good gaming laptop that delivers partly excellent performance. But even at this performance level, cheaper alternatives are available."
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 HP Omen 17 or the MSI Katana 15
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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