Consider the HP Omen Transcend 14 if you value portability and a balance between performance and ease of carrying around; it's generally better for frequent travelers or students. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17, with a larger screen and often more gamer-oriented features, is better suited for gaming and entertainment, but it will be less convenient to move due to its size. Both laptops should handle general use and intensive tasks well, but for extended gaming sessions or high-demand applications, the larger screen and possibly superior cooling of the MSI may be advantageous. 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 Transcend 14
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Good speakers
Key differences
Software Development
8.1/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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
8.6/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 likely has high resolution and brightness, with a panel type that offers crisp and clear visuals, making it excellent for general use like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the same laptop's possibly extensive color gamut ensures precise color reproduction, essential for detailed work and color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D, the low refresh rate may result in less fluid motion and responsiveness, detracting from immersive and competitive play.
Battery
11.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,699
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The HP Omen Transcend 14 has a price of $1,699 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen Transcend 14 to be very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 offers a balance of solid CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, with a high-quality screen, making it excellent for general use, and it's more portable with better battery life compared to the MSI Katana 17. While the MSI Katana 17 could handle general use sufficiently, its larger screen and potentially more powerful hardware cater to those who prioritize more intensive tasks over portability and battery efficiency.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and HP Omen Transcend 14 are both good for gaming and AI.
The HP Omen Transcend 14, with its powerful GPU and high screen refresh rate, provides an immersive gaming and 3D experience suitable for most users. However, the MSI Katana 17, with its superior GPU and equally high refresh rate, alongside a better CPU and screen quality, delivers an enhanced experience for those demanding top-tier gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
8.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and MSI Katana 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and the MSI Katana 17 are equipped with powerful CPUs and ample RAM, which makes them excellent for demanding engineering tasks and running design software smoothly. The Omen has an edge in portability and screen quality for sharp visuals, while the Katana's larger screen, robust GPU, and quality keyboard enhance the user experience, albeit with increased size and weight.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Omen Transcend 14 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.2/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 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 HP Omen Transcend 14 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"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 HP Omen Transcend 14 or the MSI Katana 17
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.
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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