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Updated March 22, 2024·
Choosing between the HP Spectre x360 14 and MSI Katana 15 involves trade-offs: the HP Spectre is known for its sleek design and 2-in-1 functionality, making it ideal for portability and versatile use, such as business or art applications where tablet mode is beneficial. The MSI Katana, on the other hand, often offers more robust performance suited for gaming or more demanding tasks like video editing; however, it may be bulkier and less convenient to carry. Your best choice depends on whether your priority is a lightweight, versatile machine or one capable of handling intensive applications with ease. 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 Spectre x360 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.7
7.5
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a combination of strong CPU performance, ample RAM, and high screen quality; it is lightweight for easy portability and has long battery life, making it ideal for everyday tasks and on-the-go use. The MSI Katana 15, while providing good CPU power and enough RAM for general tasks, is bulkier and may not have as premium a screen or battery life as the HP, but it compensates with ample storage and a keyboard that's comfortable for longer typing sessions, which might appeal to those who prioritize these features and gaming potential.
Gaming and AI
6.8
7.6
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14, while versatile as a convertible with decent screen quality, is often equipped with less powerful GPUs and typical productivity-focused screen refresh rates, limiting its gaming and 3D capabilities. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is tailored for gaming, featuring a stronger GPU and higher refresh rate, which enhances gaming and 3D performance, though it may not match the Spectre in terms of screen quality and CPU performance for non-gaming tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.4
7.7
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-quality GPU, and superior screen resolution, makes it an excellent choice for demanding engineering and design tasks. While the MSI Katana 15 also offers strong CPU and RAM for such tasks, its graphics and screen may fall slightly behind the Spectre, yet it provides decent portability and acceptable levels of keyboard, speaker quality, and operating noise.
Content Creation
8.7
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.4
7.0
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 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
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 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 Spectre x360 14 offers a high-resolution display and excellent brightness, making it a strong performer for general use and detailed engineering tasks where clarity and color accuracy are crucial. Its lack of a high refresh rate, however, reduces its appeal for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key. The MSI Katana 15 has a fair display that doesn't excel in any particular area; it's adequate for daily tasks and engineering work, but like the Spectre, it falls short for gaming due to its lower refresh rate.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
$1,630
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HP Spectre x360 14 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,630 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2024 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.45 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.35" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.68" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 68 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 384 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 2160p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
HP Spectre x360 14
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
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 Spectre x360 14 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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