If you prioritize a laptop that's easy to carry and has versatile features like a 2-in-1 design, the HP Spectre x360 14 is a solid choice; it's also generally lighter on the wallet. On the other hand, for high-end gaming or demanding tasks, the MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and likely more powerful internals, provides stronger performance, albeit at a higher cost and with less portability due to its size and weight. Battery life often favors more energy-efficient models like the HP, while the MSI would typically offer shorter battery life in exchange for its performance advantage. 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 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 17
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a balance of performance with its solid CPU and ample RAM, a high-quality screen, and strong battery life in a highly portable design, making it ideal for general use on-the-go. While the MSI Katana 17 provides decent performance for everyday tasks and has a larger screen, which might be preferable for some users, its larger size and potentially shorter battery life make it less portable and more suited for stationary use.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.9/10
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 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14, while versatile for general use and with good screen quality, has limitations for gaming and 3D tasks due to a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate that could affect gameplay smoothness and visual performance. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, includes a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing gaming and 3D experiences with better graphics rendering and smoother on-screen action, although it may come at a higher price and offer less portability.
Content Creation
8.7/10
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
The HP Spectre x360 14 is 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.
Software Development
8.4/10
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
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 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
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
Considering general use, the HP Spectre x360 14's high resolution and brightness offer a clearer and more vibrant display, while the MSI Katana 17 provides a decent display but doesn’t match the Spectre in terms of sharpness or luminosity. For engineering and design, the HP Spectre's superior color accuracy, covering a wider range of colors in DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, makes it suitable for precise visual work, whereas the MSI Katana's fair color range limits its effectiveness in these fields. When it comes to 3D work and gaming, both the Spectre and Katana fall short because they lack high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth motion rendering, even if their resolution and panel types are acceptable.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and HP Spectre x360 14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and GPU suited for demanding tasks, is ideal for engineering and design work; its high-resolution screen enhances the visual experience. The MSI Katana 17 also offers solid performance with a robust CPU, sufficient RAM, dedicated GPU, and a larger screen for detailed work, but it's less portable compared to the sleeker HP Spectre. Both have good keyboards, but portability and noise may be more of a consideration for those frequently on the move or in quiet environments.
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How the HP Spectre x360 14 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Spectre x360 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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