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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 7i Pro is priced higher and offers significantly better performance, making it suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering work. It has a larger screen, higher resolution, faster refresh rate, more RAM, and a more powerful GPU than the MSI Katana 15. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 is more affordable, lighter, and easier to carry, with a longer battery life, but has less RAM, a less powerful CPU, and GPU, which makes it less suited for demanding tasks but still capable of handling general use and gaming to a certain extent. 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 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i.
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.5
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
469.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 7i Pro excels in general use with a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality, but is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the MSI Katana 15, which is lighter and offers longer battery use. Additionally, while both laptops have good keyboard and speaker quality, the Lenovo has an edge in these areas but it generates more heat and noise under load.
Gaming and AI
9.1
7.6
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i stands out for gaming and 3D with its superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz, leading to smoother visuals compared to the MSI Katana 15's Nvidia RTX 4060 and 144Hz refresh rate. The Legion's advanced GPU delivers better graphics performance, an essential for demanding games and 3D work, while the higher refresh rate ensures a more fluid visual experience.
Engineering and Design
9.3
7.7
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i outperforms the MSI Katana 15 in engineering and design due to its superior CPU and GPU, which provide faster processing and better graphics performance, and it also comes with more RAM for handling large projects; it also boasts a higher resolution and brighter screen which is crucial for detailed design work. While both laptops have the same storage capacity and quality IPS panels, the MSI Katana 15 is lighter and may offer better portability, but with less power and a lower quality display, it's ideal for less demanding engineering tasks and users who prioritize mobility.
Content Creation
8.5
7.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 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
8.2
7.0
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 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
8.7
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
469.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display and superior color accuracy, which ensures that colors are vibrant and true to life, an essential aspect for design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D work, where smooth motion representation is crucial. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15, with its fair screen quality, provides a decent balance of resolution and color reproduction for general use and engineering tasks but also lacks a high refresh rate, making it less optimal for 3D applications and gaming that demand quick screen updates for fluid visuals.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 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
$2,000
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has a price of $2,000 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i has 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,000 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10.3'' x 0.94'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.17 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.32" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900HX | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 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 | 5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 469 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.5/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 4 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2023
"Passionate gamers who want to play demanding modern titles with maximum details and don't mind spending the moolah will find the Lenovo Legion 7 Pro to be the right choice. The bright, sharp, and color-accurate 16:10 QHD 240 Hz display makes for an immersive viewing experience. The hardware is housed in a stylish chassis that feels premium and scores well in terms of workmanship and stability. Other aspects such as sound quality, input devices, and connectivity also seem to be near-perfect."
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 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or the MSI Katana 15
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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