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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo Slim 7 16 and the MSI Katana 17 involves several considerations. The Lenovo model is less expensive, but if you need higher graphics performance and more storage, the MSI will deliver with a better graphics card and double the storage capacity. The MSI also has a larger screen and more system memory, which could enhance multitasking and gaming experiences. However, the Lenovo offers a higher screen resolution and may have a longer battery life, making it a good fit for everyday use and some light gaming. If portability is a priority, the Lenovo is lighter and thinner, but if you're looking for more robust performance capabilities for intensive tasks, the MSI is stronger in that regard. 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 Slim 7 16
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6
7.9
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 has a more powerful GPU, the Nvidia RTX 4060, which leads to significantly better gaming and 3D performance compared to the Lenovo Slim 7 16's RTX 3050. Although the Lenovo has a higher screen refresh rate, the MSI's superior GPU is more critical for these activities, along with its decent refresh rate, making it more suitable for gamers and those working with 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.5
8.4
7.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is good.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has a respectable AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU which are suitable for many engineering and design tasks, and its higher-resolution screen offers better clarity for detailed work. However, the MSI Katana 17, with its higher-end Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, provides more raw performance for intensive workloads and has double the RAM for multitasking, although its lower screen resolution is less optimal for fine-detail work.
Screen Quality
8.3
6.9
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 17 has a better screen for software development.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16's display offers crisp details and bright visuals that make reading text and viewing media a pleasure, enhancing the experience for general use and precise tasks like engineering and design. However, its lower refresh rate may lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced games and 3D applications where motion clarity is key. The MSI Katana 17 provides a generally good screen for everyday activities, but its less vibrant color range may not be as suitable for professional design work that demands a wide color gamut, and like the Lenovo, its gaming and 3D performance might suffer due to a less optimal refresh rate.
Battery
9.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has 9.5 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
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.2
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$591
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has a price of $591 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Lenovo Slim 7 16 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo Slim 7 16's higher battery capacity, lighter weight, and higher screen resolution contribute to its suitability for general use, offering longer use between charges, easier portability, and crisper display, while the MSI Katana 17 offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, and double the RAM and storage, making it better for more demanding tasks but at the cost of battery life and portability.
Content Creation
7.6
7.8
7.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Lenovo Slim 7 16 are both good for content creation.
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
7.6
7.5
7.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and MSI Katana 17 are both good for software development.
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.
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How the Lenovo Slim 7 16 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Slim 7 16 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$591 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.69'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.6 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | 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 | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Slim 7 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | March 2022
"At $1,011, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is a real bargain among full-sized laptops, with a handsome 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio touch screen, a speedy CPU, a comfortable keyboard, ample memory, and a roomy solid-state drive. It's not a blazing gaming rig or mobile workstation, but it doesn't pretend to be. Its biggest negative is that it may be hard to find—during our review, it sold out and was marked "Temporarily Unavailable" on Lenovo's site."
MSI Katana 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | February 2023
"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 Lenovo Slim 7 16 or the MSI Katana 17
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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