If you prioritize a budget-friendly option with sturdy build quality for general use or business tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is a solid choice; however, if you're interested in gaming or require a laptop for graphics-intensive work such as 3D modeling or video editing, the MSI Katana 17 will serve you better with its larger screen and higher performance capabilities, despite being less portable and more expensive. Keep in mind though, a larger screen and higher performance often mean shorter battery life. 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 ThinkPad T14
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 17 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers a balance of CPU power and RAM for smooth multitasking, coupled with a high-quality screen and exceptional battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize longevity and superior display on the move. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17, with its larger screen and robust processing capabilities, caters better to those who require more screen real estate and power for demanding applications but is less portable and has a shorter battery life, making it a better fit for stationary use or where an outlet is readily available.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
7.9/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while solid for various applications, has a GPU and screen refresh rate that are typically less suited for the high demands of gaming and 3D rendering, resulting in a fair performance in those areas. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 is equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are critical for smooth and visually intricate gaming or 3D tasks, making it a much better fit for those specific needs.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
6.9/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14's panel offers clarity and color accuracy which benefits engineering and design tasks, though its lower refresh rate is a drawback for smooth rendering in 3D applications. MSI's Katana 17, while acceptable for general tasks, has limited color gamut coverage that can be less ideal for color-sensitive engineering and design work and its screen refresh rate isn't high enough for optimal 3D gaming experiences. General users may find both adequate due to their resolution and brightness, but the finer points of color accuracy and motion fluidity are what differentiate their appropriateness for professional and gaming contexts.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.2/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
$1,241
$1,367
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a price of $1,241 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The MSI Katana 17 generally offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combination with higher RAM capacity, catering to demanding engineering and design software, and it's complemented by a better screen quality for intricate visual work. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while solid in performance, emphasizes a balance of power and portability with reputed keyboard and quieter operation, suitable for on-the-go professionals who might sacrifice top-tier specs for mobility and comfort.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern 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 Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
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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