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Updated January 12, 2024·
If price is a significant concern, the Maypug 15" offers cost savings. However, if you're focused on high-end performance, especially for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Katana 17 is designed for those areas, although it comes at a higher price. The larger screen of the MSI may also provide a better visual experience for such tasks, but it will be less portable than the smaller Maypug. The Maypug might suffice for general use such as web browsing and office applications, with the added benefit of being easier to carry around. Battery life can vary significantly; typically, larger laptops like the MSI have shorter battery life due to more powerful components, while smaller ones tend to last longer on a charge. Consider how these tradeoffs align with your needs when making your decision. 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 Maypug 15" Laptop
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.9
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for general use, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
The Maypug 15" Laptop has a less powerful Intel Celeron CPU and only 8GB of RAM which may not be sufficient for multitasking and demanding applications, while the low-resolution display also hampers the visual experience. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17 boasts a robust Intel i7 CPU with 32GB of RAM for smoother performance in a variety of tasks and features a full HD screen that offers a much clearer and more vibrant visual experience, although it's heavier and may have a shorter battery life for typical use.
Gaming and AI
5.6
7.9
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.6
8.4
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
The Maypug 15" Laptop is equipped with a basic Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics, which are not ideal for demanding engineering and design software, while the MSI Katana 17 boasts a high-powered Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX graphics, better suited for such intensive tasks. Additionally, the Katana 17's larger quantity of RAM supports complex multitasking and its higher resolution display benefits detailed design work, compared to the Maypug's lower RAM and screen resolution which limit performance and visual clarity.
Content Creation
5.9
7.8
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 is good for content creation, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
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
5.9
7.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for software development, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
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
5.7
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Maypug 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Maypug 15" Laptop's poor screen quality across all uses stems from subpar resolution and brightness, which affects clarity and visibility in everyday tasks, intricate designs, and gaming. While the MSI Katana 17 delivers a clearer and brighter display suitable for general activities, it lacks the wide color gamuts essential for accurate color reproduction in engineering and design. For gaming and 3D applications, both the Maypug and the MSI Katana fall short with their lower refresh rates, meaning less fluid motion and a suboptimal visual experience.
Battery
7.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Maypug 15" Laptop has 7 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
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Maypug 15" Laptop has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
7.2
The MSI Katana 17 has good build quality, while the Maypug 15" Laptop has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Maypug 15" Laptop has a price of $600 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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How the Maypug 15" Laptop and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Maypug 15" Laptop | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 11.1'' x 0.78'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.6 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.97" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.1" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N5095 | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 29.6 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 4.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | 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 | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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 Maypug 15" Laptop or the MSI Katana 17
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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