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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is less expensive and more portable with a higher portability score, making it suitable for general use and tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption. It has a smaller screen with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a touch feature, which can be advantageous for productivity tasks and web browsing. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is more expensive but offers superior performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering due to its more powerful CPU and dedicated Nvidia graphics. It's also better for intensive gaming, has a larger screen with a faster refresh rate, which is great for fast-paced games, but it's heavier and has a lower battery life for typical usage, making it less ideal for frequent travel. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.5
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
401.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Katana 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 15 is somewhat better.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, with less RAM and a less powerful integrated GPU, tailors to users seeking a highly portable device with a smaller, high-resolution touchscreen and longer battery life, while the MSI Katana 15 is better for those needing more power for multitasking and demanding applications due to its superior CPU, dedicated GPU, and larger RAM, accompanied by a bigger screen, though at the cost of lower battery life and portability. Screen quality and portability are key strengths for the Surface Laptop Go 2, whereas the Katana 15 excels in performance but compromises on battery longevity and ease of carrying.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1536 x 1024
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 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Katana 15, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications where fast and fluid graphics are crucial. The Katana 15, with a stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate, provides smoother gameplay and better 3D performance, though it may come at a higher price and with some reduction in portability.
Engineering and Design
6.5
7.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful CPU, double the amount of RAM, and dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU compared to the Surface Laptop Go 2's less powerful CPU and integrated graphics; additionally, the Katana's larger, higher resolution screen provides a clearer and more detailed visual workspace. While the Surface Laptop Go 2 is lighter and offers better portability along with a higher quality keyboard, these advantages are less critical for engineering and design use where the superior performance and display of the Katana 15 take precedence.
Screen Quality
6.9
6.8
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
401.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, and engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers a high-resolution display with impressive brightness, making it ideal for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, while the MSI Katana 15's screen, although adequate, doesn't match the sharpness and vibrancy of the Surface. When it comes to engineering and design, the Surface outperforms with its wider color coverage which is crucial for precision tasks that require accurate color representation, whereas the Katana 15's color gamut may not fully meet professional standards. However, for 3D applications and gaming, neither laptop hits the mark due to their limited refresh rates, but the resolution and panel types they offer are still moderately suited for less demanding graphics tasks.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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
Excellent
Fair
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8
7.2
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$774
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a price of $774 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
7.1
7.4
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.0
7.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 15 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$774 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.48 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 12.4" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1536 x 1024 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 401 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 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
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 or the MSI Katana 15
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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