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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If your priority is portability and a better battery life, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is more lightweight and offers longer battery usage between charges. It's more affordable and has a touchscreen with a unique 3:2 aspect ratio which is great for general use and productivity tasks. However, for more demanding applications such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Katana 15 is the better option with its more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card. It also has a larger display, higher refresh rate, more storage space, and greater memory, but it is heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less portable. 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 3
- 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
Gaming and AI
6.1
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 3 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 is better for gaming and 3D applications than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 because it is equipped with the Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which is more powerful than the Intel i5-1235U Iris Xe GPU found in the Surface Laptop Go 3. Additionally, the MSI Katana 15 has a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing the smoothness of visuals during gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
6.8
7.7
6.4/10
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 3 is only fair.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a less powerful CPU and integrated graphics, whereas the MSI Katana 15 offers a more robust CPU and a dedicated GPU, making it better for demanding engineering and design software. Additionally, the Surface Laptop Go 3, with its smaller screen and lighter build, provides greater portability but at the cost of lower specifications essential for intensive tasks compared to the higher performance and larger screen of the MSI Katana 15, albeit with less portability.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.8
12.4in
SIZE
15.6in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 boasts a higher resolution and brighter display, which enhances its suitability for general use and detailed engineering work, but its standard refresh rate limits its effectiveness for gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15's fair screen quality indicates a compromise in display sharpness and illumination, making it adequate but not exceptional for general and engineering tasks. Neither laptop excels in gaming or 3D environments due to their poor screen quality dictated by refresh rates that fall short of the higher standards demanded by these use cases.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 3 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 3 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$788
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.5
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
337.0 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 3 are both good for general use.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is geared towards portability and convenience, with a smaller, touchscreen display and lighter build, making it easier to carry around, plus a solid battery life for on-the-go use. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 offers a higher RAM and a powerful graphics card which results in better performance for demanding applications, at the cost of heavier weight and shorter battery life, meaning it is less portable but well-suited for more intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.4/10
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 3 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
7.1
7.0
6.4/10
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Katana 15 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 3 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$788 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.49 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 10.95" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.12" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 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 | 337 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 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
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 3 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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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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