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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The MSI Bravo 15 is more affordable and offers good performance for everyday tasks, with a screen size of 15.6 inches, making it more portable. It’s suitable for general use and light gaming due to its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and RTX 4050 graphics card. The battery and memory are decent, but it may struggle with very intensive tasks like 3D modeling or heavy multitasking. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17 has a larger 17.3-inch screen and superior performance thanks to the Intel i7 processor and RTX 4060 graphics card, with significantly more memory, which is ideal for engineering, gaming, and heavy multitasking. It's heavier and has a slightly larger battery, yet the larger screen and more powerful components may still lead to similar battery life. The choice between the two should be based on whether you value portability and saving money with the Bravo 15 or require the higher performance and larger screen of the Katana 17 for more demanding applications. 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 MSI Bravo 15
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.1
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
267.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17 offers a more powerful CPU and more RAM, which translates to better performance in general use compared to the MSI Bravo 15, though its larger size and slightly heavier weight make it less portable. While both laptops have similar screen sizes and quality, the Katana 17's larger storage and superior keyboard and speaker quality also contribute to its higher suitability for a wide range of tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.9
7.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Bravo 15 is equipped with a RTX 4050 GPU, well-suited for gaming and 3D tasks, while the MSI Katana 17 steps up the game with a more powerful RTX 4060 and a larger screen, offering enhanced visual space and potentially better 3D performance. Both have similar screen refresh rates, crucial for smooth gaming visuals, but the Katana 17's superior GPU and a CPU better fitted for demanding tasks give it an edge in performance for heavy gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.4
7.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
7.1/10
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 MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for engineering and design due to its competent AMD Ryzen CPU, mid-tier Nvidia GPU, and standard screen quality, but it is limited by its lower RAM. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 is very good for these tasks because it comes with a high-performing Intel CPU, a more powerful Nvidia GPU, and significantly more RAM, along with a similarly good screen, despite being less portable due to its larger size.
Content Creation
7.1
7.8
7.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
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
6.8
7.5
7.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the MSI Bravo 15 and the MSI Katana 17 have screens that provide clear visuals and comfortable brightness, but their ordinary resolution might not meet professional demands. Engineers and designers might find the color representation limited because these models don't cover a wide range of the color gamut, which is crucial for precision in their fields. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates lead to less fluid motion, detracting from the immersive experience expected in fast-paced or visually intensive tasks.
Battery
6.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Bravo 15 and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Bravo 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$862
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Bravo 15 has a price of $862 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
6.7
7.2
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Katana 17 to have good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Bravo 15 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Bravo 15 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$862 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.96 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53.5 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 267 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
MSI Bravo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
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 MSI Bravo 15 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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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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