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What we think
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Updated January 16, 2024·
The MSI Cyborg 15 is more affordable and still provides solid performance with a good graphics card, making it suitable for general use and gaming, but with less RAM and storage than the Katana 17. It's also lighter, which enhances its portability. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 17, while more expensive, offers a larger screen, more RAM, and double the storage, which could be significant if you require more resources for intensive engineering tasks, multitasking, or content creation. Both have the same battery capacity, but the Katana 17 may drain it faster due to its larger screen and additional hardware. 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 Cyborg 15
- Good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.3
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
234.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17 is rated higher for general use because it has a more advanced CPU, more RAM to handle multiple applications smoothly, and a larger screen that improves the viewing experience, despite being less portable and potentially having shorter battery life due to its size. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, while more portable and may offer longer battery life due to its smaller screen, has less RAM and an older CPU, which may slow down multitasking and intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.2
7.9
6.5/10
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 Cyborg 15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17 edges out the MSI Cyborg 15 in gaming and 3D work primarily due to its more powerful CPU and superior screen quality, which enhances its GPU's rendering capabilities; even though both models have the same GPU and screen refresh rate, these additional features make the Katana 17 more suitable for more demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.5
8.4
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
6.5/10
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 MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 has a higher RAM capacity and a more powerful CPU compared to the MSI Cyborg 15, making it better equipped for demanding engineering and design tasks. While both laptops have the same GPU and similar screen quality, the Katana 17's larger screen provides a better overall viewing experience for detailed work, despite being less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
234.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Cyborg 15's screen may not be as bright or have the high resolution that is preferred for crisp and clear viewing in general use, and its color range might be limited, affecting tasks that require color accuracy in engineering and design. The MSI Katana 17, with better overall screen quality, offers a more vivid display for general tasks, but still shares the limitation in color gamut which is crucial for professional design work. Neither laptop has a high refresh rate, making them less ideal for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, where fluid motion is key to an immersive experience.
Battery
7.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,100
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Cyborg 15 has a price of $1,100 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
7.5
7.8
8.7/10
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 Cyborg 15 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
7.2
7.5
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Cyborg 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.
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 Cyborg 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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How the MSI Cyborg 15 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Cyborg 15 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,100 | $1,367 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.37 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.15" | 15.67" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.86" | 10.75" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12650H | 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 | 7.5 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 | 234 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 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 | 2 | 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 Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
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 Cyborg 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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