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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize larger screen sizes and better multitasking capabilities, the MSI Katana 17 offers a 17.3-inch display and more memory, which benefits tasks such as editing videos or running multiple applications concurrently. However, it comes with a tradeoff of being slightly heavier and bulkier, making it less mobile than the MSI Katana 15, which sports a 15.6-inch screen and is lighter in weight. Both have the same type of graphics card, meaning gaming or 3D rendering performance should be quite similar. The Katana 15 runs on a less powerful processor and has less memory, making it more suited for everyday use or less demanding tasks. If portability and general use are important to you and you don't need the extra screen space or power, the MSI Katana 15 would be the better choice. 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 Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the MSI Katana 17.
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
- Very good for engineering and design
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.7
8.4
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
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
258.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Katana 17's superior brightness and resolution offer clearer and more vibrant visuals than the Katana 15, making it more pleasant for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops show limitations in accurately representing colors due to less comprehensive color gamuts, which can be crucial for precise visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on both Katanas would result in less smooth motion and potentially less immersive experiences compared to laptops designed specifically for those purposes.
Battery
4.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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 Katana 15 and MSI Katana 17 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$949
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Katana 15 has a price of $949 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
258.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 is rated slightly higher for general use primarily due to its superior CPU and double the RAM compared to the MSI Katana 15, which provides better multitasking and overall performance. However, the Katana 15 offers better portability with its smaller screen size and lighter weight, while both models have similar battery life and screen quality.
Gaming and AI
7.6
7.9
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The MSI Katana 15 is well-suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and 144 Hz screen refresh rate, but has a less powerful Intel i5 CPU compared to the MSI Katana 17, which boasts a more robust Intel i7 CPU along with the same high-performance GPU and screen refresh rate, enhancing its capability for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.4
7.8
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Katana 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
7.0
7.5
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 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.
Build Quality
7.2
7.2
The MSI Katana 15 and MSI Katana 17 both have good 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 Katana 15 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Katana 15 | MSI Katana 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$949 | $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 | Intel i5-12450H | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 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 | 258 nits | 256 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 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 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."
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 Katana 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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