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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Katana 15 is more budget-friendly and offers decent performance for general use, gaming, and entry-level engineering tasks, with a mid-sized screen that strikes a balance between usability and portability. Its battery life is average, which may be suitable for short work sessions away from power outlets. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 18 is more expensive but comes with a larger, higher-resolution screen, significantly better performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. It also has more RAM, a more robust battery, enhanced speakers, and a premium build, but it is heavier and less portable than the MSI Katana 15. Choose the MSI for cost-efficiency and portability or the Razer Blade for top-tier performance and a larger, better display, keeping in mind the associated increase in cost and weight. 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 Razer Blade 18.
Advantages of the Razer Blade 18
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
258.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 boasts a more powerful CPU and double the RAM of the MSI Katana 15, factors that enhance its multitasking capabilities and overall performance, making it very suitable for general use. Additionally, the Razer Blade 18 offers superior screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, but this comes with reduced portability and battery life due to a larger screen size and heavier weight compared to the MSI Katana 15.
Gaming and AI
7.6
8.9
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 stands out with a superior Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 240Hz compared to the MSI Katana 15's Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and 144Hz refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and 3D tasks. Additionally, the Razer Blade 18 has a more powerful CPU and better screen quality, further enhancing its performance in demanding scenarios.
Engineering and Design
7.7
9.3
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Razer Blade 18 outperforms the MSI Katana 15 in engineering and design use due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher-end GPU, which translates to faster and smoother performance in resource-intensive tasks, along with a higher resolution and brighter screen that benefits design work. While the MSI Katana 15 is lighter and thus more portable, the Razer Blade 18, despite being heavier, offers superior keyboard and speaker quality, making long work sessions more comfortable and presentations more audible.
Content Creation
7.4
8.6
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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
8.5
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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
6.8
8.9
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
258.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize crisp visuals and vivid colors for everyday tasks or detailed engineering work, the Razer Blade 18's screen offers higher resolution and brightness, and covers a wider color spectrum, enhancing your experience. For design professionals requiring precise color representation, the Razer's broader color gamuts provide a significant edge. However, for gaming or 3D applications, both laptops may fall short as their refresh rates aren't as high as those preferred for such fast-paced, visually demanding tasks, even though their resolutions and panel types are adequate.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.9 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Katana 15 and Razer Blade 18 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The Razer Blade 18 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$949
$10
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The MSI Katana 15 has a price of $949 and the Razer Blade 18 costs $10.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The MSI Katana 15 has 4 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Katana 15 and the Razer Blade 18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Katana 15 | Razer Blade 18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$949 | $10 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.96 lbs | 6.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 15.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12450H | Intel i9-13950HX | |
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 | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53.5 Wh | 91.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 258 nits | 524 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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."
Razer Blade 18
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | March 2023
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the MSI Katana 15 or the Razer Blade 18
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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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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