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Updated January 12, 2024·
The MSI Katana 17 offers more power for demanding applications like gaming or engineering software due to its better processor and graphics card, but it's heavier and less portable than the MSI Modern 14. Alternatively, the MSI Modern 14 is lighter and more suitable for everyday tasks with sufficient performance for general use, plus it has better battery life and it's more affordable. If you prioritize mobility and cost savings over high-end performance, the Modern 14 could be your pick. If you need robust performance for more intensive tasks and can manage a larger form factor and higher price, the Katana 17 would be a 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 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
256.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the MSI Katana 17 is somewhat better.
The MSI Katana 17, with a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a larger, high-refresh-rate screen, provides better performance for demanding tasks, making it very good for general use, though its size and weight impede portability and it has shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.9
6.0
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 is better suited for gaming and 3D tasks due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate which allows for smoother and more detailed graphics, compared to the MSI Modern 14's integrated AMD Ryzen Vega GPU and standard refresh rate which provides less graphical power and may not be as smooth for fast-paced games or detailed 3D work. Screen quality and CPU performance are also important, and while both share IPS panels for good viewing angles, the Katana's robust CPU and GPU combination heavily outperforms the Modern 14, justifying its stronger gaming and 3D aptitude.
Engineering and Design
8.4
6.6
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 is ideal for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and dedicated GPU, along with ample RAM and a sizable display that contributes to a better visual workspace; meanwhile, the MSI Modern 14 offers a weaker integrated GPU and less RAM, making it less suitable for demanding engineering tasks despite its advantages in portability and a sharper display owing to its smaller screen size.
Content Creation
7.8
7.2
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Modern 14 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.
Screen Quality
6.9
6.4
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
256.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MSI Katana 17's display offers pleasing visuals due to its resolution and brightness, which enhances everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. Engineers and designers may find the same screen lacking in color accuracy for detailed work that requires a broad color spectrum. Gamers looking to enjoy fast-paced action might be disappointed with the Katana 17, as its refresh rate isn't high enough to provide smooth motion, while the MSI Modern 14, although similar for general use and professional design, will similarly fall short for gaming due to its refresh rate limitations.
Battery
3.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The MSI Katana 17 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,367
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Katana 17 has a price of $1,367 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
Software Development
7.5
7.1
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Modern 14 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
7.0
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Modern 14 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 17 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Katana 17 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,367 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.67" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.75" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13620H | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53.5 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 256 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
MSI Modern 14
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Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the MSI Katana 17 or the MSI Modern 14
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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