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Updated January 12, 2024·
The MSI Katana 17 is a more budget-friendly option with a larger screen, and it may offer ample performance for everyday tasks and some gaming needs. However, if you're looking for higher gaming or engineering performance, especially in graphics-intensive applications, and you don't mind spending more, the MSI Stealth GS66 could better meet those demands with its more robust graphics capabilities. Keep in mind, the Stealth GS66 also offers a higher refresh rate display which is great for gaming, but it has a smaller screen size and less storage out of the box. The Stealth is also lighter making it more portable than the Katana 17, but this may compromise its battery life in comparison. Both laptops differ in connectivity options and the Stealth GS66 offers additional features like a fingerprint reader and Thunderbolt ports that could be valuable for some users. Consider these trade-offs based on your primary use case, whether it's gaming, general use, or portability, and your budget. 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
- The MSI Katana 17 has no clear advantages over the MSI Stealth GS66.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS66
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Good portability
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
8.1
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
256.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS66 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The MSI Katana 17's screen, possibly due to lower resolution or limited brightness, may not provide the clarity and vibrancy that engineering and design professionals need for precise color work, although it suffices for basic tasks. The MSI Stealth GS66, with better color accuracy and wider color gamuts, ensures that designers and engineers see more true-to-life colors, making it preferable for their specialized applications. However, both laptops may fall short for gaming and 3D applications, where a high refresh rate is key for smooth visuals and neither model appears to offer the required responsiveness.
Battery
3.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The MSI Katana 17 has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS66 has 5.5 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
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth GS66 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.0
The MSI Stealth GS66 has very good build quality, while the MSI Katana 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,367
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Katana 17 has a price of $1,367 and the MSI Stealth GS66 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
256.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
280.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 is preferred for general use due to its larger screen, higher RAM capacity, and substantial storage, allowing for smooth multitasking and a broad workspace, but it sacrifices portability with its increased size and weight compared to the more compact MSI Stealth GS66. The Stealth GS66, while also good for general use and offering advanced features like higher screen color accuracy and a longer battery life, has a smaller display and less RAM, which may limit intensive multitasking capabilities but enhance its ease of carrying around.
Gaming and AI
7.9
7.8
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both good for gaming and AI.
The MSI Katana 17's strong suits for gaming and 3D are its robust GPU, which enhances its ability to handle graphically intensive tasks, and its screen with a solid refresh rate, promoting smoother gameplay. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS66, while still offering a good GPU, excels with a significantly higher screen refresh rate, which can provide an even more fluid visual experience in fast-paced games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.2
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 are both very good for engineering and design.
The MSI Katana 17 is tailored for engineering and design with a robust CPU, ample RAM for complex tasks, and a capable GPU, which together aid in running demanding software smoothly, while its larger screen offers a significant workspace but with average color coverage; it's less portable due to size and weight. The MSI Stealth GS66, on the other hand, also features a strong CPU and GPU but has a smaller RAM capacity and a more color-accurate display, making it more suitable for precise design work, with the added benefits of greater portability and a higher-quality keyboard.
Content Creation
7.8
7.7
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 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
7.5
7.5
8.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and MSI Stealth GS66 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.
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How the MSI Katana 17 and the MSI Stealth GS66 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Katana 17 | MSI Stealth GS66 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,367 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.99'' | 14.2'' x 9.7'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.73 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.67" | 14.17" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.75" | 9.65" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13620H | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53.5 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 256 nits | 280 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.2/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 Stealth GS66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | February 2022
"The MSI Stealth GS66 is powerful enough for QHD. The Core i7-12700H and the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti found in the 12UGS model that we tested run all modern games smoothly in the native QHD resolution. The 15-inch display is very fast with its 240 Hz refresh rate, and it also offers a great color space (almost 100% DCI-P3) on top of that, which should please gamers as well as content creators, although we would have still wished for a higher brightness. Case, input devices, and connectivity (Thunderbolt 4) are at a good level. However, among other things, the GS66 loses points due to the high temperature development in 3D mode and its poor webcam."
Get a great deal on the MSI Katana 17 or the MSI Stealth GS66
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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