Msi's New $999 Gaming Laptop Beats The Razer Blade 14 In A Few Ways (with One Concern)

3 hours ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W is connected waste for $999.
It's an awesome midrange laptop lodging nan latest GPU from Nvidia.
However, nan gaming acquisition is hampered by nan unimpressive display.

15-inch laptops inhabit an absorbing spot successful nan world of PCs: they're not arsenic compact arsenic 14-inch laptops, but they're not arsenic bulky arsenic 16-inch machines, either. Still, consumers look to for illustration nan different 2 sizes, which is simply a shame because computers of this size present a balanced experience: a bully magnitude of immersion without being excessively cumbersome.

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This is wherever nan MSI Katana 15 HX B14W comes in. At a glance, nan Katana looks for illustration a run-of-the-mill gaming laptop. But it's unsocial successful a assortment of ways, namely that it is simply a 15-inch midrange gaming laptop lodging next-gen hardware.

Blocky design

The first point you'll announcement pinch MSI's Katana 15 HX is its heft. It measures 14.13 x 10.21 x 1 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds. Much of its heavy framework is accentuated pinch geometric shapes that make nan laptop look bulky. I don't deliberation nan instrumentality tin grip a batch of roughhousing, but it is reliable capable to withstand nan bumps that travel pinch traveling.

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On nan bottommost half of nan laptop is simply a 4-Zone RGB full-size keyboard pinch translucent WASD keys. Each headdress has a recreation region of 1.7mm, allowing for lighter cardinal presses and bully analog feedback. Below is simply a touchpad that MSI says is 31% larger than nan erstwhile generation. Together, nan Katana 15's keyboard and touchpad make for a decent pair. Nothing groundbreaking, but they negociate to present an engaging experience.

I was fixed nan low-end configuration for testing. I cognize this because, according to a institution representative, location are 2 versions of nan laptop, 1 of which has a Full HD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz show that supports conscionable 45% of nan NTSC colour gamut. As a result, colors were ace dull. It made games for illustration "Spyro Reignited Trilogy", a title known for its pastel array, look washed out. The redeeming grace is that 144Hz is simply a coagulated refresh rate. It ensured Spyro's animations ran smoothly.

The different configuration has a overmuch amended Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz show that supports nan full PCI-P3 colour space, truthful outputs are much vibrant. I'm admittedly conflicted connected really to consciousness astir nan bezels astir nan glass. On 1 hand, I'm not a instrumentality of nan heavy framework encroaching connected nan screen. But astatine nan aforesaid time, I recognize that they protect nan display, and thinner bezels would springiness nan surface a weird facet ratio.

What we're present for

Gaming is wherever nan MSI Katana 15 really shines. Under nan hood is an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 graphics paper pinch 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, positive 16GB of RAM. Compared to different modern models, this is simply a beautiful lightweight configuration, truthful it whitethorn struggle to tally definite games astatine their highest graphical settings.

For example, I had immoderate problem playing Monster Hunter Wilds pinch high-resolution textures enabled. But if you're consenting to little nan settings a bit, you won't person immoderate problem playing your favorites.

I besides had a awesome acquisition playing Hollow Knight: Silksong. The 144Hz refresh complaint fto maine spot force attacks arsenic they rolled in. And if you've paid attraction to caller complaints, having a bully framework complaint is simply a must because Silksong doesn't propulsion immoderate punches.

As overmuch nosy arsenic I had, I couldn't get complete nan dull display. I was capable to get my combos retired successful style successful King of Fighters 15, but nan sheer deficiency of colour really dampened nan experience.

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Inside nan MSI Katana 15 is nan company's Cooler Boost 5, which keeps soul temperatures debased and expels power done nan vents located connected nan left, rear, and bottommost sides. If you peek done nan bottommost vent, you tin moreover spot nan copper pipes. Cooler Boost 5 does a awesome occupation keeping nan laptop's aboveground cool moreover erstwhile soul temperatures scope 120 degrees Celsius. However, this does mean nan fans are really large -- large capable to rotation complete nan game's audio.

For a gaming laptop, its artillery life is decent. Using nan MSI Center app, I adjusted nan laptop's output to attraction connected longevity, and I was capable to get complete 5 hours retired of nan Katana 15 earlier tapping out.

Cutting done work

Outside of gaming, nan Katana 15HX is simply a coagulated laptop for imaginative work, arsenic editing package successful peculiar benefits greatly from nan hardware. For testing, I edited respective high-resolution images successful Photoshop. The process went soft arsenic tin beryllium pinch nan laptop handling aggregate layers, effects, filters, and record exports without immoderate slowdown.

I past hopped complete to Figma to spot really good it could grip creating posters. Again, it did awesome since nan hardware allowed maine to set good specifications for illustration typography arsenic good arsenic tie connected my projects without lag, ensuring that nan last creation came together seamlessly.

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If you scheme to usage MSI's laptop for work, I powerfully urge paying other for nan Quad HD version. The dull show connected nan guidelines exemplary holds it backmost truthful overmuch that I can't really spot nan Katana 15 excel successful different areas extracurricular of gaming and casual usage. That being said, you could ever link it to a high-quality outer monitor.

Above is simply a array showcasing benchmark results of nan MSI Katana 15 against different alike models. You'll announcement that it boasts awesome numbers, performing astatine a akin level to nan others, moreover outperforming them successful definite areas. What's peculiarly notable is nan truth that it's importantly cheaper.

ZDNET's buying advice

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W usually retails for $1,200; however, astatine nan clip of this writing, it's presently connected waste astatine Walmart for $999. The retailer is besides providing 3 free connection deals pinch purchase, including a free four-month subscription to Apple Music.

At $1,000, I tin wholeheartedly urge this laptop, contempt nan issues I had pinch it. It excels astatine being a well-performing, midrange gaming instrumentality that makes immoderate trade-offs for its approachable price, but capacity is correct wherever it should be.