ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W is on sale for $999.
- It’s an impressive midrange laptop housing the latest GPU from Nvidia.
- However, the gaming experience is hampered by the unimpressive display.
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15-inch laptops occupy an interesting spot in the world of PCs: they’re not as compact as 14-inch laptops, but they’re not as bulky as 16-inch machines, either. Still, consumers seem to prefer the other two sizes, which is a shame because computers of this size deliver a balanced experience: a good amount of immersion without being too cumbersome.
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This is where the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W comes in. At a glance, the Katana looks like a run-of-the-mill gaming laptop. But it’s unique in a variety of ways, namely that it is a 15-inch midrange gaming laptop housing next-gen hardware.
Blocky design
The first thing you’ll notice with 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 thick frame is accentuated with geometric shapes that make the laptop appear bulky. I don’t think the machine can handle a lot of roughhousing, but it is tough enough to withstand the bumps that come with traveling.
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On the bottom half of the laptop is a 4-Zone RGB full-size keyboard with translucent WASD keys. Each cap has a travel distance of 1.7mm, allowing for lighter key presses and nice analog feedback. Below is a touchpad that MSI says is 31% larger than the previous generation. Together, the Katana 15’s keyboard and touchpad make for a decent pair. Nothing groundbreaking, but they manage to deliver an engaging experience.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
I was given the low-end configuration for testing. I know this because, according to a company representative, there are two versions of the laptop, one of which has a Full HD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz display that supports just 45% of the NTSC color gamut. As a result, colors were super dull. It made games like “Spyro Reignited Trilogy”, a title known for its pastel array, look washed out. The saving grace is that 144Hz is a solid refresh rate. It ensured Spyro’s animations ran smoothly.
The other configuration has a much better Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz display that supports the entire PCI-P3 color space, so outputs are more vibrant. I’m admittedly conflicted on how to feel about the bezels around the glass. On one hand, I’m not a fan of the thick frame encroaching on the screen. But at the same time, I realize that they protect the display, and thinner bezels would give the screen a weird aspect ratio.
What we’re here for
Gaming is where the MSI Katana 15 really shines. Under the hood is an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card with 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, plus 16GB of RAM. Compared to other contemporary models, this is a pretty lightweight configuration, so it may struggle to run certain games at their highest graphical settings.
For example, I had some trouble playing Monster Hunter Wilds with high-resolution textures enabled. But if you’re willing to lower the settings a bit, you won’t have any trouble playing your favorites.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
I also had a great experience playing Hollow Knight: Silksong. The 144Hz refresh rate let me see enemy attacks as they rolled in. And if you’ve paid attention to recent complaints, having a good frame rate is a must because Silksong doesn’t pull any punches.
As much fun as I had, I couldn’t get over the dull display. I was able to get my combos out in style in King of Fighters 15, but the sheer lack of color really dampened the experience.
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Inside the MSI Katana 15 is the company’s Cooler Boost 5, which keeps internal temperatures low and expels heat through the vents located on the left, rear, and bottom sides. If you peek through the bottom vent, you can even see the copper pipes. Cooler Boost 5 does a great job keeping the laptop’s surface cool even when internal temperatures reach 120 degrees Celsius. However, this does mean the fans are really loud — loud enough to roll over the game’s audio.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
For a gaming laptop, its battery life is decent. Using the MSI Center app, I adjusted the laptop’s output to focus on longevity, and I was able to get over five hours out of the Katana 15 before tapping out.
Cutting through work
Outside of gaming, the Katana 15HX is a solid laptop for creative work, as editing software in particular benefits greatly from the hardware. For testing, I edited several high-resolution images in Photoshop. The process went smooth as can be with the laptop handling multiple layers, effects, filters, and file exports without any slowdown.
I then hopped over to Figma to see how well it could handle creating posters. Again, it did great since the hardware allowed me to adjust fine details like typography as well as draw on my projects without lag, ensuring that the final design came together seamlessly.
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If you plan to use MSI’s laptop for work, I strongly recommend paying extra for the Quad HD version. The dull display on the base model holds it back so much that I can’t really see the Katana 15 excel in other areas outside of gaming and casual usage. That being said, you could always connect it to a high-quality external monitor.
Above is a table showcasing benchmark results of the MSI Katana 15 against other alike models. You’ll notice that it boasts impressive numbers, performing at a similar level to the others, even outperforming them in certain areas. What’s particularly notable is the fact that it’s significantly cheaper.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W normally retails for $1,200; however, at the time of this writing, it’s currently on sale at Walmart for $999. The retailer is also providing three free offer deals with purchase, including a free four-month subscription to Apple Music.
At $1,000, I can wholeheartedly recommend this laptop, despite the issues I had with it. It excels at being a well-performing, midrange gaming machine that makes some trade-offs for its approachable price, but performance is right where it should be.
