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Gaming laptops are usually quite expensive, with prices typically starting around 2000 euros and sometimes exceeding 5000 euros.
However, there exists a realm where you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy gaming on a laptop. But this does require some sacrifices.
The MSI Katana series fits into this category of affordable gaming laptops with solid specifications on paper. But does a 1500 euro gaming laptop cut too many corners? Find out in our review.
Specifications
| Model | MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 398 mm x 27.8 mm |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels |
| Display Technology | LCD |
| Touch Screen | No |
| Processor (CPU) | Core i7-14650HX |
| Graphics Chip (GPU) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Internal Storage | 1024 GB |
| Build Material | Plastic |
| Operating System (OS) | Microsoft Windows 11 |
| Weight | 2700 grams |
| Depth | 275.6 mm |
| Product Details |
Design
The MSI Katana laptop sports a design that straddles the line between the loud aesthetics typical of gaming devices and a more minimalist approach. True to its “Katana” name, it features straight lines and irregular angles while maintaining a symmetrical chassis.
The entire chassis is made of black plastic with a matte finish to resist fingerprints effectively. Although it will eventually show some stubborn marks after several hours of gaming.
Though it’s only 15 inches, the MSI Katana is quite hefty at 2.4 kg and can be as thick as 2.8 mm in its most robust configuration. It’s more transportable than portable, and while it’s not the bulkiest laptop we’ve tested, it doesn’t claim to be an ultrabook either.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard uses standard chiclet switches found in laptops but offers a more distinct feedback and deeper actuation point. It provides a pleasant typing experience both in gaming and daily use. This 15-inch model also includes a slightly smaller numeric keypad, which is quite handy in everyday use.
The touchpad tells a different story. It’s of poor quality, feeling unstable during clicks with a harsh and unsubtle feedback. A mouse is recommended, even for basic office tasks.
Ports and Connectivity
The MSI Katana 15 includes typical connectivity options for this product category, featuring an HDMI 2.1 port for connecting to a modern display, three USB Type-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen2), and a USB Type-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2) that supports DisplayPort and PowerDelivery for charging.
The absence of an SD card reader isn’t missed, but a second USB-C port might be.
Webcam and Audio
We won’t dwell on the 720p camera of the MSI Katana, which suffices for quick video calls but suffers from poor image quality with lots of noise.
The audio performance of the laptop is predictably lackluster, especially in terms of sound power and bass presence. However, for certain games or quieter scenes, the sound quality can be satisfactory, particularly during dialogue phases.
Display
In budget PCs, the main compromise is often the display. While some sub-1000 euro business models may feature an OLED panel, one would expect a poor visual experience at this price range.
As an entry-point model with an aggressive price, the MSI Katana’s initial display measurements weren’t surprising. However, this panel does have its advantages.
We’re looking at a 15-inch LCD screen with technology comparable to IPS, featuring a 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080). The refresh rate can go up to 144 Hz, but the display does not support any variable refresh rate technologies (AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync) and is not HDR compatible.
We used a Calibrite Display Plus HL probe with Calman Ultimate software to assess the damage. The contrast and brightness levels were as expected. The peak full-screen brightness is around 260 cd/m², typical for this type of panel. The contrast ratio is 1405:1, which is on the higher end for IPS technology (excluding IPS Black).
The color accuracy is barely passable with an average Delta-E of 3.55, with huge deviations in the most saturated colors of the spectrum (blue, pink, green, yellow). Note that the panel only covers 60% of the sRGB space and 40% of the DCI-P3. These are figures typically seen in laptops priced around 500-600 euros.
In terms of motion, we measured an average response time of 13.3 ms, with a maximum of 22.6 ms in the worst case. Motion clarity, especially in competitive games, doesn’t live up to the 144 Hz that the screen can reach. Some ghosting and trailing effects are noticeable if you have a keen eye.
Despite this relatively negative picture, it is a panel that can get the job done, especially with its reasonably large 15-inch size. Its good contrast compensates for its poor performance in many cases, particularly in bright and colorful titles like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.
But without VRR or HDR, it lacks serious selling points to convince us.
Software
An MSI laptop always comes equipped with the MSI Center software, which allows you to adjust the PC’s performance profile (between discrete or integrated GPU), tweak some system settings, or check for driver updates. The BIOS will update through Windows Update, not this software, as it will indicate. The software could use an update for real utility, both in terms of design and user experience. However, it is easy to use.
A major downside is the preinstalled Norton 360 for Gamers software, which we recommend uninstalling immediately in favor of the more than adequate Windows Defender.
Performance
The MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK-469FR is one of the most affordable versions in the Katana range this year. Our model features an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor with a total of 16 cores (8 high-performance cores, 8 energy-efficient cores), which can boost up to 5.2 GHz for the P-cores. Its base consumption is 55W, with a PL2 peak of 157W for short durations when needed by the application or game.
It is paired with a Nvidia Blackwell-generation GPU, the GeForce RTX 5060 in the laptop version, which includes 8 GB of VRAM in GDDR7 with a TGP of 115W at full load.
For RAM, expect 16 GB of DDR5 at 5600 MHz, with 512 GB of NVMe PCI 4.0 SSD storage.
Benchmarks
Let’s start with synthetic benchmarks to test the machine’s theoretical capacities. We base this exclusively on the Cinebench R24 test to compare it against our test database.
With a multi-core score of 1118 and a solo score of 113, the MSI Katana 15 ranks above the high-end Meteor Lake (Core Ultra 9 185H) and slightly above a Snapdraxon X Elite. When compared to other gaming PCs, it falls below an Asus TUF Gaming A14 from 2024 and a ROG Zephyrus G16, both equipped with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370.
Generally, the gaming PCs we have tested are more in the 1200 to 1600 range on the multi-core score. Thus, the MSI Katana logically ranks towards the lower end of gaming-focused laptops.
On 3D Mark, we measured a SteelNomad score (excluding ray tracing) of 2729, placing the graphics card between an RTX 3060 Ti and an RTX 4060 Ti. With the SpeedWay test for ray tracing, the 2975 points put it below these two models, at the same level as a desktop Radeon RX 9060 XT.
So, we are looking at a performance profile typical of last generation’s entry-level desktop rasterization, which is not surprising for a mobile GPU at this price point.
Finally, we measured an SSD speed that just exceeds 4.3 GB/s in peak, still far from what one might hope for, even for PCIe Gen 4 which can top out around 7 GB/s. This is a compromise we often see in laptops, including mid-range models. However, it is still more than sufficient for daily use, including gaming.
We noted unusually long durations for installing updates on Windows Update, even after several resets. It’s difficult to pinpoint the cause, but this is not behavior we have observed on other machines during the same process.
In-Game Performance
In-game, we tested a trio of titles, both in rasterization and ray tracing. The MSI Katana 15 benefits greatly from its 1080p resolution, in which the RTX 5060 can excel, even in its laptop version.
In Battlefield 6, the game can reach nearly 90 FPS in Ultra settings and exceeds 100 with DLSS. Adding Multi-Frame Generation can help reach the 144 Hz of the display, making it a perfect match for the MSI Katana.
In Ratchet & Clank, we oscillate between 50 and 80 FPS depending on whether ray tracing is activated or not. Here again, adjustments will need to be made to the settings to hope to exceed 100 FPS.
Finally, in Cyberpunk 2077, we pushed the chip to its limits by activating Path Tracing. Here, Multi-Frame Generation will be very useful, especially in rasterization. It’s one of the most optimized games for Nvidia GPUs, and the performance reflects this. We recommend using Ray Tracing here, as Path Tracing is too demanding on performance.
Cooling and Noise
The MSI Katana’s cooling system includes no fewer than 5 heat pipes surrounding two air intake fans, with hot air being expelled towards the rear of the chassis.
The hottest area can reach up to 44 degrees in the center of the keyboard, with heat being more contained on the rest of the chassis. The keyboard can therefore become very warm after long gaming sessions.
However, the main issue is the noise generated by the machine under full load, including during gaming. The noise exceeds 47 dB, a level of “sound presence” that is noticeable in a room, similar to certain household appliances.
It will be essential to use at least a moderately isolating headset to not be bothered during gaming.
Battery Life
The MSI Katana 15 is equipped with a 75 WHr battery, more enduring than the 53.5 WHr of the previous model.
We do not recommend using the MSI Katana 15 in nomadic mode for gaming. Depending on the titles, the battery life may not exceed an hour and a half in some cases.
In normal use, such as office work, with the brightness set to 50, you can expect to reach about 5 to 6 hours of battery life.
Price and Availability
The MSI Katana 15 with its Core i7 processor and RTX 5060 is available at a recommended price of 1499.99 euros at all retailers.
MSI Katana 15 HX B14WFK
at the best price
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Fnac
1200 € -
Darty
1200 € -
Rakuten
1200 € -
PcComponentes
1749 € -
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1799 €
Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.
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