### ZDNET’s Key Takeaways
The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W is currently being offered for $999, positioning it well below many high-performance competitors in the gaming laptop market. Despite being classified as a midrange machine, it manages to integrate Nvidia’s most recent graphics architecture, delivering a notable degree of power and future-proofing. However, this otherwise compelling package is held back somewhat by a display that lacks the color vibrancy and contrast levels expected from a gaming device in 2024.
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### More Buying Choices and Market Context
Fifteen-inch laptops occupy a unique and often underappreciated niche in the broader spectrum of portable computers. While 14-inch models are celebrated for portability and minimal weight, and 16-inch laptops are lauded for their oversized displays and immersive gaming or productivity potential, 15-inch devices lie right in between. This middle ground offers a carefully balanced compromise: the screen is expansive enough to create an engaging visual experience for movies, gaming, or creative work, while still maintaining a chassis size that avoids the bulk—or the shoulder strain—associated with larger machines. Consumers, however, have increasingly gravitated toward either the smaller or larger end of the spectrum, leaving the 15-inch category underloved despite its balanced strengths. MSI’s Katana 15 attempts to reclaim this space, demonstrating that such laptops deserve renewed attention.
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### First Impressions and Design Language
Upon first inspection, the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W makes its presence known through its substantial build. Measuring 14.13 by 10.21 by 1 inches and weighing in at 5.3 pounds, the laptop carries a form factor that feels noticeably solid in hand. The exterior leans heavily into angular, geometric contours, which accentuate its bulk and give it an almost armored aesthetic reminiscent of traditional gaming equipment. Although not the kind of device one would toss carelessly into a backpack, the chassis seems sturdy enough to endure the occasional bumps and jolts of daily transport. MSI has struck a middle ground between visual flair and practical resilience, though its somewhat blocky appearance may not appeal to users who prioritize sleek minimalism.
Beneath the screen, MSI has integrated a full-size keyboard featuring four-zone RGB illumination. It includes translucent WASD keys that stand out under lighting effects, offering gamers instant visual orientation. Each key is designed with a travel distance of 1.7mm, which provides tactile feedback and helps strike a balance between responsiveness and comfort during extended sessions. Situated below the keyboard, the touchpad has received a notable upgrade: MSI claims it is now 31% larger than the previous Katana generation, thereby allowing broader gestures and smoother navigation. While neither keyboard nor touchpad reinvents the wheel, together they create a user experience that is comfortable, reliable, and more than adequate for both gaming and everyday productivity tasks.
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### Display Options and Their Trade-offs
The testing configuration provided represented the entry-level version of the Katana 15. MSI offers two types of displays for this laptop, which dramatically affect user experience. The more affordable panel consists of a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution with a refresh rate of 144Hz. Unfortunately, it supports only 45% of the NTSC color gamut, leading to weak saturation, muted color vibrancy, and a generally flat visual impression. For instance, games that rely heavily on lush, colorful palettes—such as *Spyro Reignited Trilogy*—lose much of their intended charm, with once-bright pastels appearing dull and lifeless. That said, the 144Hz refresh rate ensures an otherwise smooth gaming experience, especially when it comes to delivering fluid animation and responsive motion.
By contrast, the higher configuration improves markedly on these weaknesses, offering a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display at 165Hz with complete DCI-P3 color space coverage. This means richer tones, sharper images, and a significantly higher level of immersion. The only divisive element in the design is the thickness of the bezels surrounding the screen. While narrower bezels would provide a more contemporary and borderless look, the existing frame does bolster durability and eliminates awkward aspect ratios that might result from over-thinning.
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### Gaming Performance: The Core Experience
Gaming is where the Katana 15 reveals its strongest attributes. Its internal configuration includes an Intel Core i7-14650HX, paired with Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5050 featuring 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, and accompanied by 16GB of system RAM. While not the absolute cutting edge for competitive eSports or maxed-out AAA titles, this hardware is more than capable of holding its ground among similarly priced options. As expected for a midrange product, compromises are necessary—some games may struggle to run at their very highest settings.
For instance, enabling high-resolution textures in *Monster Hunter Wilds* created performance constraints, forcing a dial-down in visual fidelity to maintain fluid framerates. However, once adjustments were made, gameplay remained enjoyable and highly playable. On the other end of the spectrum, titles such as *Hollow Knight: Silksong* performed exceptionally well, with the 144Hz refresh rate enabling precise, responsive action that is vital in a challenging, reaction-driven game. Even in visually demanding fighting titles like *King of Fighters XV*, combo execution was smooth, although the disappointing panel color fidelity dulled the punch of vibrant attacks.
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### Cooling and Thermal Management
The Katana 15 employs MSI’s Cooler Boost 5 system, an advanced thermal design that integrates multiple vents and copper heat pipes to maintain proper operating temperatures. The vents are strategically located along the left side, back, and underside of the machine, and it’s even possible to spot the copper tubing through the bottom panel. This thermal solution is extremely effective: even as internal components reach peak temperatures near 120 degrees Celsius, the surface where users rest their hands remains cool. The evident drawback to this effective cooling, however, is fan noise. At maximum operation, the system easily drowns out in-game audio, requiring external speakers or headphones for an undisturbed experience.
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### Battery and General Productivity
While gaming laptops are often notorious for exceptionally short battery lives, the Katana 15 fares relatively well. Using MSI’s integrated management tools to prioritize extended usage time, the device can surpass the five-hour mark under moderate workloads. Although this will shorten considerably under heavy gaming, it still indicates decent power management for a machine of this caliber.
Beyond its focus on entertainment, the Katana provides a surprisingly stable platform for creative and professional applications. In testing scenarios with photo-editing software such as Photoshop, it handled intricate projects—including layered compositions, advanced filters, and large-scale exports—without lag or significant slowdown. Similarly, collaborative design tools like Figma performed well, allowing for precise manipulation of typography, poster composition, and free-form illustration. Nevertheless, while functional for design tasks, the limitations of the base model’s color reproduction remain a bottleneck. Creative professionals in particular would benefit far more from the higher-end Quad HD panel, or alternatively from pairing the system with a dedicated, color-accurate external monitor.
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### Benchmark Results and Relative Performance
Performance testing indicates that the Katana 15 maintains numbers competitive with, and occasionally surpassing, laptops in similar price ranges. Despite costing significantly less than many rivals, it registers strong and stable benchmarks, ensuring strong value for money. This affordability factor magnifies its competitiveness, making it stand out as an accessible entry into higher-end gaming and creative work.
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### Final Buying Advice
Ordinarily, the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W retails for $1,200, but at the time of writing it can be found at major retailers such as Walmart for just $999. Additional promotions sweeten the deal, such as bundled offers like a complimentary four-month subscription to Apple Music. For buyers searching for a device that offers strong performance without the prohibitive costs of a true flagship, this model represents a highly worthwhile investment. Although the screen, in its base form, fails to deliver on the visual excellence that many gamers and creative professionals crave, the overall price-to-performance balance makes the Katana 15 HX B14W a compelling and recommended choice.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/msis-new-999-gaming-laptop-beats-the-razer-blade-14-in-a-few-ways-with-one-concern/
