£1,415
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MSI Katana 17 HX (B14Wx) Review
Overview
The MSI Katana 17 HX (B14Wx) is positioned as an affordable gaming laptop, featuring an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 5070 GPU. Priced at around $1,299, it aims to deliver solid gaming performance without the premium price tag associated with high-end gaming laptops.
Build Quality
Surprisingly, the build quality of the Katana 17 HX is commendable for its price point. The chassis is made from thick, premium-feeling plastics that exhibit minimal flex. The design includes a unique dot matrix motif and a strong display hinge, contributing to a robust overall feel [1] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Display
The laptop features a 17.3-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. Unfortunately, the display has been noted for its dim brightness (230 nits) and poor color accuracy, covering only 46.6% of DCI-P3 and 65.7% of sRGB. This results in muted colors that detract from the gaming experience [3] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Performance
In terms of gaming performance, the Katana 17 HX performs admirably at 1080p, achieving competitive frame rates in various titles. For instance, it averaged 119 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider and 85 fps in Red Dead Redemption 2 [4] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard features a full-size layout with a number pad and customizable RGB lighting. While the typing experience is generally satisfactory, the touchpad has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing issues with responsiveness [6] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Audio
Audio quality is adequate but not impressive, with speakers that deliver a hollow sound lacking in bass. Users may find the audio experience underwhelming, especially given the laptop's size [7] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Battery Life
The Katana 17 HX houses a 75 Whr battery, providing a respectable battery life of over 6 hours during typical usage scenarios, which is competitive among gaming laptops [8] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Webcam
The laptop is equipped with a 720p webcam, which has been criticized for its subpar image quality, especially in a market where 1080p webcams are becoming standard [9] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill
Conclusion
Overall, the MSI Katana 17 HX (B14Wx) is a solid choice for budget-conscious gamers looking for a capable 1080p gaming laptop. While it excels in performance and build quality, the display and audio shortcomings may deter some users. If you prioritize gaming performance over premium features, the Katana 17 HX is worth considering [10] Tom's Hardware MSI Katana 17 HX gaming laptop review: 1080p gaming with Nvidia’s RTX 5070 https://www.tomshardware.com/author/brandon-hill Notebookcheck MSI Katana 17 HX B14WGK DeepL / Ninh Duy