With graphics card manufacturers producing beefy GPUs capable of crushing games at 4K, it’s impressive how they can fit such powerhouses inside a tiny laptop chamber. The kicker is these gaming laptops are usually pretty expensive.
This laptop from MSI houses an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 which might not be a GPU for 4K gaming but can effortlessly shine at 1440p. Currently, B&H has the MSI Katana 15 on sale for $1200 instead of its retail price of $1400, saving you a handsome $200.
MSI Katana 15 Specs
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop (B12VGK-082US)
$1200 $1400 Save
$200
- Operating System
-
Windows 11
- GPU
-
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (105W)
- Storage
-
1 TB NVMe SSD
- Power
-
200W AC Adapter
- CPU
-
Intel Core i7-13620H
- RAM
-
32 GB DDR5 Memory
- Display (Size, Resolution)
-
15.6″ 165 Hz FHD IPS
- Network
-
Wi-Fi 6E, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.2
- Unbeatable pricing
- RTX 4070 drawing 105W of power
- Mediocre battery life
- Screen’s brightness and contrast is lacklustre
The MSI KATANA 15 B13VGK-2227US packs an Intel Core i7-13620H 10-Core processor clocked at 2.4 GHz. The CPU can handle productivity-related tasks like media editing and coding without breaking a sweat while being equally competent at intensive gaming sessions. For memory, it gets 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5200 MT/s, which is user-replaceable and can be upgraded to 64 GB. The laptop gets a 1TB m.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD, which unfortunately cannot be upgraded down the line.
The laptop’s main selling point is its graphics card, which is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GDDR6 version. Although 8GB might sound underwhelming by 2025’s standards, the GPU is abundantly capable of crushing games at 1440p. With Nvidia’s advanced DLSS Frame Generation technology, you will achieve a massive boost in framerates without sacrificing much picture quality.
On some heavier titles, you might need to dial down the quality setting a bit, but overall you won’t complain about the framerates this GPU can push. Games will look even smoother thanks to the 15.6″ 2560 x 1440 165Hz IPS panel which produces accurate colors with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.
Related
Razer Debuts An Ultra-Slim Blade 16 Gaming Laptop At CES 2025
The Razer Blade 16 has gone on a diet to start the new year. Has any performance been sacrificed in the process?
For I/O, the laptop gets 1x USB-C 3.2 which can also be used in DP Alt Mode, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-A 2.0, and 1x HDMI 2.1 (supports 8K @60Hz/4K @120Hz). The laptop’s bottom-firing speakers are punchy and bass-heavy. The laptop also features gigabit ethernet, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and Bluetooth 5.3, which are standard in 2025.
A Few Downsides
All the beastly hardware crammed into the laptop reflects a whopping 8.8 pounds in weight, so it might not be ideal for commuting to work or school. It can also be a bit toasty under heavy load, so having a cooling pad will be necessary. The 53.5 Wh battery isn’t the laptop’s strongest attribute as it drains prematurely at about 2–3 hours of usage, so carrying the power adapter will be necessary should you choose this.
More
Dell vs Lenovo: Who Makes the Better Laptop?
Both Dell and Lenovo boast a vast laptop kingdom, but who sits on the throne?