Updated 18 Oct 2026
Is the MSI Katana 15 HX (2025) worth it?
Yes, if speed per pound matters more than the screen.
It games faster than most laptops at its price, with full 115 W graphics, a sturdy body, a number pad and plenty of ports. But every screen option is dim, it weighs 2.4 kg, the fans are loud in games and there's only one SSD slot. Get the RTX 5070 build: it costs little more and doubles the storage.
Good to know
- Every screen option is dim, about 260–280 nits, so it's hard to see in a bright room.
- Only one SSD slot: more storage means swapping the drive, not adding one.
- About an hour of gaming on battery; five to eight hours of light use.
- Most builds ship with two 8 GB sticks, so going to 32 GB means replacing both.
- Make sure it's the 2025 model: B14W in the model number. The thinner 2026 Katana 15 HX (C14W) is a different laptop.
- Full-power RTX 50 graphics
- Sturdy body with a number pad
- Lots of ports, upgradable memory
Our pick: RTX 5070 · 16 GB · 1 TB. Other builds
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Which build to get
The same Katana 15 HX is sold with different graphics, memory and storage, each under its own model number. Each button below goes to that exact build.
- Our pickCheck price on Amazon
RTX 5070 · 16 GB · 1 TB
Intel Core i7-14650HX · 15.6" 2560×1440 165 Hz
Our pick: faster graphics and twice the storage of the RTX 5060 build for not much more.
Model number: B14WGK-053UK
- Check price on Amazon
RTX 5060 · 16 GB
Intel Core i7-14650HX · 15.6" 2560×1440 165 Hz · 512 GB (UK) or 1 TB (US)
Fine for 1080p and lighter 1440p games. The UK build's 512 GB fills up fast.
Model number: B14WFK-010UK
Get it if…
- You want the most gaming speed for the money.
- It mostly lives on a desk.
- You'd like to add memory yourself later.
Skip it if…
- You game near a bright window — the screen is dim.
- You carry it every day: it's 2.4 kg.
- You want quiet: the fans are loud in games.
How we reached this verdict
PCMag gave the base model its Editors' Choice (4/5) as a budget gaming laptop, and CNET found it faster at 1080p than an RTX 5060 Legion 5i. Tom's Guide (4/5) measured wide, accurate colour but only 262 nits. PC Gamer (69%) liked the UK price but called the screen underwhelming, and every review found it heavy and the fans loud.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: PCMag, Tom's Guide, CNET, PC Gamer, MSI (specs), Notebookcheck, PC Gamer, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 18 Oct 2026How we decide