If you’ve ever looked at a high-end gaming laptop and thought, “That’s awesome, but I don’t want to sell a kidney,” then MSI’s Katana 17 HX might be exactly what you’re after. It doesn’t have all the flashy bells and whistles of a flagship, but what it does have is power — raw, affordable power.
After spending a couple of weeks with the Katana 17 HX, it’s safe to say: this thing can handle just about anything you throw at it, without completely draining your wallet.
First Impressions: Big, Bold, and Built for Battle
Right out of the box, the Katana 17 HX feels like a tank. At 17.3 inches, it’s definitely on the larger side — not something you’ll want to toss in a backpack every day. But it’s clear from the design that this machine was made for gaming desks, not café counters.
The chassis is mostly plastic, but it feels solid and well-built. It leans into that “gamer” aesthetic with angular lines, red-backlit keys, and aggressive venting, but it’s not overdone. If you’re into minimalism, this won’t be your favorite look — but if you like your laptop to look like it means business, you’ll dig it.
Display: Big Screen, Smooth Moves
The 17.3-inch FHD (1920×1080) display runs at 144Hz, which is really the sweet spot for most gamers. Is it 4K? No. Is it OLED? Also no. But it doesn’t need to be.
Colors are decent, brightness is okay (around 300 nits), and that high refresh rate really makes a difference in fast-paced titles like Apex Legends or Valorant. For a machine at this price, the display is more than good enough.
Performance: Powered by Intel HX Muscle
Now let’s talk about where the Katana 17 HX really shines: performance.
This machine is packing up to an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU (or i7 in lower configs), paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. That combo alone tells you everything you need to know — this thing rips through games and multitasking.
In real-world use, I played Cyberpunk 2077, Control, and Red Dead Redemption 2 — all at high settings — and the Katana 17 HX handled them like a champ. Thermals get a bit warm under load, but MSI’s Cooler Boost 5 system does a decent job keeping things under control.
You also get support for DDR5 RAM (up to 64GB), and Gen 4 SSDs, which means boot times and load screens are basically nonexistent.
Keyboard and Trackpad: Functional with a Dash of Style
The keyboard is a full-sized layout with a number pad — always a plus. The keys have a good amount of travel and feel satisfying to type on, whether you’re gaming or writing essays (like this one).
The red backlight won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s consistent and gets the job done. No RGB, though — which, depending on your taste, is either a bummer or a blessing.
Trackpad? It’s… fine. It works, but like with most gaming laptops, you’ll want to plug in a proper mouse if you’re serious about gaming or productivity.
Battery Life: Don’t Expect Miracles
Gaming laptops and long battery life usually don’t go hand in hand — and the Katana 17 HX is no exception. You’ll get around 3 to 4 hours with mixed use, less if you’re gaming. That’s par for the course for this kind of machine, so no big surprise.
Thankfully, it charges fast and comes with a chunky 240W adapter to keep the juice flowing when you need max performance.
Ports & Connectivity: Plenty to Work With
You get a solid selection of ports:
- 1x USB-C (no Thunderbolt)
- 3x USB-A
- HDMI 2.1
- RJ45 Ethernet
- Audio combo jack
- DC-in for charging
No SD card reader, but that’s not unusual anymore. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are included, so wireless performance is solid.
Who’s It For?
The Katana 17 HX is clearly aimed at gamers who want strong performance without spending $2,500+ on a flagship model. It’s also great for students or creators who need CPU and GPU muscle but aren’t as concerned about things like ultra-high resolutions or featherweight design.
Verdict: The Right Cuts in the Right Places
