15-inch laptops occupy an interesting spot in the world of PCs: they're not as compact as 14-inch laptops, but they're not as bulky as 16-inch machines, either. Still, consumers seem to prefer the other two sizes, which is a shame because computers of this size deliver a balanced experience: a good amount of immersion without being too cumbersome.
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This is where the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W comes in. At a glance, the Katana looks like a run-of-the-mill gaming laptop. But it's unique in a variety of ways, namely that it is a 15-inch midrange gaming laptop housing next-gen hardware.
Blocky design
The first thing you'll notice with MSI's Katana 15 HX is its heft. It measures 14.13 x 10.21 x 1 inches and weighs 5.3 pounds. Much of its thick frame is accentuated with geometric shapes that make the laptop appear bulky. I don't think the machine can handle a lot of roughhousing, but it is tough enough to withstand the bumps that come with traveling.
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On the bottom half of the laptop is a 4-Zone RGB full-size keyboard with translucent WASD keys. Each cap has a travel distance of 1.7mm, allowing for lighter key presses and nice analog feedback. Below is a touchpad that MSI says is 31% larger than the previous generation. Together, the Katana 15's keyboard and touchpad make for a decent pair. Nothing groundbreaking, but they manage to deliver an engaging experience.
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I was given the low-end configuration for testing. I know this because, according to a company representative, there are two versions of the laptop, one of which has a Full HD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz display that supports just 45% of the NTSC color gamut. As a result, colors were super dull. It made games like "Spyro Reignited Trilogy", a title known for its pastel array, look washed out. The saving grace is that 144Hz is a solid refresh rate. It ensured Spyro's animations ran smoothly.
The other configuration has a much better Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz display that supports the entire PCI-P3 color space, so outputs are more vibrant. I'm admittedly conflicted on how to feel about the bezels around the glass. On one hand, I'm not a fan of the thick frame encroaching on the screen. But at the same time, I realize that they protect the display, and thinner bezels would give the screen a weird aspect ratio.
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