Introduction
MSI have been a mainstay in the PC gaming and hardware space for quite some time. We get a number of varying MSI products and components in the office every month varying from prebuilts, to monitors, along with motherboards, SSDs, and more. Needless to say, MSI have dipped their toes in pretty much every pond, and the vast majority of their products offer a solid baseline when it comes to performance, and design standards.
This manufacturer has been in the gaming laptop space for quite a while providing a number of options geared towards gaming, all the way back to NVIDIA‘s 1000 series of GPUs. This goes to show that they’re quite savvy when it comes to gaming laptops, and a strong competitor in this particular space. But what are some of the current modern options on the market if you’re looking to pick up a laptop from MSI? In this roundup we’ll be answering this very question by taking a look at some of the best MSI gaming laptops to buy in 2023!
Suggested Article: Best Intel 13th Gen Gaming Laptops to Buy in 2023
Our Recommendations
1. MSI Katana 17
👑 The best budget MSI gaming laptop.
Introduction
First up in our roundup is the Katana, a 17 inch 1080p gaming laptop designed to bring a reasonable amount of gaming specs at a relatively low price point. This first option bears a pretty sleek design across the board, sitting closer to the size of a notebook when it comes to height. MSI don’t seem to have crammed in a gigantic battery or loads of IO, so the overall footprint is pretty small compared to other options we’ve looked at in the past. Regardless, MSI have opted to utilise a full-size keyboard with four-zone RGB backlighting and specially illuminated ‘WASD’ keys, to ensure you’re ready for gaming.
Specs wise, the biggest standout components in this particular machine are the Intel 12th-Gen CPU, and the RTX 3050 laptop graphics card. This combo should provide some solid performance in 1080p games. The RTX 3050 is an older and weaker unit compared to some of the other GPUs in this roundup, but it still holds it’s own in older and Esports style titles. Alongside these components, you’ve also got access to a 1TB Gen4 SSD, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 17-inch 1080p screen. Overall, this laptop seems like a solid budget option geared towards 1080p gaming.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI Katana 17 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 12450H |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 4800MHz |
| Storage | 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD |
| IO Ports | 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C/DP-Alt, 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ45 |
| Display | 17.3″ 1080p 144Hz IPS |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 53.5Wh |
Things We Like
Reasonable price point: The MSI Katana is one of the cheapest gaming laptops that you can buy in today’s market. Sporting a reasonable set of specs geared towards 1080p gaming, this laptop is an excellent price conscious choice.
Strong display: Despite sporting a 1080p panel, the MSI Katana 17 offers a pretty solid visual experience. Consumers can enjoy a 144Hz refresh rate, alongside crisp and bright colours thanks to the IPS panel.
Things We Don’t Like
RTX 3050 will struggle with modern games: Unfortunately, this laptop is geared towards the Esports side of gaming, due to the weaker hardware. If you plan on playing more modern triple A titles, you’ll want to pick up a more powerful option.
Battery life isn’t amazing: The MSI Katana comes with a 53.5Wh battery life which equates to around 5 hours or so dependent on how hard you’re pushing it. This means it won’t be particularly ideal for very long journeys.
Summary
MSI’s Katana 17 laptop is an awesome choice geared towards those looking to pickup a budget gaming laptop that will handle older titles and Esports games. There are some pretty big disadvantages such as the battery life, and also the longevity of this gaming machine. Whilst it will be somewhat fine for older games, this laptop will definitely struggle with newer more intense games.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.1/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 4.4/5
Pros
- Ideal for a budget consumer.
- Perfect for 1080p Esports gaming.
- Backlit keyboard looks awesome.
Cons
- Will struggle with newer games.
- Weaker battery life compared to other models.
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI Katana 17 on:
2. MSI Pulse 17
👑 The best mid-range MSI gaming laptop.
Introduction
Next up is the Pulse 17 from MSI, a more mid-range style of laptop. This particular design is more of a modern option, sporting both a 13th-Gen CPU, alongside an NVIDIA RTX 4000 graphics card, in the form of a 4060. Whilst we weren’t particularly impressed with the RTX 4060 laptop GPUs when it comes to modern games, much like the MSI Katana it holds up pretty well in Esports titles. Older games shouldn’t pose much of a problem, and you should be able to play some games at 1440p. Framerates will soar further when DLSS or Frame Gen are turned on, but keep in mind that you can lose out on visual fidelity here too.
Aesthetic and design wise, the MSI Pulse is very similar to the Katana in pretty much every regard. The major difference that you’ll notice here is that the Pulse is much chunkier. The overall height of the chassis has been increased, likely to accommodate for a bigger battery, GPU and cooling capacity. This also would have allowed MSI to include more IO options, but this particular design has very similar IO ports to the previously mentioned Katana laptop. Despite this, the Pulse 17 seems to be more of a promising bet for modern games.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI Pulse 17 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13700H |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 5200MHz |
| Storage | 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD |
| IO Ports | 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-C/DP-Alt, 2x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ45 |
| Display | 17.3″ 1080p 144Hz IPS |
| WiFi | WiFi 6 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 90Wh |
Things We Like
A solid option for 1080p gaming: The RTX 4060 is a somewhat reasonably strong graphics card and should be able to handle some modern entrants at 1080p. The Core i7 and 4060 combo should be more than enough to enjoy 1080p games at pretty high framerates.
Utilises modern components: Its great to see that MSI are offering a modern system with newer components that sit within this budget range. Consumers can enjoy WiFi 6 networking, expandable DDR5 RAM, alongside a 1TB Gen4 SSD, providing exceptional speeds and load times.
Things We Don’t Like
4060 isn’t the strongest GPU: We’ve benchmarked the RTX 4060 laptop graphics card in the past, and we weren’t overly impressed. Although this card can handle some modern titles, we wouldn’t expect a huge amount of longevity as games become more demanding in the future.
Looks very similar to the Katana 17: Although I do quite like the design of the Pulse 17, it looks extremely similar to the Katana 17. MSI don’t seem to have changed much between both of these models other than the size and weight.
Summary
MSI’s Pulse 17 laptop is an awesome mid-range design, sporting modern components designed to provide a longer lasting life as games become more demanding in performance requirements. There are some caveats, such as the RTX 4060 GPU, and the somewhat higher price tag, but otherwise, this laptop is a solid option for those being a bit more price conscious about their purchases.
Features: 4/5
Design: 4.1/5
Performance: 4.3/5
Value for Money: 4.1/5
Pros
- Ideal for 1080p gaming.
- RGB backlighting looks great.
- Much better battery life.
Cons
- RTX 4060 laptop GPU isn’t amazing.
- Doesn’t look that much different compared to the Pulse 17.
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI Pulse 17 on:
3. MSI Stealth 17
👑 The best top-end MSI gaming laptop.
Introduction
For our final pick, we’ve selected the MSI Stealth 17, a top-end design with a somewhat more stealthier aesthetic. This particular laptop is part of MSI’s stealth studio range, sporting a slim and more stylish look to it and a generally smaller footprint. MSI have also changed up the design of the keyboard in which each key has it’s own individual RGB lighting, which is also powered by SteelSeries. This should provide both a solid gaming and typing experience. The Stealth 17 also comes with a 1440p 240Hz display, providing you with higher visual fidelity, and a stronger refresh rate which should add some smoothness to your gameplay.
Looking at the specs, MSI have opted to power the graphics side of this laptop with the RTX 4070, which is an incredibly solid and powerful choice. This GPU is more than capable for 1440p gaming, and should provide quite high framerates in less intense titles. This laptop is also equipped with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB NVMe Gen4 drive, and a 99Whr battery life, ensuring you can play your favourite games on the go without having to plug it in. This laptop is definitely worth a consideration if you’re willing to spend a little bit more.
Key Specs
| Key Specs | MSI Pulse 17 |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 13700H |
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 5200MHz |
| Storage | 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD |
| IO Ports | 1 USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C/DP-Alt, 1x USB Type-C USB/DP/Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x RJ45 |
| Display | 17.3″ 1440p 240Hz IPS |
| WiFi | WiFi 6E |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 99Wh |
Things We Like
Excellent battery life: The Stealth 17 laptop is one of the strongest options when it comes to battery life. This laptop is equipped with a 99Whr battery life, making it ideal for those that plan on playing some games, or perhaps doing some video editing on the go.
Solid GPU performance: The RTX 4070 laptop graphics card is actually one of the best options that we’ve tested in recent months. This GPU can easily cope with 1440p gaming, and should provide a buttery smooth experience in your favourite games.
Things We Don’t Like
Rather expensive: With these more powerful laptops we’re starting to jump into a rather expensive territory with some options sitting just above the $2000 mark. Needless to say, if you’re on a budget, this laptop won’t be a great option to pick up.
240Hz refresh rate is pointless: Despite the solid display choice from MSI, the refresh rate on this laptop seems a bit pointless. It is highly unlikely you’ll be able to reach a 240FPS framerate to enjoy the maximum refresh rate that this laptop can output unless you dumb down all of your settings to low.
Summary
MSI’s Stealth 17 is a well-rounded design that offers modern hardware capable of coping within modern games at 1440p. The Stealth 17 is a solid choice for consumers looking to play their favourite games at a buttery smooth quality. The only caveats are the pricing, and refresh rate. If you’re wanting to enjoy a higher refresh rate display, we recommend picking up a more capable laptop with a better GPU.
Features: 4.2/5
Design: 4.5/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.4/5
Pros
- RTX 4070 and Core i7 combo is ideal for 1440p gaming.
- Stealth design looks sleek and sophisticated.
- Will be able to handle Ray-Tracing with ease.
Cons
- Refresh rate is practically unreachable with this graphics card.
- Rather expensive overall.
Where to Buy
Buy the MSI Stealth 17 on:
Laptops vs Desktops – Which is Better?
The laptop vs desktop argument is a major point of contention in the PC gaming space. Are laptops better than desktops? Are desktops more affordable? Unfortunately, there isn’t any right answer to this particular question. Whilst desktops are better in terms of performance, and generally more affordable than laptops, they’re not particularly ideal when it comes to portable gaming. On the other hand, once you’ve bought your desktop components you’ve then got to build it, and then get a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and any other peripherals you might need.
Laptops provide an easy way for consumers to game while on the go, whilst also requiring effectively nothing from the consumer when it comes to assembly knowledge, cable management, and more. This makes them appealing for first-time PC gamers, especially those not wanting to assemble their own PC. But with all of these benefits considered, there are also some pretty significant disadvantages. The first one is pricing. Laptops unfortunately have a hefty price curve at the mid-range and top-end, with the more solid and capable laptops sitting well over the $2000 mark.
Desktop systems can be expensive, but you’ve got more access to stronger performance because you’re able to customise your desktop machine exactly how you want it, with a wider range of parts accessible to you. To round this off, desktops and laptops both have their own benefits and disadvantages. Laptops are geared towards those that need something more portable, but are willing to pay a higher price for it. Desktops are generally cheaper and there’s more customisation options in this market, but the caveat is that you’ve got to build it yourself to enjoy the lower price tag.
Laptop CPUs and GPUs – Do They Perform Well?
If you’re looking to pick up a gaming laptop, and you’re not extremely familiar with laptop components, you might be wondering what the difference is between laptop and desktop parts. Although laptop components are different in terms of the way they’re built, performance nowadays isn’t hugely different in comparison to traditional desktop CPUs and GPUs. NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD have constantly pushed the boundaries of performance with their new options on the market, so you can expect somewhat similar metrics to that of a desktop machine.
But what’s the main difference between them? Laptop CPUs and GPUs don’t use a dedicated thermal solution in order to keep them cool. Although there are fans, heatpipes and heatsinks, these components won’t have the same cooling on them that a desktop machine would. This means that a different type of silicon needs to be used in order to accommodate the lower thermal capability that comes with laptops.
If you had a traditional Ryzen 9 7900X in your laptop, you’d see temperatures reach 100 degrees, which can be extremely dangerous for your processor without the right cooling solution. But if you use a laptop CPU, these components won’t output as much heat, allowing you to enjoy somewhat similar performance, but without the risk of component death or thermal throttling.
Why You Can Trust Us
Whenever a new component, or product arrives in the GeekaWhat office, our team of PC hardware experts won’t hesitate to test and evaluate it straight away. After putting it through the wringer with a number of gaming and productivity benchmarks, the results that we get afterwards are used to devise an extensive overview that we can then use to compare to the rest of the market when it comes to quality, performance, and value for money. If you’re interested in learning more about our editorial team and promise, head to the About Us section on our website.
How We Tested the Best MSI Gaming Laptops
In order to test and evaluate the best MSI gaming laptops, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Performance
- Thermals
- Aesthetic
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best MSI Gaming Laptop: Stealth 17
Finishing up our roundup, we’ve picked out the Stealth 17 as the best MSI gaming laptop. Whilst this particular model is rather pricey, its component combination will provide excellent performance in pretty much everything it’s thrown at, whilst maintaining a strong and sophisticated aesthetic. We recommend this option to consumers looking to play their favourite games at 1440p with some potential Ray-Tracing too. Definitely a win for consumers likely to do some video editing on the go as well.
Read our full MSI product coverage, or Buy the MSI Stealth 17 on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Gaming Laptops Use Mechanical Keyboards?
Not normally. Although some manufacturers may employ a mechanical-like feel to their keyboards, it is unlikely the switches will actually be mechanical.
Do Laptops Have Good Sound Quality?
Some do, unfortunately speakers are heavily dependent on how much you’re willing to spend. We’d still recommend a dedicated headset regardless.
Can I Play Games just On the Battery?
Yes you can, but keep in mind that more intense workloads will decrease the battery significantly, meaning you’ll have to plug it in sooner during sessions of gaming or for those utilising workstation applications.
Do these Laptops Support WiFi 6E?
Some laptops support WiFi 6E technology, the only one in this particular roundup is the MSI Stealth. Employing WiFi 6E technology can be quite costly, hence not many cheaper laptops supporting it out of the box.
