MSI Katana 15 HX B14W review: shows just how far budget gaming laptops have come

The MSI Katana isn't particularly assuming, but it could well be the best gaming laptop for those seeking a budget alternative to those lofty price tags. I've had an (approximately) $1,500 rig on the table, but cheaper RTX 5050 configurations come in just a hair over $1,000 these days. That's a rare price point in 2026, and considering the RTX 5060 model I've been testing gives some more expensive rigs something to think about, value is certainly on MSI's side right now.

It's not the flashiest, most luxurious machine on the market, but in terms of sheer value for money, the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W could well be one of the top gaming laptops available.

Configurations

The MSI Katana spans a solid range of mid-range and more affordable price points, kicking off at around $1,199.99 with an RTX 5050 / Intel Core i5-14450HX spec and moving all the way up to over $2,000 for an RTX 5070 / Intel Core i9-14900HX with all the RAM and storage trimmings.

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That's a solid spread, though the build quality and display might not make much sense right at the top of that price range. Still, it leaves plenty of room for smaller budgets and a good amount of scaling as well. That's in theory.

In reality, it's difficult to actually come across the cheapest configuration options. The vast majority of retailers are sticking to RTX 5070 options, and I've seen very little of any processor that isn't the Intel i7-14650HX. I couldn't, for example, find the very spec I've been testing on the shelves - the closest I could get is an i7-14650HX / RTX 5060 / 16GB / 1TB version for $1,499.99.

It's a good thing that processor is a solid performer, then, especially in this mid-range position. Considering the state of current gaming laptop prices, this is a decent selection of components for your cash. Just watch out for those 512GB options - unless you're particularly economical with your storage the leap up to 1TB is going to be well worth it.

Design

The MSI Katana doesn't surprise me when I take it out the box for the first time. This is the kind of budget gaming laptop I'm used to testing; simple, angular, and chunky. Back in the day, this thing would have been covered in 'gamer' iconography, stamps, and cringeworthy text. Thankfully, MSI has left both the lid and internal deck mercifully free from all that. Instead, the Katana could even be considered subtle, with a simple black logo on the top panel and a bare palm rest.

For an all-plastic chassis, the Katana feels durable and solid under the hands. There's a little flex to the main lid, and the insides will bend under significant pressure, but I didn't notice any of that in regular everyday use. In fact, the wrist rest area barely moved at all during my 'squeeze' tests, the result being a nicely springy keyboard area.

This is often the first sign that a gaming laptop sits in a lower price bracket, but MSI has nailed its construction this time around. That's not even mentioning the full 180-degree hinge or the smoothness with which it operates. You're dropping the aluminum lid of the Asus TUF A15, but that only really presents itself when trying to manually flex the main topper.

It's bigger and boxier than more premium gaming laptops designed with portability at the forefront. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 will look futuristic compared to this and my Razer Blade 14 feels almost minuscule after weeks of testing.

Its one-inch thickness matches that of most budget-minded gaming laptops, in keeping with Asus's TUF range and cheaper Acer and Lenovo rigs. That means it's just about backpackable; it's not something I'd want to lug around the city all day, but I can easily fit it into a bag and forget about it for a little while.

Display

I'm testing a QHD / 165Hz configuration of the MSI Katana, a solid set of panel specs that sits well in the lower mid-range price category. Considering those are the kinds of numbers you'll find among the best Alienware laptops, you're getting a great deal here - on paper.

That's because, while colors are represented well and there's a nice punch to the more impactful moments of games, brightness and contrast levels do suffer for that lower price tag. This is an IPS panel, which is to be expected from a cheaper rig - though it's worth noting that the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 offers an OLED face for a similar price.

It's also worth noting that 15.6-inch size. Realistically, it's pretty similar to the 16-inch gaming laptops that line the shelves these days, but it is a slightly outdated 16:9 display ratio.

The screen is certainly workable, though darker moments of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were a little... obscured, but it's quite obviously been dropped down the priority list. I'm not mad, it means the MSI Katana can focus more on component value, but if you're going for an all-out visual smorgasbord, you'll want to move further up the price scale.

Ports

All your physical connections are split between the left and right panels, no rear-mounted ports here. That's generally to be expected from more budget-friendly rigs, but it would be nice to keep some connections out the way, especially as there's a lot going on on the right-hand side.

Typically, I prefer side-mounted ports to line the left flank. I see you lefties out there, but the right-handed among us will know the struggle of spiderweb wires knocking into the mouse hand during play. Thankfully, two USB-A connections on the left can keep most of your connections at bay. However, the single USB-C is a little awkwardly placed on the right, as is your third USB-A, RJ45 Ethernet connection, and 3.5mm audio out.

If that's a deal-breaker, the Acer Nitro 16 does right by cable management with largely rear-mounted ports.

Keyboard and trackpad

The main deck is consumed in RGB lighting. Four-zone lighting control is excellent to see here, though if you're coming from a more premium model, you may miss per-key options. As it stands, those LEDs shine particularly bright with excellent vibrancy. Slightly pudding-ed keycaps help them glow as well.

The actual keyboard delights in use as well. Whereas most cheap gaming laptops rely on spongey clackers, everything is impressively snappy here. A comfortable landing position, smooth travel, and absolutely no hint of mush make this one of the best keyboards I've used in a budget-minded device. The Razer Blade 16 doesn't have anything to worry about, but if you're typing for longer periods I'd personally opt for the MSI over the Asus TUF A15.

You're still keeping that number pad functionality as well, even if it is slightly squished into the corner. Smaller caps and a compacted layout are necessary to squeeze everything into a 15.6-inch form factor, though.

Underneath that sits a trackpad that will suit tappers but certainly not pushers. It's got a fantastic glide to it, and plenty of space to move about. Quick gestures are responsive and smooth, but harder presses feel sticky and stiff.

Performance

I've got a few RTX 5060 rigs in my testing pool these days, so I've been pitting the Katana against the more expensive Alienware 16X Aurora, slightly more expensive Lenovo Legion 7 Gen 10, and the similarly priced Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10. We've also got the previous generation Asus TUF A15 in the mix with its RTX 4060, to demonstrate the difference between the two GPU years and see how the Katana fares against my current budget pick.

First up it's synthetic 3D Mark tests. Steel Nomad, Time Spy, and Fire Strike all work to test a gaming laptop's GPU, with a higher number representing a better score.

MSI keeps its cool against these more expensive RTX 5060 competitors in synthetic 3D Mark tests, pacing against the more expensive Legion 7 and trading places with the Legion 5. The Alienware 16X Aurora is pretty consistent at the top, but considering the price it's impressive to see the Katana out-performing (or only just missing) the Legion 7.

In-game, things get even more interesting. I run four different benchmark tests, across both FHD and QHD resolutions. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a pretty easy run but allows that Nvidia GPU to fully fire up, while Total War: Three Kingdoms represents a moderate step up, Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered kicks things up again, and Cyberpunk 2077 represents the most graphically demanding title in my roster.

The MSI Katana mingles in the middle at FHD, but truly comes into its own at full 1440p resolution. It tops the pack in both Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Total War: Three Kingdoms, and even holds its position in High settings on Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered.

Bumping those settings up to Highest in the latter seems to represent the Katana's wall, though. Numbers start to dip below those of the Lenovo Legion 7 and Alienware 16X Aurora at this point. Cyberpunk 2077 sees the Katana finally knocked off pole position in RT Medium settings.

Still, that's seriously impressive considering this is the cheapest rig in the pool. It can handle anything in 1080p, and offers competitive rates in QHD at High settings.

Plus, this is the RTX 50-Series we're talking about, and it's these cheaper rigs that were made to take advantage of Nvidia's frame generation. In the same benchmark where the MSI Katana averaged 47fps in Cyberpunk 2077, it hit 133fps.

Should you buy the MSI Katana HX B14W?

With excellent QHD performance, a solid design, and affordable price point, the MSI Katana offers a compelling package. You're not getting the most immersive screen, but it's on par with the competition in this bracket and still packs some excellent colors. For the money, there's not much better value out there right now. The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 is going to be a better fit if you prioritize screen quality, but overall, this is the best budget rig I've tested so far. Just make sure you don't get burned by the configuration options.

How I tested the MSI Katana HX B14W

The MSI Katana became my everyday device for two weeks during testing, I used it for all work and play both in a monitor / hub setup and on its own on the desk. In that time, I primarily played across The Sims 4 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, while also booting up Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered for dedicated in-game benchmark runs.

Each of these tests was performed with the system set to its maximum power output, running three tests across both High and Highest settings in both QHD and FHD resolution. The final scores reflect the average of each of the three runs.

I also benched the Katana in 3D Mark Time Spy, Fire Strike, and Steel Nomad, again running each test three times and taking a final average.

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I'm also hunting down all the best Razer laptops and the best Asus gaming laptops available. For something more portable, though, check out the best gaming handhelds we've tested so far.