Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023 Comparison

Laptop to replace

Change

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023

17.3 inches | January 2023

CHECK PRICE

Change

MSI Katana 17 2023

17.3 inches | January 2023

CHECK PRICE

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023 Comparison Overview

Asus ROG Strix G17 2...

See at AMAZON

MSI Katana 17 2023

See at AMAZON

Asus ROG Strix G17 2...

See at AMAZON

MSI Katana 17 2023

See at AMAZON

In this review, we will be comparing ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023, two laptops from Asus and MSI. Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 was introduced to market in January 2023 and MSI Katana 17 2023 was launched in January 2023. Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 and MSI Katana 17 2023 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 8GB
8GB Ram
395 x 282 x 23.4-30.8 mm (15.55 x 11.1 x 0.92-1.21 inches)
Weight: 2.8 kg (6.17 lbs)

MSI Katana 17 2023 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
17.3" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 12650H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
398 x 273 x 25.2 mm (15.67 x 10.75 x 0.99 inches)
Weight: 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 over MSI Katana 17 2023

Side Bezel Thickness	6 mm vs 7.5 mm	1.5 mm thinner bezels
Noise Level	49 dB vs 59.1 dB	Less fan noise
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	100% vs 40.8%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Max Brightness	300 nits vs 250 nits	Brighter Screen
Response Time	3 ms vs 30 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	4 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	9.5 TFLOPS vs 6.7 TFLOPS	Charges via USB-C type cable
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.9 mm vs 1.7 mm

Reasons to choose MSI Katana 17 2023 over Asus ROG Strix G17 2023

Weight	2.60 kg vs 2.80 kg	0.2 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~75.9% vs ~74.1%	Larger screen area ratio
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Avg. MSRP Price	$1600-2000 vs $3200-3600	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Common Strengths of MSI Katana 17 2023 and Asus ROG Strix G17 2023

Launch Dates	January 2023 vs January 2023	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of MSI Katana 17 2023 and Asus ROG Strix G17 2023

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 and the MSI Katana 17 2023.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.8 kg (6.17 lbs)	2.6 kg (5.73 lbs)
Surface Area	1114 cm2 (172.6 inches2)	1087 cm2 (168.5 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~74.1%	~75.9%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6 mm	~7.5 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.16 kg/inch	0.15 kg/inch
	0.352 lbs/inch	0.33 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Gray	Black

Comparison of the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 and the MSI Katana 17 2023 External Dimensions

Weight

ROG Strix G17 2023 weighs 2.8 kg (6.17 lbs), whereas the Katana 17 2023 weighs 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. The weight difference between the two laptops is not significant.

Weight Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 2.80 kg

MSI Katana 17 2023 2.60 kg

Min 1.29 kg

Average 2.74 kg

Max 4.23 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 30.80 mm

MSI Katana 17 2023 25.20 mm

Min 8.60 mm

Average 24.26 mm

Max 38.00 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 is 0.16 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the MSI Katana 17 2023 is 0.15 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX	Intel Core i7 12650H Intel Core i7 13620H Intel Core i9 13900H
Base Frequency	3.0 GHz	2.3 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.2 GHz	4.7 GHz
Number of Cores	12	10
Number of Threads	24	16
L3 Cache	64 MB	24 MB
Integrated GPU	Radeon 610M	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (64EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	2058	1800
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	16897	11220
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1883	1787
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	26792	14233

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 and MSI Katana 17 2023.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX

Laptops with: Intel Core i7 12650H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 6GB GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile 8GB GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	140 W	75 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	9.5 TFLOPS	6.7 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bus	96 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	~16 Gbps	12 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	2560	2048
TMUs	80	64
ROPs	32	40

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 has a FLOPS value of 9.5 TFLOPS whereas the MSI Katana 17 2023 ' has a FLOPS value of 6.7 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	1x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	64 GB	64 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

The Katana 17 2023 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the ROG Strix G17 2023's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Asus ROG Strix G17 (2023)	MSI Katana 17 (2023)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	90 Wh	53.5 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Bottom	Left
Charge Power	240 / 280 / 330 W	180 / 200 / 240 W
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr

Moreover, the ROG Strix G17 2023 boasts a larger battery capacity of 90 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Katana 17 2023's54 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 90 Wh

MSI Katana 17 2023 54 Wh

Min 37.00 Wh

Average 76.88 Wh

Max 100.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the ROG Strix G17 2023 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Katana 17 2023's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 and MSI Katana 17 2023 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 screens have the same size of 17.3".The total usable screen area of the ROG Strix G17 2023 is 825cm² / 128inch² whereas the Katana 17 2023's total usable screen area is 825cm² / 128inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 feature the same pixel density with 127 pixels per inch (PPI).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 127 ppi

MSI Katana 17 2023 127 ppi

Min 106 PPI

Average 141 PPI

Max 266.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 offer the same refresh rate of 144 Hz.

Furthermore, the ROG Strix G17 2023 boasts a faster response time of 3.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The ROG Strix G17 2023 offers a higher maximum brightness of 300 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size larger than 17.0 inches

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 300 nits

MSI Katana 17 2023 250 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 368 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Asus ROG Strix G17 2023 vs MSI Katana 17 2023 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
ROG Strix G17 2023 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Katana 17 2023 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 have USB-A ports. ROG Strix G17 2023 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Katana 17 2023 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 have USB Type-C ports. ROG Strix G17 2023 has 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Katana 17 2023 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither ROG Strix G17 2023 nor Katana 17 2023 has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither ROG Strix G17 2023 nor Katana 17 2023 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both ROG Strix G17 2023 and Katana 17 2023 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	3x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 3.2	1x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes