MSI Katana GF66
Is this budget laptop really a double-edged sword?
MSI MAKES SEVERAL decent-performing laptops that offer plenty of bang for your buck, especially at the budget end of the market. Other elements of the company’s laptops let them down though and often hold MSI back from getting rave reviews. We understand that you can’t expect perfection at this price range, but with the MSI Katana GF66 laptop sitting squarely in the budget bracket, can this model cut through these preconceptions?
It looks pretty similar to other MSI products in this range, especially the Bravo 15 laptop we reviewed earlier this year. Its slightly angular all-black design creates some sharp chassis lines that make the laptop stand out from the crowd. Straight out the box, it looks utilitarian and feels pretty rugged and sturdy. It’s not the sleekest looking thing, but it is slim enough to pack away in a backpack. Nor is it the lightest laptop, so bear that in mind if you’re likely to be carrying it around with you.
Opening the lid creates a gap between the hinge and the main chassis which is a nice touch and provides better cooling. Due to it being rugged and fairly heavy, there isn’t much screen wobble. The screen isn’t the most modern of designs due to a slight clamshell top bezel and a thick chin on the bottom. However, at least the top bezel houses a webcam, and the side bezels are fairly slim. The 720p webcam is nothing to shout about, but it does the job for generic video calling, with a frame rate of 30fps. The screen is pretty impressive for the price, with the 15.6” IPS display delivering a Full HD resolution. The color reproduction is pretty good, and although it’s vibrant enough, it could do with being a bit brighter on the whole. Thankfully this panel has a refresh rate of 144Hz, which certainly makes everything feel smoother, especially gaming.
MSI’s keyboards are, on the whole, pretty good for a laptop and the fullsized one on the Katana GF66 doesn’t disappoint. The red backlit keys match the theme well and key travel is pretty deep for a satisfying feel and sound when typing or gaming. It features MSI’s font, which matches the aesthetic. Unfortunately, the trackpad is a little underwhelming, clicking on it isn’t as satisfying as the keyboard, but it has a nice soft touch to it. In any case, we would always recommend opting for a mouse for a much better experience.
KEEPING COOL
The main chassis offers a generous amount of cooling exhausts to keep the laptop running at a decent temperature. The port selection is just as generous. On the left side of the laptop, there is a DC input, a USB 2.0 type A and also a USB 3.2 type A. On the right, there’s another USB 3.2 type A, an HDMI and ethernet port, an audio jack, and a USB C 3.1 gen 1 port. This should be more than enough to connect other peripherals to this laptop.
Overall, the laptop holds up well compared with others in this price range, with solid build quality, a satisfying keyboard, and a nice-looking screen but, of course, the key is in the performance.
Here, it is impressive, to say the least. If you are looking to play games with high presets and want a good frame rate then the MSI Katana GF66 will provide that. Our model with the RTX 3060 and Intel’s 11th gen i7-11800H should be safe to futureproof and is Windows 11 compatible, which is a big thumbs up for MSI.
While testing benchmarks, the Katana GF66 performs reliably and, paired with the 144Hz panel, gaming is a blast. Considering the lower price tag of this laptop, it doesn’t disappoint. First-person shooters are buttery smooth and the performance is everything you could want from a laptop. Gameplay is easily over the 60fps mark and, on a budget machine, that’s a pleasant surprise.
Overall, the MSI Katana GF66 manages to cut through the preconceptions of previous models. It is a well-balanced, gaming laptop with enough punching power to be no problem to play on, even at high presets. The few minor gripes come down to the materials used, the laptop being a little clunky, and the weak speakers. It isn’t the most polished laptop, but at this price, it does a good job at what it’s intended for.