Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 edges out the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop in versatility and display quality. With a sleek 14" WUXGA (1920x1200) touchscreen, you'll enjoy more vertical screen real estate than the Katana's 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) display. This makes it a go-to for productivity and casual use in 2026. The Katana offers a powerful gaming experience with its NVIDIA RTX 4060 and Intel i7-13620H, making it the better choice for gamers needing raw performance. In real-world use, the Katana's 1TB SSD provides ample storage for games, while the Flex 5's 512GB is more suited for everyday tasks and media consumption.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
| Criterion | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 | MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.2(21)Amazon | ★4.6(38)Best Buy |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (Barcelo-R, 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz) | Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics (Integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Air (Single fan) | Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 | 16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) |
RAM Upgrade | No (Soldered) | Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 2242 SSD | 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2242 slot; supports up to 1TB) | Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots) |
Display Size | 14" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | IPS (Glossy; Touchscreen) | IPS-Level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 144 Hz |
Brightness | 300 nits | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) without NumPad | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader (Palm rest) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD camera with Privacy Shutter | 720p HD webcam (30fps) |
USB Ports | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Power Delivery 3.0 / DisplayPort 1.4); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (One Always On); 1x SD card reader | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (DisplayPort, Data only); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1; 1x USB-A 2.0 |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4b (Supports up to 4K@30Hz) | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
Battery | 52.5 Wh (Polymer) | 53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer) |
Charger | 65 W Round Tip (Barrel connector) adapter | 200 W Barrel-pin adapter |
Weight | 1,550 g (3.42 lbs) | 2,250 g (4.96 lbs) |
Build Material | PC-ABS + 40% GF (Plastic chassis) | Plastic chassis |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
✓ Pros:
- • Versatile 360-degree hinge allows for laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes
- • Modern 16:10 WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution provides more vertical screen real estate
- • Includes USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 support
- • Physical privacy shutter on the 1080p webcam
- • Fingerprint reader included for secure login
✗ Cons:
- • Display color gamut is limited to 45% NTSC, resulting in less vibrant colors
- • HDMI 1.4b port is limited to 4K output at only 30Hz
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- • M.2 slot is limited to the physically shorter 2242 form factor
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MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
✓ Pros:
- • Excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with RTX 4060 and i7-13620H
- • Dual M.2 SSD slots allow for easy and cheap storage expansion
- • Effective Cooler Boost 5 cooling system keeps temperatures managed
- • Full-sized keyboard with 4-zone RGB lighting and number pad
- • Includes HDMI 2.1 for high-refresh external 4K monitors
✗ Cons:
- • Display is the weak point: dim (250 nits) and washed out (45% NTSC colors)
- • Battery life is short (approx. 4 hours) due to small 53.5Wh capacity
- • USB-C port does NOT support Power Delivery (charging)
- • All-plastic build quality feels budget-oriented compared to premium rivals
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Which one is better?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 is the better buy for most people - its versatile 360-degree hinge and superior display at 1920x1200 crushes the MSI Katana 15's gaming focus.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 if: you want a versatile 2-in-1 for productivity, you prefer a better display at 1920x1200, or you need a lightweight device for travel.
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you want the best gaming performance under $X, you need a larger 1TB storage for games, or you prefer a budget-friendly option with upgradeable RAM.
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 excels if you value versatile 360-degree hinge allows for laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes. MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is better if you prioritize excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with rtx 4060 and i7-13620h. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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