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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
In the battle of performance, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch crushes the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop when it comes to display quality: 1,600 nits peak brightness vs just 250 nits. That's a night-and-day difference, especially for photographers and creatives who need accurate colors and vibrant visuals. If you're gaming on a budget, the MSI Katana 15 offers solid performance with its RTX 4060 and i7-13620H, giving you a great bang for your buck. But the trade-off is clear: you'll sacrifice display quality and battery life, with only about 4 hours on a charge compared to Apple's impressive 18 hours. So, what's your priority here?
📱 Display: 14.2" vs 15.6"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 144 Hz⚖️ Weight: 56.79 oz vs 79.37 oz
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
★4.9
(3,372)•Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core)
Graphics:Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Active (Dual fan cooling system)
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MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
★4.6
(38)•Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
14.2"
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
15.6"Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
120 Hz (ProMotion)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
144 HzWinner
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified MemoryWinner
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Storage
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
512 GB or 1 TB SSD
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSDWinner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer)
Design1 specs
Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs)Winner
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
2,250 g (4.96 lbs)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
macOS (Sonoma or later)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Windows 11 Home
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
★4.9(3,372)Best Buy
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
★4.6(38)Best Buy
| Criterion | Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch | MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(3,372)Best Buy | ★4.6(38)Best Buy |
Processor | Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core) | Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP) |
AI Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Active (Dual fan cooling system) | Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design) |
RAM | 18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified Memory | 16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) |
RAM Upgrade | No (Unified Memory architecture; configurable up to 128GB at purchase) | Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB) |
Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB SSD | 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | No (Soldered; configurable up to 8TB at purchase) | Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots) |
Display Size | 14.2" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 (Native) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch) | 16:9 |
Screen Type | Liquid Retina XDR (Mini-LED; 10,000+ local dimming zones) | IPS-Level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz (ProMotion) | 144 Hz |
Brightness | 1,000 nits (Sustained XDR) / 1,600 nits (Peak HDR) / 600 nits (SDR) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | Wide color (P3); True Tone | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (Magic Keyboard) | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (Ambient light sensor) | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | Touch ID (Fingerprint reader) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 720p HD webcam (30fps) |
USB Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (Charging; DisplayPort; up to 40Gb/s) | 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 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz) | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones) | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
Battery | 72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer) | 53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer) |
Charger | 70W (11-core M3 Pro) or 96W (12-core M3 Pro & M3 Max) USB-C Adapter | 200 W Barrel-pin adapter |
Weight | 1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs) | 2,250 g (4.96 lbs) |
Build Material | 100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure | Plastic chassis |
Operating System | macOS (Sonoma or later) | Windows 11 Home |
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Rating:★4.9(3,372)Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core)
Graphics:Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Active (Dual fan cooling system)
RAM:18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified Memory
RAM Upgrade:No (Unified Memory architecture; configurable up to 128GB at purchase)
Storage:512 GB or 1 TB SSD
Storage Upgrade:No (Soldered; configurable up to 8TB at purchase)
Display Size:14.2"
Resolution:3024 x 1964 (Native)
Aspect Ratio:16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch)
Screen Type:Liquid Retina XDR (Mini-LED; 10,000+ local dimming zones)
Refresh Rate:120 Hz (ProMotion)
Brightness:1,000 nits (Sustained XDR) / 1,600 nits (Peak HDR) / 600 nits (SDR)
Color Gamut:Wide color (P3); True Tone
Keyboard Layout:US English (Magic Keyboard)
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (Ambient light sensor)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint reader)
Webcam:1080p FaceTime HD camera
USB Ports:3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (Charging; DisplayPort; up to 40Gb/s)
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Battery:72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Charger:70W (11-core M3 Pro) or 96W (12-core M3 Pro & M3 Max) USB-C Adapter
Weight:1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs)
Build Material:100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure
Operating System:macOS (Sonoma or later)
✓ Pros:
- • Class-leading Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,600 nits peak brightness
- • M3 Max configuration rivals high-end desktop performance in a portable chassis
- • Generous port selection including HDMI 2.1, SDXC, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports
- • Excellent build quality available in the new 'Space Black' finish (reduces fingerprints)
- • Battery life remains impressive despite high performance (up to 18 hours video playback)
✗ Cons:
- • Expensive starting price with expensive upgrades for RAM and SSD
- • No user-upgradeable components (RAM and SSD are soldered)
- • The notch at the top of the display cuts into the menu bar area
- • Under maximum load, the fans can become audible (though quieter than most PC laptops)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Rating:★4.6(38)Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
RAM:16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB)
Storage:1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots)
Display Size:15.6"
Resolution:1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Screen Type:IPS-Level (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:144 Hz
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB)
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (4-Zone RGB)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:720p HD webcam (30fps)
USB Ports: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 2.1 (Supports 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer)
Charger:200 W Barrel-pin adapter
Weight:2,250 g (4.96 lbs)
Build Material:Plastic chassis
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ 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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Which one is better?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the better buy for most people - its stunning 1,600 nits display crushes the MSI Katana 15's dim screen.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch if: you need a high-quality display for photography, you work with demanding software, or you prefer long battery life. (14.2" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you want to save money, you mainly game on a budget, or you need an easily upgradeable system. (15.6" display, 144 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch excels if you value class-leading liquid retina xdr display with 1,600 nits peak brightness. 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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