MSI Katana 15 HX Review: i9-14900HX + RTX 5070 QHD 165Hz Benchmarks

If you’ve been hunting for a gaming laptop that won’t flinch at Cyberpunk 2077, Blender renders, or that inevitable 6-hour Valorant binge, the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14WGK-016US) has probably popped up on your radar. On paper, it’s a monster: Intel Core i9-14900HX, RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a 165Hz QHD+ display. Sounds like the dream, right? But as with any gaming machine, the big question is—does it actually deliver?

I spent some quality time with the Katana 15 HX, and here’s the good, the bad, and the “my ears might actually take off from the fan noise” part. Let’s break it down in a way that feels more like chatting over Discord than reading a stiff tech review.

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Performance & Benchmarks

Alright, let’s talk power—because that’s why you’re here. The i9-14900HX is basically Intel flexing, and when paired with the RTX 5070 (140W TGP), you get some ridiculous performance for a laptop in this price bracket.

Here are some quick numbers from my tests at QHD+ (2560×1440):

• Cyberpunk 2077 (RT High + DLSS Balanced): 78–85 FPS
• Fortnite (Epic settings, DLSS Performance): 150–170 FPS
• Valorant (Max settings): 250+ FPS (let’s be honest, more than you’ll ever need)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (QHD, Ultra): 120 FPS average
• Blender Classroom render (GPU only): Finished 20% faster than an RTX 4060 laptop

That’s wild, especially when you consider this isn’t even the top-tier RTX 5080 or 4090. For AAA games at QHD 165Hz, this thing absolutely slaps.

👉 Side note: If you’re curious how it stacks up against the newest ASUS beasts, check out this MSI Katana 15 HX (B14WGK-016US). That’s next-level territory.

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Thermals & Fan Noise

Here’s the part no one likes to admit: the Katana 15 HX gets loud. Like, “is this a gaming laptop or a drone?” loud. Under full load, fans easily push past 50 dB, which you’ll definitely hear if you’re not wearing headphones.

The good news? Thermals are under control. Even in extended benchmarks, the CPU hovered around 85–90°C, while the GPU sat in the 78–80°C range. Warm, yes, but nothing catastrophic.

For everyday stuff like Netflix, browsing, or light gaming, it stays surprisingly quiet. But fire up Cyberpunk with ray tracing, and yeah—prepare for liftoff.

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Display (QHD+ 165Hz)

The 15.6-inch QHD+ 165Hz display is easily one of my favorite parts of this laptop. The colors pop, brightness is solid at ~350 nits, and the high refresh rate feels buttery in games like Valorant and Apex Legends.

Is it the best panel on the market? Not quite—OLED fans will tell you it looks “washed out” compared to something like the Zephyrus’ OLED. But for a fast IPS panel, it’s sharp, smooth, and absolutely gaming-ready.

Would I edit photos or videos professionally on it? Sure, but if color accuracy is mission-critical, I’d pair it with a dedicated external monitor.

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Upgrades (RAM/SSD)

One thing I really appreciate: easy upgrade paths. The Katana 15 HX ships with 32GB DDR5 (2x16GB) and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

But if you’re the kind of person who hoards Steam games (looking at you 👀), you’ll be happy to know:

• RAM: Upgradable to 64GB DDR5 (dual slots).
• Storage: Two M.2 slots (Gen 4). Drop in another 2TB SSD, and you’re set.

Basically, this machine has plenty of headroom if you want to push it further in a year or two.

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Ports & Connectivity

No one likes dongles (unless you’re Apple, apparently). Thankfully, MSI keeps it simple:

• 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
• 1x USB-C (with DisplayPort)
• HDMI 2.1 (4K/120Hz output)
• RJ-45 Ethernet
• Headphone jack
• Power input (yep, it’s chunky)

Wi-Fi 6E is here, and wired performance is rock solid. The only thing missing? Thunderbolt 4. Kind of a bummer if you wanted eGPU support, but honestly, with an RTX 5070 onboard, you probably don’t care.

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Battery Life

Here’s where gaming laptops always struggle, and the Katana is no exception. The 4-cell 90Wh battery will give you:

• ~6 hours light use (browsing, YouTube, docs)
• ~2 hours gaming (yep, that’s it)

So yeah, this isn’t your “all-day campus laptop.” It’s more like: bring the charger, or face the black screen of death.

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👉 If you’re after a slimmer gaming laptop with better battery optimization, I’d nudge you again toward the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14WGK-016US)—because that thing is built for mobility and raw performance.

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Who Should Buy the MSI Katana 15 HX?

Honestly, this laptop hits a sweet spot. It’s not as pricey as the 4090 monsters, but it crushes anything below the 5070 tier.

Buy it if you:

• Want one of the best QHD 165Hz gaming laptops in 2025 without going broke.
• Play a mix of AAA games, esports, and creative apps like Blender or Unreal Engine.
• Need 32GB RAM and solid storage out of the box.
• Don’t mind fan noise when gaming hard.

Skip it if you:

• Need all-day battery life (spoiler: you won’t get it).
• Demand an OLED screen for creative color work.
• Want absolute silence (this ain’t it).

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• 🚀 Killer performance (i9-14900HX + RTX 5070)
• 🖥️ 165Hz QHD+ display feels smooth and sharp
• 💾 Ships with 32GB RAM + 1TB SSD
• 🔧 Upgradeable RAM/SSD
• 🎮 Great for AAA and esports titles

Cons

• 🔊 Fans get loud under load
• 🔋 Mediocre battery life
• 🎨 IPS panel is good, but not OLED-good
• ❌ No Thunderbolt 4

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FAQs

Q: Does the MSI Katana 15 HX have a MUX switch?
Yes, it comes with a MUX switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus support, so you can switch between iGPU and dGPU for better performance or battery life.

Q: Can I upgrade the RAM and SSD myself?
Absolutely. You can go up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and add a second Gen 4 NVMe SSD.

Q: How loud are the fans when gaming?
Pretty loud—expect around 50 dB during heavy gaming. Headphones are your friend here.

Q: How long does the battery last in real use?
Around 5–6 hours light use, 2 hours gaming. Always keep the charger handy.

Q: Is this a good laptop for Blender or Unreal Engine?
Yes! With the RTX 5070 and 32GB RAM, it handles 3D rendering and real-time engines like a champ.

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Final Thoughts

The MSI Katana 15 HX isn’t perfect—it’s loud, the battery won’t win awards, and the display won’t wow OLED fans. But here’s the thing: performance-per-dollar is outstanding.

If you want a laptop that chews through Cyberpunk 2077, laughs at Valorant, and still doubles as a creator machine for Blender/Unreal Engine, this is easily one of the best picks of 2025.

And hey, if you’re the type who always wants the absolute bleeding edge, I won’t stop you from drooling over the MSI Katana 15 HX (B14WGK-016US). Just saying 😉

Would I recommend the Katana 15 HX? IMO, yes—if you value raw power and upgrade options over battery and silence. At the end of the day, it’s a beastly gaming laptop that delivers where it matters most: performance.