![]() The Katana 15 features a full-sized keyboard with satisfying 1.7mm key travel and glorious 4-zone RGB backlighting. We recommend taking a look at the best computer speakers or one of the best gaming headsets or best headphones. Glaive’s voice comes across loud and clear alongside the hyperactive electronic and acoustic instruments, with each beat boasting a decent amount of impact as the track progresses.Īlthough the Katana 15’s speakers are decent, you will get a lot more out of your gaming experience by investing into a quality peripheral. I then tested “astrid” by Glaive to see if the Katana 15 could handle something more on the poppy, but still intense side, and it did a far better job presenting this fast-paced track. But whenever the song gets loud and abrasive, a tinge of intensity is missing. Thankfully, the instruments are clear against one another, with audible vocals and individual guitars and drum hits coming together in a satisfying way. The opening guitar comes across with potency alongside Dreyer's vocals, but as the beginning two minutes exponentially increases in intensity, the laptop wasn’t quite catching the growing volume and bassiness of the backing instrumentals. I then put the Katana 15 up against my latest obsession, “The Last Lost Continent” by La Dispute, and was satisfied with how the speaker system handled this multilayered epic. Every enemy growl, rain drop and sword strike boasts a sufficient intensity that will make gaming without headphones or a high quality external speaker more than acceptable. ![]() As I began an upward climb up the stairs of the Altus Highway, the impact sound of ballistas skewering the ground near me alongside the ambient crackling of leaves and a soothing violin wonderfully encapsulated the atmosphere of this gripping world. I launched Elden Ring and was pleasantly surprised by the Katana 15’s performance. Music comes through with enough punch and bass to offer an impact alongside mostly clear vocals, but the sound is at times lacking intensity and is low in volume. I had doubts about the Katana 15’s bottom-firing speakers, but those were somewhat put to rest after testing songs and games on the system. Competitors Dell G16 (335 nits), Crosshair 15 R6E (300 nits) and the EVO16-S (280 nits) were also superior. However, the Katana 15 couldn’t get a single win in our brightness tests, boasting an average of 248 nits, putting it far below the category average (292 nits). But on the Katana 15, it blends with the background, looking far too faded and barely recognizable as purple to begin with. When I pulled this same scene up on my monitor, I noticed that a glowing purple entity (the main character) was visible on the lower right of the screen. One scene in particular showcases a gorgeous tentacle tower with tons of blue lights glowing amidst a dark expanse of nothingness. From the opening where a series of jellyfish swim through the sea, it appeared as if an ever present gray filter was plastered over every frame. I watched the Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken trailer and was stunned by how faded the Katana 15’s display looks. Not only is this laptop’s display brightness and color depth poor, but it is almost entirely behind its competitors. When looking at the Katana 15’s specs in contrast to its price, I sincerely wondered if MSI had crafted a masterpiece, but after some time with the laptop’s matte display, it becomes abundantly clear that this is the section where the company cut costs. ![]() On the right, there’s an HDMI (8K 60Hz/4K 120Hz), USB 3.2 Type–C, USB 3.2 Type-A, RJ45 Ethernet port, and audio jack.
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