MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) 15.6" specifications and in-depth review

MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) 15.6"

Manufacturer: MSI

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) is a high-performance gaming laptop that delivers strong capabilities for both gaming and multitasking. With a 15.6″ display, this laptop features a 2560 x 1600 px resolution and is equipped with a backlit keyboard for a comfortable gaming experience in various lighting conditions.

Under the hood, the MSI Katana 15 HX B14W is powered by 32GB of RAM running at 5600 MHz and a robust 8GB GPU, delivering impressive graphical performance. Its storage is set at 1024GB of flash-based NVMe SSD, ensuring fast load times and quick data access. The laptop also supports advanced features such as ray tracing and DLSS, making it well-suited for the latest gaming technologies.

Pros
  • Supports Intel Resizable BAR, which can improve system performance in compatible applications.
  • Has integrated UHD Graphics 770, offering decent GPU performance for non-gaming and everyday tasks.
  • Supports multi-display technology, which is useful for productivity and extended workspaces.
  • Equipped with ECC memory support, ensuring more reliable memory performance by detecting and correcting errors.
  • Has a wide variety of instruction set support including MMX, FMA3, AVX2, and SSE 4.2, providing flexibility for various software applications.
Cons
  • Does not support Ray Tracing, limiting its capabilities for high-end gaming or advanced graphics tasks.
  • Lacks Dolby Atmos, which could have enhanced the audio experience for media consumption.
  • No unlocked multiplier, limiting potential for overclocking and fine-tuning performance for users seeking maximum speed.
  • Does not include MagSafe power adapter, which could be a preferred feature for some users seeking easier magnetic charging.
Who is this for?

This product is ideal for users who need a balanced performance machine with solid multitasking capabilities. With 32GB of RAM and a 5600 MHz RAM speed, it is well-suited for productivity tasks, moderate gaming, and running resource-intensive applications. The Intel Resizable BAR and multi-display technology are excellent for users who need enhanced system performance and expanded workspace. It is also a great choice for those working with data, as it supports ECC memory, ensuring higher reliability in critical applications.

Who is this NOT for?

This product may not be suitable for high-end gamers or users requiring cutting-edge graphics performance, as it lacks support for Ray Tracing and DLSS. While it has integrated UHD Graphics 770, this GPU is not designed for intense gaming or rendering tasks. Additionally, the absence of MagSafe and an unlocked multiplier may limit its appeal for users looking for premium charging options or overclocking flexibility. Users looking for a machine with immersive audio might also find the lack of Dolby Atmos a drawback.

Design:

Type Gaming
weight 2400 g
Uses a fanless design
Has a backlit keyboard
volume 2351.45 cm³
width 359 mm
height 262 mm
thickness 25 mm
is weather-sealed (splashproof)
has a rugged build

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) is a gaming laptop with a solid design tailored for performance. It weighs 2400 g and has a volume of 2351.45 cm³, giving it a substantial feel. The laptop has a backlit keyboard for better visibility in dark environments, although it does not feature a fanless design or rugged, weather-sealed build. With a thickness of 25 mm, it offers a balance between portability and performance while remaining sleek enough for a gaming device.

Display:

screen size 15.6"
resolution 2560 x 1600 px
pixel density 193 ppi
Display type LCD, LED-backlit, IPS
has a touch screen
refresh rate 165Hz
has anti-reflection coating
supported displays 4

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) features a 15.6″ display with a 2560 x 1600 px resolution, delivering sharp visuals for gaming and productivity. The LCD, LED-backlit, IPS panel provides clear colors and wide viewing angles, although it does not include an anti-reflection coating or support touch functionality. With a 165Hz refresh rate, the display ensures smooth motion, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming, and supports up to four external displays for versatile setups.

Performance:

RAM 32GB
RAM speed 5600 MHz
Uses flash storage
internal storage 1024GB
CPU speed 8 x 2.2 & 16 x 1.6 GHz
CPU threads 32 threads
VRAM 8GB
floating-point performance 23.22 TFLOPS
GDDR version GDDR7
texture rate 362.9 GTexels/s
pixel rate 121 GPixel/s
Is an NVMe SSD
DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
GPU clock speed 2235 MHz
uses multithreading
maximum memory amount 96GB
DDR memory version 5
turbo clock speed 5.8GHz
GPU turbo 2520 MHz
memory slots 2
PCI Express (PCIe) version 4
semiconductor size 4 nm
has XeSS (XMX)
Supports 64-bit

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) offers strong performance with 32GB of RAM running at 5600 MHz and 1024GB of NVMe SSD storage for fast data access. Its powerful CPU features a combination of 8 cores at 2.2 GHz and 16 cores at 1.6 GHz, delivering a total of 32 threads for efficient multitasking. The GPU comes with 8GB of VRAM, and with DirectX 12 Ultimate and turbo clock speeds of up to 5.8 GHz, it supports demanding applications and gaming experiences with ease.

Benchmarks:

Geekbench 6 result (multi) 15655
Geekbench 6 result (single) 2680
PassMark (G3D) result 19987
PassMark result 45332
PassMark result (single) 4245

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) demonstrates impressive benchmark results, achieving a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 15655 and a single-core score of 2680. In graphical performance, it scored 19987 on PassMark (G3D), showcasing strong GPU capabilities. The overall PassMark score of 45332 and a single-core PassMark score of 4245 further highlight the laptop’s ability to handle demanding tasks and applications efficiently.

Connectivity:

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C) 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A) 3
USB 4 20Gbps ports 0
USB 4 40Gbps ports 0
Thunderbolt 4 ports 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C) 0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-A) 0
Thunderbolt 3 ports 0
has an HDMI output
Has USB Type-C
supports Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi version Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
has an external memory slot
Bluetooth version 5.3
RJ45 ports 0
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1
DisplayPort outputs 0
USB 2.0 ports 0
has AirPlay
mini DisplayPort outputs 0
has a VGA connector

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) offers versatile connectivity options, featuring 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C port and 3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A ports for fast data transfer. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E for high-speed wireless internet and includes Bluetooth 5.3 for seamless pairing with peripherals. Additionally, it has 1 HDMI 2.1 output for external display support, and AirPlay functionality for wireless media streaming, though it lacks Thunderbolt ports and an external memory slot.

Battery:

battery size 75 Wh
Has sleep-and-charge USB ports
Has a MagSafe power adapter

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) is equipped with a 75 Wh battery, providing solid power for extended use. It also includes sleep-and-charge USB ports for convenient charging while the laptop is in sleep mode, though it does not support a MagSafe power adapter for charging.

Features:

release date January 2025
has stereo speakers
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
supports ray tracing
supports DLSS
has Dolby Atmos
Stylus included
Has a fingerprint scanner
number of microphones 1
Uses 3D facial recognition
video recording (main camera) 720 x 30 fps
has voice commands
has a front camera
Has S/PDIF Out port
has a gyroscope
has GPS
has an accelerometer
has a compass
Has an optical disc drive

The MSI Katana 15 HX B14W (2025) comes with stereo speakers for immersive sound and includes a 3.5 mm audio jack for easy headphone connectivity. It supports ray tracing and DLSS for advanced graphics rendering in compatible games, but lacks features like Dolby Atmos, fingerprint scanner, or facial recognition. The laptop also includes a front camera for video calls and a single microphone for basic audio capture, but does not have voice command functionality or advanced sensors like a gyroscope or GPS.

Miscellaneous:

clock multiplier 22
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
GPU architecture Blackwell
has LHR
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 50W
Supports 3D
Supports multi-display technology
OpenCL version 3
OpenGL version 4.6
Supports ECC memory
memory bus width 128-bit
effective memory speed 25400 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 405.8 GB/s
render output units (ROPs) 48
texture mapping units (TMUs) 144
shading units 4608
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)
GPU memory speed 2000 MHz
GPU name UHD Graphics 770
Type Laptop
instruction sets MMX, F16C, FMA3, AES, AVX2, AVX, SSE 4.1, SSE 4.2
L3 cache 36 MB
Has an unlocked multiplier
Has NX bit
CPU temperature 100 °C
GPU execution units 32
Has integrated graphics
memory channels 2
RAM speed (max) 5600 MHz
Uses big.LITTLE technology

This device is powered by an Intel processor with a thermal design power (TDP) of 50W and features Intel Resizable BAR support. The integrated UHD Graphics 770 GPU uses the Blackwell architecture with 32 execution units, 144 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. With support for multi-display technology, stereoscopic 3D, and ECC memory, it delivers impressive performance across various tasks. The system also features an L3 cache of 36 MB, 2 memory channels, and supports RAM speeds up to 5600 MHz. Notably, the CPU supports a wide range of instruction sets, including MMX, FMA3, AVX2, and SSE 4.2, but lacks an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.

Final Verdict

The product offers strong performance for a wide range of users, particularly those who need a solid multitasking system with 32GB of RAM and 5600 MHz RAM speed. Its support for Intel Resizable BAR and ECC memory also enhances reliability for more demanding tasks. While it is not geared towards heavy gaming or cutting-edge graphics with the UHD Graphics 770, it excels in productivity and general use. Overall, this product is a reliable choice for professionals and casual users looking for balanced power and performance.

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