When it comes to gamers, there has to be certain boxes that have to be checked when it comes to their preferred device. Most importantly, a fast processor, a good enough GPU, a fast screen refresh rate, and good response time. The MSI Katana GF66 checks most of these boxes with a relatively more affordable price tag compared to its competitors that it is hard not to take a look and consider it as your next device.

Table of Contents

Design

The MSI Katana GF66 does not hide the fact that it is a gaming device. The all black plastic device is complemented by a red backlit keyboard that will surely attract gamers. It is not the thinnest device around, nor is it the chunkiest. That is a plus in my book for gaming laptops. If you have a device that is too thin, heat can really be a problem. The thinnest gaming laptops all run into thermal problems. While having a laptop that is too big of course creates the problem of being hard to lug around. As they say, the size is just right.

The screen is a big 15.6-inch IPS-level panel. It is surrounded by plastic bezels all around. A pretty big bezel at the bottom and a thinner, but not thin enough bezel up top. This is probably one of the things I can say that is a con about this laptop, in 2022, laptop’s should have thinner bezels than the one here.

On the keyboard side of things, the laptop features a full sized keyboard, which means it’s complete with a numpad on the right side. For people who love numpads, the MSI Katana GF66 would be a go to choice, though it is a bit squished for my taste because of the small chassis of the laptop. The keyboard is good and the travel is satisfactory so people won’t have any problems typing on this laptop for work. Gaming also won’t be a problem as the keyboard is very clicky and responsive.

Performance

Powering the MSI Katana GF66 is a 12th generation Intel i7 processor with an RTX 3070 Ti graphics card. Long story short, this is a beast for gaming. You have 1920 x 1080 screen on here so no matter what game you play on this laptop, everything will be silky smooth especially with that 144hz screen.

This is especially true for competitive gaming. Games like Valorant, CS:Go, LoL, DOTA 2, and CoD: Warzone run super smoothly on this laptop so you won’t have a problem getting those kills. The response times of the screen make sure you have a great experience and each press of your mouse will be registered fast on the screen.

You can crank up the settings to the max especially at 1080p. With the GPU you would have, nothing will stop you from running even the latest AAA titles at more than 60fps, even with Ray-Tracing on. With NVIDIA features such as DLSS, you can also add more performance to the laptop if you need.

Long story short, whatever you throw at the MSI Katana GF66, it will, for lack of a better term, slice it up easily. With the advancements of the 12th gen processors of Intel paired with a RTX 3070 Ti, you’ll be loving this laptop for a long time.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the MSI Katana GF66 has most of the options that you would want from a laptop. It has all the USB Type-A and Type-C ports that you would want. It has 3 USB Type-A ports and 1 USB Type-C port. It also has an audio jack, an ethernet port, plus HDMI out.

Features

The MSI GF66 Katana also comes with a couple of added features such as Hi-Res audio. Nahimic by Steelseries which helps gaming. This simulates surround sound so you would hear the footsteps, gunshots, and other sound effects all around you accurately.

It also features the MSI Center, where you can control everything about the laptop. From lighting, fan curves and a whole lot more, it allows you to customize your laptop to your needs. Lastly, the laptop has MSI App Player, which also gives you a console like experience to your laptop and allows you to game easily with wireless controllers.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a device that can definitely keep you gaming for a few years, the MSI Katana GF66 should definitely be at the top of your list of laptops to consider if gaming is your priority. With a powerful next generation processor, and an equally powerful graphics card, you can’t go wrong with the MSI GF66 Katana for both work and play.