MSI Katana Thin 15 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max
MSI Katana Thin 15 2024, Core i9-14900HX, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
Get the MSI Katana 15 HX if you're a gamer or budget-conscious power user who wants desktop-class CPU and GPU performance with a high-refresh 165Hz screen without dropping MacBook money.
Get the MacBook Pro M4 Max if you're a creative pro or developer who wants a dead-silent, featherweight machine with 64GB of RAM, 4TB of storage, and a gorgeous Mini-LED display, and you don't mind paying a serious premium for it.
Key Differences
- The MacBook Pro M4 Max scores 99 overall vs the MSI Katana 15 HX's 71, but the MSI actually wins on raw gaming performance with an 87 vs 60 gaming score thanks to its discrete RTX 5070 and 165Hz panel.
- The MacBook packs 64GB of RAM and 4TB of storage vs the MSI's 32GB and 2TB, which matters big time for video editors and developers juggling huge projects.
- The MacBook weighs 1.60 kg vs the MSI's 2.25 kg, and it has 3 USB-C ports vs just 1 on the MSI, so portability and connectivity are no contest.
- The MSI's Intel Core i9 14900HX with 24 cores edges out the M4 Max's 16 cores in multi-core benchmarks (43,922 vs 43,903), but the MacBook's integrated GPU is more efficient than the MSI's discrete one for everyday tasks.
- Customer sentiment on the MacBook is glowing with a 95/100 score and zero significant gripes, while the MSI sits at 4.8/5 from just 10 reviews, so long-term reliability data is thinner on the MSI side.
What Buyers Say
MSI Katana Thin 15 2024, Core i9-14900HX, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
No customer feedback yet
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
The MacBook Pro M4 Max is widely praised as a powerful workhorse, handling heavy photo and video editing tasks with ease. Users highlight its smooth performance, fast file processing, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Verified buyers consistently note excellent value, especially when opting for the Pro over the Max model, and commend B&H's customer service and shipping process.
Pros
- Powerful performance for heavy tasks
- Smooth handling of photo and video editing
- Fast file import and export
- Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- No significant drawbacks mentioned
Scores
Specifications
| MSI Katana Thin 15 | Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU* | Intel Core i9 14900HX | Apple M4 Max★ |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | ||
| Cores | 24★ | 16 |
| Frequency | 4.1 GHz★ | — |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB★ | — |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070★ | Apple (40-Core) |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | discrete | integrated★ |
| VRAM | 12 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 | System Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 32 GB | 64 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 2 TB | 4 TB★ |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6" | 14.2" |
| Resolution | — | 3024 px★ |
| Panel | IPS | Mini-LED★ |
| Refresh Rate | 165 Hz★ | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | — | 1600 nits★ |
| Color Gamut | 45% NTSC | 100% sRGB, 95% DCI-P3 |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 1 | 3★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | — |
| Thunderbolt | — | Thunderbolt 5 |
| HDMI | HDMI 2.1 | 1x HDMI Output |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | — |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.86 kg | 1.60 kg★ |
| Battery | — | 72 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Pros & Cons
MSI Katana Thin 15 2024, Core i9-14900HX, 32GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 5070, Black
- Strong storage (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong cpu (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong gpu (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
- Strong social proof (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Below average affordability (14th percentile)14th %ile
Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max 2024, 64GB, 4TB SSD, Silver
- Strong screen (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong storage (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong reliability (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Below average affordability (2nd percentile)2nd %ile
Verdict
Scores 99 overall, wins 6 of 8 usage categories and 11 of 30 specs.