MSI Katana GF66: Cutting the price without slashing performance

It gets the job done.

- MATTHEW S. SMITH

Packing a competent CPU and GPU into a machine priced around $1,000 or less is difficult, and most laptops in this category make similar compromises. The MSI Katana GF66 12UD doesn’t buck this trend, but solid performance can make it a wise choice when the price is right. This particular rig offers strong performance, plentiful connectivity options, a reasonable price point, and more. Let’s get right into it.

SPECS AND FEATURES

The MSI Katana GF66’s specifications are typical for a high-performance yet budget gaming laptop. It cuts costs with the Intel Core i7-12650H CPU, which has six performance cores and four efficiency cores, and an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU.

CPU: Intel Core i7-12650H

Memory: 16GB DDR5

Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti

Display: 1,920×1,080 144Hz

Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 M.2 solid state drive

Webcam: 720p

Connectivity: 1× USB-C, 3× USB-A, 1× HDMI, 1× Ethernet, 1× 3.5mm combo audio, 1× AC barrel plug

Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2

Biometrics: None

Battery capacity: 53 watt-hours

Dimensions: 14.13×10.20×0.98 inches

Weight: 4.96 pounds

MSRP: $1,049.99