MSI Katana B13 with 13th Gen CPU, RTX 40-series GPU now in Nepal

The Katana, as we know it, is an entry point to MSI’s diverse gaming laptop lineup. As with other lineups, MSI refreshes it yearly with the latest gaming hardware from Intel and NVIDIA— but since it’s affordable, it outsells many of its premium siblings, especially in markets like Nepal. MSI announced the 2023 iteration at the CES earlier, and it is already available for purchase in Nepal. So, let’s get into the specs, features, official price, and availability of MSI Katana B13 (2023) In Nepal.

MSI Katana B13 Overview:

Performance and Cooling

Let’s start with a subtle yet significant change— the Katana series finally gets the MUX Switch. It allows the user to connect the NVIDIA GPU directly to the display, bypassing the integrated graphics of the CPU. As a result, users can choose to work on hybrid mode for non-demanding tasks and switch to the Discrete Graphics mode whenever they need the extra fps during gameplay. This feature is accessible through the MSI Center.

Talking about graphics, you get to choose between the latest RTX 4050, RTX 4060, and RTX 4060—all capable of running at max 105W with NVIDIA’s Dynamic Boost. Interestingly, MSI also plans to sell the 17” Katana with older SKUs like RTX 3050 (B13UDXK) and RTX 2050 (B13UCXK).

MSI Katana is configurable with up to the new 10-core “Raptor Lake” Core i7-13620H with a Turbo Boost max frequency of 4.9 GHz. You might also find the laptop with last year’s select regions. To cool this gaming laptop, MSI has turned to the in-house Cooler Boost 5 tech with a dual fan and 6 heat pipes shared between the CPU and the GPU.

Design and Display

The 2023 MSI Katana B13 is available in 17” and 15” models. Before you start wondering, it is simply a matter of size and portability since there is no significant difference in display specs. With either, you get an FHD IPS screen with 144Hz refresh rate. The design has remained pretty much the same. MSI has added a few lines on the lid, and the keyboard now has 4-zone gaming backlight. Otherwise, the design has remained pretty much the same.

Battery and Connectivity

Fueling the MSI Katana B13 is a 3-cell 53.5 Whr Lii-Polymer battery, and it ships with 180W and 200W adapters depending on the GPU configuration. The laptop features four USB ports, an HDMI, and ethernet— in addition to the usual DC-in and combined audio jack. There is no fingerprint scanner, but you do get the firmware-based Trusted Platform Module for security.

MSI Modern Series (2023) Specifications

• Design & Build: 
  • Katana 15:  359 (W) x 259 (D) x 24.9 (H) mm, 2.25 kg
  • Katana 17: 398 (W) x 273 (D) x 25.2 (H) mm, 2.6 kg
• Display: 15.6” / 17” FHD IPS, 144Hz refresh rate, MUX Switch
• Keyboard: 4-zone RGB Keyboard
• Trackpad: Precision touchpad
• Processor: up to 13th Gen Intel “Raptor Lake” Core i7-13620H
• Graphics: up to NVIDIA RTX 4070 (105W TGP)
• RAM: up to 32GB DDR5 RAM
• Storage: 2x NVMe M.2 SSD PCIe Gen4 x4
• Operating System: Windows 11
• Audio: 2x 2W speaker with Nahimic 3, Hi-Res Audio
• Battery: 3-cell 53.5 Watt-hours Li-Polymer
• Power Supply: 150/200W Adapter
• Webcam: 720p HD camera
• Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX201, Bluetooth v5.2
• I/O Ports: 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (DP), 2 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1x Ethernet

MSI Katana B13 (2023) Price in Nepal and Availability

You can buy the MSI Katana (2023) through the official channel in Nepal already. You can choose between RTX 4050 and RTX 4070 variants—priced at Rs.205,000 and 220,000, respectively.