MSI Katana GF66 12U Review: Gaming Laptop Specs Mismatch

The MSI Katana GF66 12U is a traditional gaming laptop in every way. That’s not to say it lacks power, as it comes with a panel that will appeal to competitive PC gamers and esports fans alike. However, it appears that MSI has taken a confused approach to its budget model’s specs, resulting in a price that might encourage you to look elsewhere.

Armed with a 240Hz screen, MSI Katana GF66 12U a gaming laptop is no ordinary machine. While its screen resolution and selected graphics card are adequate for 1080p gaming, its high refresh rate capabilities are a boon for playing top FPS games.

It takes more than a fast screen to succeed on the list of best gaming laptops, as there are cheaper rivals with high refresh rates. The MSI Katana GF66 12U may compete with some of the alternatives from Gigabyte, Acer, and Asus, but its looks, selection of features, and price may keep it from standing out.

MSI Katana GF66 Specifications

Please note: This SKU is currently out of stock, but MSI tells us it will be back soon. Here is a similar model that you can buy today.

MSI Katana GF66 12U Design

Take a second to picture a gaming laptop in your mind. There is something? Well, it probably almost looks like the MSI Katana GF66. This 15.6-inch gaming laptop has the same low-profile chassis as previous models, with high-quality plastics contributing to a rigid chassis.

If you’re looking for a rugged laptop that can handle everyday bumps, the Katana GF66 is the perfect choice. At 2.25kg, it’s quite bulky, but it actually weighs more than the Asus TUF Dash F15, an extremely durable laptop that I use as a daily driver. It’s hard to see why the MSI machine is heavier, but visually it’s bulkier and less than elegant.

The Katana GF66 uses a fairly typical screen bezel, but MSI hasn’t bothered to shrink anything. In fact, unlike other laptops (look at you, Asus TUF Dash F15), this model comes with a 720p webcam. In terms of performance, the electric eye of the portable configuration is robust and simple, which makes it more than suitable for business meetings.

Aesthetically, the Katana GF66 falls somewhere between understated and bland. Do not get confused; I would have preferred MSI’s matte black finish to flashy, proud racing stripes any day of the week. However, there is something extremely simple about the look of the laptop, with a look that I usually associate with cheaper options. Let’s say if you type “gaming laptop” into this Dall-e Mini AI generator, you’ll probably end up with something like this.

That’s not to say the laptop is completely colorless, as it has menacing red accents around the keys. If you’re not a fan of red, you’re out of luck, as the laptop’s gaming keyboard features a monochrome LED backlight that screams “the dark side of the force.”

Speaking of the keyboard, the clickable solution on the Katana GF66 includes a comically small number pad that takes up two inches of space on the right side. Thankfully, the rest of the laptop’s keyboard layout doesn’t feel cramped, but it’s a bit off-center compared to alternatives. This shouldn’t matter much to the average user, but I’ve already removed this sentence four times to correct typos, so take what you want.

Features MSI Katana GF66 12U

Perhaps the star of the show is the 240Hz Katana GF66 display, as options at this price typically include a 144Hz panel. It’ll get you there, but turning it on comes with a trade-off, especially when it comes to feedback.

Under the hood of the MSI Katana GF66 is the Nvidia RTX 3060, a laptop GPU that performs well with 1080p gaming. My main issue with this particular SKU is that you can buy an RTX 3070 laptop for about the same price, and with RTX 4000 graphics cards on the horizon, they’re likely to be cheaper.

Of course, these models typically include a 144Hz screen, but to get the most out of the Katana GF66’s panel, you’ll need to do your best to increase the frame rate to get closer to the 240Hz shown here. That’s not to say it’s not doable, but it will be harder to achieve in future builds, and you may need to lower the settings in newer games (we’ll get to that in a bit). That’s fine if you’re into competitive shooters, but if that’s not your bag, you might want to spend money fitting an RTX 3070 instead.

The Katana GF66 GPU is paired with an Intel Core i7-12700H processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen 4 SSD. In terms of ports, the laptop is equipped with three USB 3.2 ports, one USB 2.0 port, one USB-C port and one HDMI 2.0 port.

The number of ports included is pretty typical, but I do have a few gripes about the MSI setup. First, the limitations of HDMI 2.0 mean that if you want to connect the Katana GF66 to the best gaming monitor, it will be limited to 4K 60Hz. The laptop’s USB-C port also lacks Thunderbolt and power delivery capabilities, further screwing up my plans to integrate it into my gaming desktop setup.

Naturally, the quality of a gaming laptop should be based on the performance of your gaming PC, and the MSI Katana GF66 is a 1080p capable machine. You’ll need to lower your settings to take advantage of the 240Hz display, but in many modern games you’ll be able to hit 60+ fps without touching the dial.

The RTX 3060 is a decent laptop GPU and is more than capable of powering a modern gaming PC. If you’re not picky about frame rates, you can even take advantage of its ray tracing capabilities and still hit 1080p 60fps in games like Guardians of the Galaxy.

However, the RTX 3060 is an entry level card and using it to hit 240fps is no easy task. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get Halo Infinite to run at more than 170fps, even at half resolution scaling. Naturally, the GPU can deliver more frames in older shooters like CS:GO, but you can expect the same from the 2022 model.

Most of my issues with the Katana GF66 have to do with the combination of panel and GPU. The RTX 3060 portable rig usually retails for around $1,200, and it’s entirely possible to get one for under $1,000 on sale. However, MSI’s UK SKU is priced at £1,399 (around $1,650 including VAT), a price you’d expect to see on an RTX 3070 model.

Considering the fact that the RTX 3060 isn’t necessarily capable of hitting 240fps in most games, even at lower settings, there’s a question mark over enabling a high-performance display. On top of that, the screen is visually poor, lacking in brightness or clarity. Fast-paced games like Neon White are silky smooth at 240Hz, but the platformer’s flashy visuals failed to ramp up on panel night.

Of course, the Intel Alder Lake Katana GF66 processor also affects its price, as the 12th generation chip contributes to gaming performance and provides responsiveness during normal use. However, the processor’s capabilities only justify its price to a certain extent, as AMD’s Ryzen chips aren’t far behind the i7-12700H in terms of gaming performance.

An unfortunate icing on MSI’s questionable spec options is the decision to ditch the MUX switch. Enabling motherboard graphics technology would help the RTX 3060 produce more frames and get closer to the panel’s preferred frame rate of 240Hz.

Gaming laptop performance sometimes comes at the expense of peace and quiet, but the Katana GF66 cooling solution isn’t too loud. You can change fan speed settings using the MSI Center, and the software comes with a set of profiles to suit different usage scenarios.

Please note: This SKU is currently out of stock, but MSI tells us it will be back soon. Here is a similar model that you can buy today.

In theory, the “smart-auto” laptop fan profile should automatically scale keeping track of GPU and CPU modes. Despite the mode working as expected, fan noise seems to be at a certain level during gameplay, which I’m actually fine with.

If you’re sick of fan noise, you probably won’t be satisfied until you block it out with a gaming headset. The stop and start used by models like the Asus TUF F Dash 15 is sometimes annoying.

Battery life is a sore spot for the Katana GF66 as it will only support your back for part of the day. During testing, I had to reach for its heavy power supply after three hours of normal use, which meant I couldn’t stray too far from a power outlet. The fact that the laptop’s USB-C doesn’t have charging capabilities adds insult to injury, as it also means you can’t use a power bank in the field.

Ultimately, the biggest drawback to the MSI Katana GF66 is its price, which is great when you consider that you can buy one for around £1,400. If you’re a fan of fast refresh rates, this laptop’s panel might tick a few boxes, but sadly, the rest of this particular SKU feels like an expensive mismatch. Using a super fast bar like peacock feathers isn’t enough to hide this fact and unless you want to stick with older games and lower settings, a 240hz machine will have a hard time getting off the ground.