Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) vs MSI Katana 15
30.7Performance40.5
26.5Display33.6
33.3Battery29
76.6Portability39.4
3 spec wins — Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)6 spec wins — MSI Katana 15
InnoReviews verdict
Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) wins this laptop face-off, 38.5 to 36.1, pulling ahead mainly in portability (+37) and battery (+4). MSI Katana 15 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3)
- Stronger battery score: 33 vs 29
- Stronger portability score: 77 vs 39
- 60% higher Peak brightness: 400 nits vs 250 nits
- 42% lower weight: 1.3 kg vs 2.25 kg
- 26% lower thickness: 18.5 mm vs 24.9 mm
- Lower launch price: $699 vs $1,099
Reasons to pick the MSI Katana 15
- Stronger performance score: 41 vs 31
- Stronger display score: 34 vs 27
- 200% higher charging: 180 W vs 60 W
- 140% higher Refresh rate: 144 Hz vs 60 Hz
- 100% higher RAM: 16 GB vs 8 GB
Display
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 12.2 ″ | 15.6 ″+28% |
| Panel type | LCD (glass, convertible touchscreen, MPP 2.0/USI 2.0 stylus support) | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920x1200 | 1920x1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 144 Hz+140% |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits+60% | 250 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core 3 304 | Intel Core i7-13620H |
| Graphics | Intel Graphics (1 Xe3 core, up to 2.3GHz) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| RAM type | DDR5-6400 (SO-DIMM) | DDR5-4800 (2x SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1,024 GB+100% |
| Storage type | M.2 2230 NVMe SSD | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | — | 2,430Bottom 30% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | — | 11,400Bottom 17% |
Battery
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 54 Wh+7% |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 5 h |
| Charging | 60 W | 180 W+200% |
Design
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.3 kg+42% | 2.25 kg |
| Thickness | 18.5 mm+26% | 24.9 mm |
| Material | Overmolded shock-absorbing TPU over plastic with an internal metal structure | Plastic |
Connectivity
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 4x swappable Expansion Cards (2x rear Thunderbolt 4, 2x front USB 3.2 Gen 2; USB-C/USB-A, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, microSD/SD options), 3.5mm combo jack | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP), 2x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (Intel BE213) | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Webcam | 1080p 30fps (2MP OmniVision OV02C sensor, 80° FOV), hardware privacy switch | 720p |
| Biometrics | None on this configuration — fingerprint reader is bundled only with the Core 5 320/Core 7 350 pre-built tiers, not Core 3 304 | None |
Software
| Spec | Framework Laptop 12 (Intel Core Series 3) | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Fedora 44 (KDE Plasma) (Windows 11 Home/Pro option available) | Windows 11 |
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