College requires more than Microsoft Word

If you're heading to college this fall, don't make the mistake of buying a laptop that's only good for taking notes and browsing the web. Courses increasingly rely on AI tools, creative software, and demanding applications, so you should invest in something far more powerful than a Chromebook.

Right now, the MSI Katana 15 HX is down to $1134 (was $1319) at Amazon, saving you $185. That's an excellent price for a laptop featuring an Intel Core i7-14650HX processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a spacious 1TB NVMe SSD.

The MSI Katana 15 HX laptop combines workstation-class hardware with a high-resolution display, making it an excellent choice for students who want a laptop capable of handling demanding workloads alongside everyday coursework.

Today's top laptop deal

A portable powerhouse

In our review we said the laptop was a "great option" that "balances design and performance with a relatively affordable price."

At the heart of the system is Intel's 14th Gen Core i7-14650HX processor, paired with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU based on the Blackwell architecture.

Together they deliver the performance needed for AI workloads, video editing, 3D rendering, CAD software, photography, and other demanding creative applications.

The 16GB of DDR5 memory keeps multitasking smooth, while the 1TB NVMe SSD provides plenty of room for large projects, applications, and media libraries.

Support for ray tracing and DLSS 4 also helps boost supported professional workflows and GPU-intensive tasks.

The 15.6-inch QHD display offers a sharp 2560 x 1440 resolution with a fast 165Hz refresh rate, making scrolling, animation, and video playback feel silky smooth.

With 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, it's also well suited to photo editing, video production, and other color-sensitive work.

Keeping everything running efficiently is MSI's Cooler Boost 5 cooling system, which combines dual fans with multiple heat pipes to help maintain stable performance during extended workloads.

A customizable four-zone RGB keyboard, highlighted WASD keys, and a full numeric keypad make it equally comfortable for productivity and creative work.

It comes with Wi-Fi 6E, USB-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, HDMI output supporting up to 8K displays, USB-A ports, and Gigabit Ethernet, making it easy to connect high-resolution monitors, fast external storage, and other peripherals.

MSI AI Engine and Windows Copilot also help optimize performance for different workloads.

With a powerful processor, one of Nvidia's newest laptop GPUs, a color-accurate QHD display, plenty of fast memory, and a spacious SSD, this is an excellent laptop deal for students, creative professionals, and anyone looking for desktop-class performance in a portable package.

For further choices, look at our round up of the best student laptops and best business laptops you can buy.

Also consider: More RTX laptops for students

See all student laptops at Amazon

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Wayne Williams is a freelancer writing news for TechRadar Pro. He has been writing about computers, technology, and the web for 30 years. In that time he wrote for most of the UK’s PC magazines, and launched, edited and published a number of them too.