Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US vs MSI Katana B14WGK-016US

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: MSI Katana B14WGK-016US

MSI Katana B14WGK-016US takes 7.5 weighted points vs 5.3, winning on CPU Benchmark, Refresh Rate, Pixel Density. The Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US counters in a higher tier — worth it if its strengths match your needs.

Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US

Intel Core Ultra 7 155U · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $1900
4.9 (13)
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Winner

MSI Katana B14WGK-016US

Intel Core i9 14900HX · NVIDIA RTX 5070

Under $2500
4.7 (29)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryGen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046USKatana B14WGK-016US
Gaming3/106.6/10
Productivity5.8/106.1/10
Programming5.5/106.3/10
Engineering / 3D4.1/106.6/10
Student6/105.7/10
Travel / Portability7.2/105.3/10
AI Workloads4/106.5/10
Value for Money4.6/108.1/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecGen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046USKatana B14WGK-016US
CPUIntel Core Ultra 7 155UIntel Core i9 14900HX
PassMark Score16,35545,235
CPU Cores2P+10E8P+16E
GPUIntegrated (Intel iGPU)NVIDIA RTX 5070
G3DMark Score—20,472
RAM32 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)Yes
Storage1 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display14″ IPS15.6″ IPS
Resolution1920x12002560x1600
Refresh Rate60 Hz165 Hz
Pixel Density162 PPI194 PPI
TouchscreenYesNo
Weight2.4 lbs4.96 lbs
Thickness0.59″0.98″
Amazon Rating4.9 ★ (13)4.7 ★ (29)
Value Score4.6/108.1/10

CPU Comparison

The MSI Katana B14WGK-016US's Intel Core i9 14900HX is ~177% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (45,235 vs 16,355). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking.

GPU & Gaming

Only the MSI Katana B14WGK-016US has a dedicated GPU (RTX 5070, 20,472 G3DMark) — it wins gaming outright.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 5.8/10 vs 6.1/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but the iGPU-only Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US will typically outlast the MSI Katana B14WGK-016US unplugged.

Display

Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US: 14″ IPS 1920x1200 @ 60 Hz. Katana B14WGK-016US: 15.6″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 165 Hz. The MSI Katana B14WGK-016US's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. Katana B14WGK-016US: 32 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 1 TBSSD. The MSI Katana B14WGK-016US's socketed RAM is a longevity advantage.

Build & Portability

2.4 lbs / 0.59″ vs 4.96 lbs / 0.98″. The Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US is 2.6 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.2 vs 5.3.

Value

Value scores land 4.6/10 vs 8.1/10. The MSI Katana B14WGK-016US extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the MSI Katana B14WGK-016US — it wins the weighted spec battle. Choose the Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC0046US only if portability matter more to you.

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Also Consider

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