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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the MSI Katana 15, consider your priorities. The ASUS has a robust GPU suited for gaming but may not perform as well in newer games or intensive 3D tasks due to its older GPU model compared to the MSI. Both have the same storage and memory size, which is adequate for most users. If you often work on battery, the ASUS offers slightly longer battery life, but neither is particularly long-lasting, so carrying a charger is advisable. Portability is similar, with both being in the midrange weight for gaming laptops. The MSI has a more recent processor and GPU which might provide a slight edge in newer games and tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning; plus, it comes with Windows 11 out of the box. Both laptops have IPS displays with decent color coverage, so they're suitable for media consumption and general use. The choice ultimately depends on your balance between gaming performance and general use, with the MSI likely offering better gaming and 3D performance. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G15
- Good overall display quality
- Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G15.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.6
5.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS ROG Strix G15 are both good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Katana 15 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the MSI Katana 15 are favored for gaming and 3D because both have high-refresh-rate screens and powerful GPUs, with the latter being more recent and presumably more capable. While the ASUS model features an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and the MSI has an Intel i5, both of which are competent, the screen quality of these laptops, in terms of color accuracy and brightness, is a secondary consideration but still satisfactory for gaming and general use.
Screen Quality
7.1
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
284.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 offers a vibrant display with higher resolution and brightness, making it suitable for daily tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate may detract from the smoothness needed in fast-paced games or 3D modeling. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 provides an average display experience across the board, with adequate resolution and brightness for general and engineering tasks, though it too lacks in refresh rate, affecting its performance in gaming and 3D applications. Neither excels in the gaming and 3D realm due to their poor refresh rates, but for general use and engineering, the ASUS has the edge with its superior screen quality enhanced by better color accuracy and range.
Battery
5.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
7.8
7.2
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G15 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 has a price of $1,249 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
284.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 offers a balance between powerful performance and battery life suitable for everyday tasks, with its high-end CPU and sufficient RAM complemented by a screen that provides good color coverage and brightness for a satisfying visual experience. The MSI Katana 15, while boasting a newer GPU suitable for more demanding graphics tasks and a similar quality screen, trades off some battery life and portability, and has a lower-tier CPU which might not handle intensive multitasking as effectively as the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
7.6
7.7
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
5.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS ROG Strix G15 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.7
7.4
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.2
7.0
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G15 to have good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G15 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G15 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,249 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.9'' x 10.2'' x 0.92'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.94" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 284 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | No Webcam | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix G15
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NotebookCheck
Marius Schell | February 2021
"The ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a successful high-performance 15-inch laptop. The Asus ROG Strix impresses with an elaborate design and fast hardware. The latter can unleash its potential well in the large 15-inch case and achieve a decent performance boost compared to the previous generation. Especially the stunning 300 Hz display as well as the RTX 3070 and its generous TDP give gamers their money's worth. Asus didn't neglect seemingly small details, either, such as the keyboard and the maintenance options. The ROG Strix G15 offers a lot of pure performance and excellent workmanship in a 15-inch format, but connectivity leaves something to be desired."
MSI Katana 15
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The MSI Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 or the MSI Katana 15
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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