When choosing between the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Katana 15, consider that the ASUS likely offers superior performance and features that cater to demanding tasks like gaming, 3D work, or machine learning, but it comes at a higher cost and may be less portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 could be more budget-friendly and easier to carry around, making it suitable for general use and less intensive engineering tasks, but it may not handle high-end applications as smoothly and could have a shorter battery life during heavy use. 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 G18 (2024)
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024).
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers higher performance due to its robust CPU and larger RAM, making it suitable for demanding applications, while its superior screen quality enhances visual experiences but compromises on portability and battery life. The MSI Katana 15, on the other hand, is easier to carry around and has longer battery life, making it more convenient for everyday tasks, though it may not handle intensive tasks as smoothly.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
7.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a high-end GPU and a screen with a very high refresh rate which is crucial for fluent gameplay and rendering 3D visuals, while the MSI Katana 15 provides a respectable GPU performance with a decent screen refresh rate, offering solid gaming and 3D capabilities at a potentially lower cost but with less graphic fidelity and fluidity in comparison. Both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, but the ASUS leads for demanding tasks, albeit likely at a higher price point.
Engineering and Design
9.2/10
7.7/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers top-tier CPU, RAM, and GPU specifications along with a high-quality screen that ensures smooth and efficient performance for demanding engineering and design software, but it's less portable due to its size and weight. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 provides good performance for engineering tasks with quality components, while being more portable, yet it may not handle intensive tasks as effectively as the ASUS and might have a slightly lower screen quality.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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
8.5/10
7.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
6.8/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 provides a brilliant display with high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for general tasks and detailed engineering work where color accuracy is crucial. Even though it excels in resolution and color gamut, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday use and acceptable color reproduction for design tasks but might not be as immersive for gaming due to its comparably less capable refresh rate.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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.
Portability
Poor
Fair
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,203
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has a price of $2,203 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 G18 (2024) 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.
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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