The ASUS TUF Dash 15 usually costs slightly less and offers better battery life, which could make it a better choice if you're looking for value and the ability to work longer without charging. Its performance is suitable for general use and can handle engineering tasks fairly well. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15, which is slightly more expensive, provides superior storage capacity and has a more recent graphics card, making it better suited for more graphically intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. However, it has a shorter battery life, which means it may require more frequent charging. Both laptops have similar weight and display quality, but if portability is a concern, the ASUS might be a better fit due to its longer battery duration. 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 TUF Dash 15
Good overall display quality
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS TUF Dash 15.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
272.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers a higher resolution and brightness, which makes for clearer and more vibrant visuals that are important for general use and detail-oriented engineering work. Additionally, it has better color coverage which benefits professionals in engineering and design by providing more accurate color reproduction. For gaming and 3D applications, however, its lower refresh rate can result in less smooth motion compared to screens optimized for these purposes.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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.
Cost
$1,150
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a price of $1,150 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is a solid choice for general use given its larger battery capacity, which contributes to longer battery life, and its superior screen quality with better color coverage, making for a more vibrant display. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 offers a more recent release with a larger storage capacity and good portability, but it falls short with a smaller battery and less impressive screen color performance, potentially making it less suitable for tasks where color accuracy is crucial.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
7.6/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS TUF Dash 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is designed for gaming and 3D applications with its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a 144Hz refresh rate display, while the MSI Katana 15 offers a more recent Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and the same screen refresh rate for improved graphics performance in similar tasks. Both have quality IPS screens, but the ASUS has a slightly higher performance CPU which can be advantageous in CPU-intensive tasks, whereas the MSI's stronger GPU might be more favorable for graphically demanding games and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
7.7/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers a more powerful CPU and greater battery capacity, which are crucial for heavy engineering and design tasks, plus it boasts better screen brightness enhancing visual clarity. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 comes with a newer and more capable GPU, which might handle design software and simulations more smoothly, but has a lower battery capacity and screen brightness, which could limit its utility in mobile use or brightly lit environments.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
8.7/10
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 TUF Dash 15 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
7.4/10
7.0/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 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
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Dash 15 to have good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and MSI Katana 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
"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 TUF Dash 15 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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