The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 offers better performance due to its higher-end CPU and GPU, making it more suitable for intensive gaming or demanding tasks like 3D modeling or video editing. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is a bit lighter and smaller, offering more portability, which can be important if you're often on the go. However, the ASUS has a larger battery capacity, which may provide longer use between charges. Both have similar screen sizes and resolutions, but if you frequently do tasks that can benefit from the extra performance, the ASUS might be worth the higher price, while the MSI could be a more cost-effective option for less intensive usage. 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 Gaming A15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
Good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and GPU, namely the AMD Ryzen 7 and Nvidia RTX 4070, along with a higher screen color score which translates to impressive screen quality for engineering and design, whereas the MSI Katana 15, while still solid with an Intel i5 CPU and Nvidia RTX 4060, falls behind in these aspects. Additionally, the ASUS offers better overall build and heat management which are crucial during lengthy design sessions, despite being less portable and potentially louder under load than the MSI.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
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 Gaming A15 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
7.6/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
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 Gaming A15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development, though the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is somewhat better.
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
7.2/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
271.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15's screen likely offers a good combination of resolution and brightness, making everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing clear and comfortable to view. Engineering and design tasks benefit from the ASUS's display due to its coverage of color gamuts, providing accuracy in colors which is essential for precision work. In contrast, the slower refresh rate of the ASUS makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, while the MSI Katana 15 falls short on both counts, offering middling performance in general use and engineering due to less impressive color range and brightness, and is also less suited for gaming for the same reason.
Battery
11.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has 11 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
$2,059
$949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a price of $2,059 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 boasts a robust CPU and abundant RAM, offering smooth multitasking, while its crisp IPS display ensures high-quality visuals, and its large battery capacity supports extended use away from a power source, yet it's relatively heavy which may affect portability. On the flip side, the MSI Katana 15 provides comparable CPU and RAM efficiency for day-to-day tasks, has a quality IPS screen, and is slightly lighter, which enhances its portability, but it has a smaller battery, which could lead to more frequent charging. Both laptops feature enough storage and have good keyboards and adequate speakers, while ASUS tends to manage heat and operating noise slightly better.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.6/10
8.9/10
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
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A15 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and has a high refresh rate of 144Hz, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15 comes with a slightly less potent Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU but also offers a smooth visual experience with the same 144Hz screen refresh rate.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A15 to have good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.2/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"With the release of the TUF Gaming A15, Asos have concentrated on the essentials: gaming performance. Our base version, which can be had for around $1,169, already provided enough power to play current games smoothly in a native resolution of 1080p and with maximum details - thanks to its new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. If you utilize upscaling, then you can even manage to run ray tracing."
"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 Gaming A15 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,695
Recommendations made
21,818
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.