Given your choice between the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and the MSI Katana 17, if you value a balance between performance and portability, the ASUS might be preferable as it offers solid gaming features like a high-performance GPU and CPU suitable for intensive tasks including gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning while maintaining a reasonable weight. However, if screen size is paramount for productivity or entertainment, and you don't mind a heavier laptop, the MSI Katana 17's larger screen can be beneficial, albeit it may have a slightly lower battery capacity affecting its unplugged longevity compared to the ASUS. Either way, both are equipped for general use and engineering tasks, but each excels in different aspects - the ASUS in performance to weight ratio and the MSI in visual real estate. 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 gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
271.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the Asus TUF Gaming A15 and MSI Katana 17 both offer screens that provide clear visuals and brightness suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, with the Asus having a slight edge due to better resolution and panel quality. When it comes to engineering and design work, the Asus likely displays more accurate colors due to an improved color gamut, which is crucial for professionals who require color fidelity for their projects. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications as they lack high refresh rates necessary for smooth motion, making them less ideal for fast-paced games and rendering.
Battery
11.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,059
$1,367
$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 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 is rated very good for general use primarily due to its higher RAM, contributing to better multitasking and overall performance, and very good heat management which ensures comfortable long-term use, despite having a shorter battery life and lower portability than the ASUS TUF Gaming A15, which is just good for general use but excels with longer battery life and better portability making it easier to use on the go.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.9/10
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 17 is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15, with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, delivers excellent computing and graphics performance with a good screen for engineering and design, although limited battery life and its weight suggest less portability.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A15 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 17 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
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 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 17 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.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.2/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and MSI Katana 17 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 Gaming A15 and the MSI Katana 17 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 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 or the MSI Katana 17
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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