If you need a laptop for general use and prioritize battery life and portability, the ASUS Vivobook 15, being less expensive and lighter, could serve you well. However, it has lower performance capabilities compared with the MSI Katana 15. If you are looking for higher performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Katana 15 is better equipped due to its more powerful processor and graphics card, but it is pricier and has a shorter battery life. Both laptops have similar screen sizes and types, but the MSI offers a higher screen refresh rate, which is particularly beneficial for fast-motion visuals in gaming or video editing. 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 Vivobook 15
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 outperforms the ASUS Vivobook 15 in general use primarily due to its stronger CPU, greater RAM, and superior graphics capabilities. However, these advantages come at the cost of a higher weight and shorter battery life, potentially affecting portability and convenience for some users compared to the lighter and longer-lasting Vivobook 15.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
7.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is poor.
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has an Intel UHD Graphics GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which are fair for gaming and 3D applications, but the MSI Katana 15 with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz offers a more fluid visual experience and stronger graphics performance, making it better suited for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook 15, with its Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, is less suited for demanding engineering and design applications compared to the MSI Katana 15, which boasts a more powerful Intel i5 processor and a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU for better performance in such tasks.
Content Creation
6.4/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 15 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
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
6.5/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 is only fair.
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
6.3/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The MSI Katana 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS Vivobook 15 and MSI Katana 15 provide adequate resolution and brightness, but neither stands out for exceptional clarity or vibrancy, which might be noticeable during everyday activities like browsing or document editing. In engineering and design, the lack of wider color gamuts in both laptops means professionals won't see the full spectrum of colors needed for precise work, potentially affecting the accuracy of their projects. Regarding 3D and gaming, both laptops have lower refresh rates that can't deliver the smooth visuals preferred for immersive experiences, coupled with just moderate resolution and panel quality that may not satisfy avid gamers or professionals in animation.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has 6 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
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$530
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook 15 has a price of $530 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
"The Asus VivoBook 15 is a quiet office notebook with a strong screen. However, the VivoBook 15 still has room for improvement. Office and internet applications as well as simple games do not pose any major challenges for the VivoBook - this is ensured by the built-in combination of Ryzen 7 5700U APU and 16 GB of RAM. Heat and noise emissions are acceptable. But, the laptop has weaknesses that should not be present at this level: lack of keyboard lighting, a slow memory card reader, no fast USB-C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2 or Thunderbolt 4) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort. Battery runtimes can only be described as average."
"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 Vivobook 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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