The ASUS Vivobook 16X is typically slightly less expensive than the MSI Katana 15, making it a more budget-friendly option for general use and work. However, if you're interested in gaming or need more powerful graphics for 3D or engineering software, the MSI Katana 15 is the preferred choice, though it comes with a slightly higher price tag. The MSI's higher price reflects its better suitability for intensive tasks. Keep in mind that higher performance often affects battery life and portability; the MSI may offer less battery duration and could be heavier, which might impact ease of carrying it around. 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 16X
Very good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Vivobook 16X.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.7/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is favored for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU and better screen quality, which are very important for these tasks, while the MSI Katana 15 is still good but offers a lower-tier CPU and less optimal screen color coverage. Considering factors of moderate importance, both laptops offer good portability and keyboard quality, but the Vivobook edges ahead with a slightly higher screen brightness and color accuracy, which might be beneficial for detail-oriented work.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook 16X 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 Vivobook 16X offers a high-resolution display with vivid colors and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate detracts from the fluid visuals demanded by gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Katana 15's screen also provides adequate resolution and color accuracy to handle both general computing and professional tasks in design, but it may not deliver the vibrancy that design professionals need. Neither laptop's display meets the high refresh rate requirements for optimal gaming and 3D rendering experiences, where smoother motion is a key factor.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,200
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X stands out for general use with a better CPU, ensuring smooth performance for various tasks, along with a larger screen with a higher resolution and wider color coverage, ideal for crisp and vivid visuals. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 offers double the storage and slightly more compact dimensions for easier portability, despite a lower screen color range and battery capacity, making it less suitable for color-critical work but more accommodating for storage-intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
7.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and MSI Katana 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
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.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Vivobook 16X 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
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X 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.
Battery
5.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 5 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.2/10
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS Vivobook 16X 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 Vivobook 16X and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"I think the ASUS Vivobook 16X is fantastic. Great performance, decent battery life, good keyboard and trackpad, and a massive screen – just that the screen quality itself is kinda subpar. If you’re okay with the screen, then I think this is an okay laptop. However, I’d like to see a price drop."
"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 16X 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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