The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is generally less expensive and offers longer battery life, which might be better for those who prioritize cost-effectiveness and mobility. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15, while more expensive, provides a more powerful graphics card that better handles 3D rendering, machine learning tasks, and gaming. It also has a higher screen refresh rate suitable for fast motion but with a shorter battery life. If your work involves intensive tasks or gaming, the MSI is preferable, but for general use and longer time away from a power source, the ASUS is more suitable. 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 S 15
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
Good for gaming and AI
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.6/10
3.7/10
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 S 15 is only fair.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a GPU integrated with its CPU, which is less capable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks compared to the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU in the MSI Katana 15, which is specifically designed for high-performance gaming. Additionally, the MSI Katana 15's screen has a higher refresh rate, enhancing the smoothness and responsiveness of the visuals in games and 3D applications, providing an edge over the ASUS Vivobook S 15.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Katana 15 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
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
267.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Katana 15 both offer display features that meet the basic needs for general use and engineering tasks, with adequate resolution and brightness, but their panel quality falls short for tasks requiring high color accuracy like professional engineering and design work due to limited coverage of color gamuts. They also lag behind in satisfying the demands of gamers and 3D designers, as their screens don't refresh as rapidly as specialized gaming laptops, which may lead to less fluid visuals. Overall, while these laptops may handle everyday tasks and casual design work reasonably, they will not excel in environments where precision in color and framerate are critical.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook S 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 features a Ryzen processor with integrated graphics and longer battery life, making it a strong fit for day-to-day tasks without needing frequent charging, while its light weight enhances portability. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15, with its Intel processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, offers more powerful performance for demanding applications and better heat management, yet is heavier and doesn't last as long on a single charge, factors which could be less ideal for users who prioritize mobility and battery life over raw power.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
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 Vivobook S 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
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.2/10
The MSI Katana 15 and ASUS Vivobook S 15 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$908
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 has a price of $908 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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How the ASUS Vivobook S 15 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"Internals make Asus VivoBook S15 laptop a compelling option. The Asus multimedia laptop may look rather below-average with its modest black chassis, lack of a dedicated GPU, limited RAM and meagre port selection without Thunderbolt support. But your impression of the device will start changing once you set your eyes on its high-contrast OLED capable of producing deep blacks and highly accurate colours. And your opinion will change completely when the VivoBook is switched on. The AMD CPU can effortlessly keep up with powerful rivals from Intel. The integrated Radeon graphics blows away Intel's iGPU when it comes to graphics workloads such as rendering and simpler games."
"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 S 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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