If the lower price of the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a significant consideration, this model can offer good value for general use and moderate gaming. However, if the MSI Katana 15 is within your budget and you're looking for a laptop with better performance for more demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning or high-end gaming, the extra investment might be justified. The MSI Katana 15 may also have a sturdier build and more premium features. Balance these advantages against the benefits of portability and battery life, which tend to be better in less powerful, more affordable models like the Gigabyte Aorus 7. Keep in mind that more portable laptops can be less equipped for intensive tasks, so choose based on your primary needs. 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 Gigabyte Aorus 7
Very good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
The MSI Katana 15 has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte Aorus 7.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
351.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 offers a sharper image and brighter display, making it desirable for everyday tasks, while the MSI Katana 15 has a less impressive display but still suitable for basic needs. In engineering and design, the Gigabyte Aorus 7's color range is better suited for precise color work required in professional editing, though the MSI Katana's color fidelity can suffice for less demanding design tasks. When it comes to 3D and gaming, both laptops may not offer the smoothest experience due to lower refresh rates, but the Gigabyte will give clearer images, which can still be quite relevant in slower-paced 3D tasks.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
Fair
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and Gigabyte Aorus 7 both have only fair portability, though the MSI Katana 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,190
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a price of $1,190 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is suited for general use with its ample 16GB of RAM, a robust Intel i5 CPU, and a high-quality IPS display that delivers good brightness and color coverage, complemented by a considerable battery capacity, although its larger screen size and heavier weight hinder portability. Conversely, the MSI Katana 15 also offers a similar CPU performance and RAM, with a more compact and lighter build improving portability, alongside a quality IPS display; however, it has a lower battery capacity and subpar color coverage in comparison, affecting screen quality and longevity on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
7.6/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and MSI Katana 15 are both equipped with Nvidia RTX 4060 GPUs which are excellent for gaming and 3D tasks, but the Aorus 7 offers a higher screen refresh rate at 360 Hz compared to Katana 15's 144 Hz, providing a smoother visual experience. While both have IPS displays with similar screen quality, the higher refresh rate of the Aorus 7 makes it more suited for fast-paced games where screen fluidity is key.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.1/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 7 to be very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 stands out for engineering and design due to its superior CPU, RAM, and GPU, which are vital for performance-intensive tasks, along with a high-quality screen. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15, while still competent, offers lower specifications in these very important factors, making it suitable but not as optimal as the Aorus 7 for such demanding applications.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
8.5/10
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 Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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.
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How the Gigabyte Aorus 7 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a gaming laptop that is pitched at perhaps the hardest market to get right: the mid-range. So, unlike high-end gaming laptops that can throw the latest and greatest components together in a bid to attract gamers with plenty of money to spend, or budget gaming laptops that can make wise cuts that are justified as long as the price is low enough, mid-rangers like the Gigabyte Aorus 7 have to balance the two."
"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 Gigabyte Aorus 7 or the MSI Katana 15
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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