The HP 15" Laptop is often significantly less expensive and more suited for general use with its Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a focus on portability and battery life. It's not tailored for gaming or engineering tasks. The MSI Katana 15, with a midrange price, offers better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering due to its Intel i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics. It also has better build quality and audio, but it's heavier and less portable. Consider the HP for budget-friendliness and everyday tasks, or the MSI if you need more robust performance for specialized applications. 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 HP 15" Laptop
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 overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
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
6.0/10
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 HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
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
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The HP 15" Laptop's gaming and 3D performance is limited by its integrated Intel UHD graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, while the MSI Katana 15 offers a more capable Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, providing smoother visuals and better handling for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
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 HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The HP 15" Laptop's lower-tier Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics are suitable for basic engineering and design tasks, yet its 8GB of RAM and fair screen quality limit it to less demanding work. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 provides enhanced performance with a higher-tier Intel i5 processor, advanced Nvidia RTX graphics for detailed visuals, twice the RAM for multitasking, and a higher-quality screen, which make it more adept for complex engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
6.9/10
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 HP 15" Laptop 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.
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 HP 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the HP and the MSI laptops have screens that suffice for everyday tasks with resolution and brightness that are adequate but may not stand out for clarity or vibrancy. When considering engineering and design work, the color accuracy and range are crucial, and in this aspect, both models provide acceptable performance but may not meet the high standards required by professionals for precise color work. In the realm of 3D and gaming, the importance of a high refresh rate means these laptops fall short for a smooth and immersive experience, while their resolution and panel type offer a fair viewing experience but are not optimal for fast-paced visual content.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop 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 HP 15" Laptop has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.2/10
The MSI Katana 15 has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$378
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $378 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Katana 15 to be good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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.
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How the HP 15" Laptop and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"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 HP 15" Laptop or the MSI Katana 15
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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