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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is a more budget-friendly choice and offers decent battery life and lightweight design for everyday use, while the MSI Katana 15 is a more costly option but provides better performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to its dedicated Nvidia graphics card and stronger processor. The MSI is less portable with a shorter battery life, suitable for gaming and demanding tasks, whereas the Lenovo, despite its lower performance ceiling, is more portable and offers good general use capabilities with better battery life. If gaming or heavy graphics work is important, the MSI is the better choice, but for general use and portability, the Lenovo would suffice. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.6
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for high-end gaming or complex 3D tasks compared to the MSI Katana 15, which is equipped with a more robust GPU and higher refresh rate screen, offering smoother visuals and better performance for demanding multimedia applications. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the GPU and refresh rate are the deciding factors for gaming and 3D work, putting the MSI ahead for those specific needs.
Engineering and Design
6.7
7.7
6.8/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and double the RAM compared to the integrated GPU and lesser RAM on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks. Additionally, the MSI has a higher refresh rate screen, which offers smoother visuals, however, it is slightly heavier and thicker, affecting its portability compared to the leaner IdeaPad.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
341.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering laptops for general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 and the MSI Katana 15 have screens that may not be the most vivid or bright, which could affect the overall viewing pleasure for tasks like web browsing or document editing. For engineering and design, the colors displayed by these laptops may not cover the wide ranges necessary for professionals needing precise color accuracy for their work. In the context of 3D applications or gaming, the refresh rates on these screens may not be high enough to provide the smooth visuals desired by users looking for a more immersive or responsive experience.
Battery
11.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$690
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a price of $690 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
341.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Katana 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and integrated Vega 8 graphics, is commended for its balance of performance and battery life, which makes it suitable for general use, whereas the MSI Katana 15, equipped with an Intel i5 processor and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, also offers competent general use performance but is further enhanced for gaming and graphic-intensive tasks, though it may have a shorter battery life. Both laptops feature quality keyboards and screens, though they differ in their portability due to the MSI Katana's larger weight and size, thus the Lenovo may be easier to carry around.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.8/10
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 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
7.3
7.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
7.6
7.2
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$690 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.2'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.08 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.18" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 341 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | August 2021
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" or the MSI Katana 15
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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.
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