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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is generally a bit more expensive than the MSI Katana 15 but offers a larger storage space and slightly better performance for engineering tasks and intensive gaming, with a higher-rated display for color accuracy. It provides a longer battery life but is heavier, which may affect portability. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is lighter and costs less, while also providing a competitive performance for general use and 3D/machine learning tasks. It has a decent display but falls short in battery longevity compared to the Lenovo. If color-accurate screen work is less critical and saving money is a priority, consider the MSI Katana 15. If you prioritize battery life, a bit more performance for engineering and gaming, and can handle a heavier device, the Lenovo LOQ 15 could be the better option. 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 LOQ 15
- Good overall display quality
- Good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.1
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Lenovo LOQ 15 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Lenovo LOQ 15, with its high resolution and bright display, offers crisp and clear visuals, making it suitable for general use and detailed engineering work that depends on color accuracy, as it covers a wide range of color gamuts. The MSI Katana 15 has a fair display that provides adequate clarity and color representation for both general tasks and professional design work, but it doesn't stand out in any particular aspect. Both laptops, however, fall short for gaming and 3D applications as their screens have lower refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion rendering and a more immersive experience in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo LOQ 15 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.
Cost
$1,109
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Lenovo LOQ 15 has a price of $1,109 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both considered good for general use due to their strong CPUs and ample RAM, which allow for efficient multitasking and handling everyday tasks smoothly. Both laptops offer quality IPS displays at full HD resolution, but they differ in portability and battery life, with the Lenovo LOQ 15 being slightly heavier and offering more battery life, making it more suitable for use without constant access to power, whereas the MSI Katana 15 is lighter, facilitating easier transportation at the cost of shorter unplugged usage time.
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.6
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 and Lenovo LOQ 15 are both good for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is equipped with a Nvidia RTX 4050 and a screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which makes it a strong contender for gaming and 3D applications. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15 includes a more capable Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and also has a 144Hz screen refresh rate, offering a slight edge in graphical performance for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.9
7.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is better suited for engineering and design due to its superior CPU performance, crucial for demanding tasks, along with higher screen quality, as indicated by its greater color coverage and brightness, ensuring more accurate and vibrant visuals. In contrast, while the MSI Katana 15 also offers competent performance with a slightly better GPU, its lower screen quality and lesser CPU capability make it less optimal for professional design work where precise color reproduction and processing power are critical.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
9.1/10
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 Lenovo LOQ 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
7.5
7.0
9.1/10
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 Lenovo LOQ 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Katana 15 and Lenovo LOQ 15 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Lenovo LOQ 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 LOQ 15 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo LOQ 15 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,109 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.4'' x 0.99'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.28 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.42" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 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 | 144Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.7/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo LOQ 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | August 2023
"Even after a short time with the LOQ 15, you'll find it has a lot going for it, but ultimately it's just "good"—not quite a star. The performance is respectable for the hardware it’s running, but Lenovo had to make some design sacrifices to trim the price. One of the better aspects is the keyboard, making it one of the better low-cost gaming laptops to actually put your hands on."
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 LOQ 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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