If budget is a primary concern and you mainly use your laptop for tasks like web browsing, streaming, and document editing, the Maypug may suffice and save you money. The MSI Katana 15 generally offers higher performance, making it a better choice for gaming, 3D modeling, or video editing, but this comes at a higher cost. It also may have a better build quality and cooling system, which is important for intensive tasks. However, if you're often on the move, consider that high-performance laptops like the MSI can be bulkier and have shorter battery lives, making them less convenient for travel. 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 Maypug 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
5.8/10
7.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for general use, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
The Maypug 15" Laptop, with its basic Intel Celeron CPU, less RAM, and lower screen resolution, is not as well-suited for general use as the MSI Katana 15, which boasts a more powerful Intel i5 processor, double the RAM, and a higher resolution display enabling better multitasking and media experience.
Gaming and AI
5.6/10
7.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1366 x 768
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 Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
The MSI Katana 15 excels in gaming and 3D due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, features that are critical for smooth, high-quality gaming experiences. In contrast, the Maypug 15" Laptop is not suited for such tasks as it comes with a much less capable Intel UHD Graphics GPU and only a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
5.6/10
7.7/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.5/10
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 Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
The MSI Katana 15 is equipped with a higher-end processor, more RAM, and a powerful dedicated graphics card, alongside a full HD screen which significantly improves its capability for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Maypug 15" Laptop, which has a lower-tier processor, less RAM, and an integrated graphics chip that is less suited for such intensive tasks. Additionally, the MSI has a superior screen resolution and better color coverage, essential for detail-oriented design work, whereas the Maypug's lower resolution and color accuracy are acceptable for general use but not specialized work.
Content Creation
5.9/10
7.4/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1366 x 768
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 Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
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
5.9/10
7.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for software development, while the Maypug 15" Laptop is poor.
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.
Screen Quality
5.7/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The MSI Katana 15 has a better screen than the Maypug 15" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general tasks, the MSI Katana 15 provides a more adequate display with clearer images and better visibility in various lighting conditions due to its fair resolution and brightness, whereas the Maypug's poor screen makes it less suitable for everyday activities like browsing and video streaming. When it comes to engineering and design, the MSI's ability to present fair colors is crucial for accuracy in visual projects, but the Maypug falls short with its limited color range, affecting the precision of color-critical work. In the realm of gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's refresh rate doesn't quite meet the high demands for smooth motion, though its resolution and screen type are serviceable, while the Maypug's poorer overall screen quality results in a lackluster visual experience, with less fluid animation and detail.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Maypug 15" Laptop has 7 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
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Maypug 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
5.1/10
7.2/10
The MSI Katana 15 has good build quality, while the Maypug 15" Laptop has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Maypug 15" Laptop has a price of $600 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
"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 Maypug 15" Laptop or the MSI Katana 15
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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