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Updated January 12, 2024·
The MSI Katana 15 offers an Intel i5 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, which are well-suited for gaming and heavy graphical tasks, accompanied by a 144 Hz display for smooth visuals, but it is heavier and thicker, impacting its portability. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, with its high-resolution OLED display, superior color properties, and thinner, lighter design, would be better for creative professionals who prioritize display quality and portability. Additionally, the Prestige comes with a more potent Intel Core Ultra processor, double the RAM, and Intel Arc graphics, better for tasks requiring high memory and efficient power usage, but might not match the gaming performance of the Katana. 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 MSI Katana 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
258.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
4.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is rated higher for general use compared to MSI Katana 15 due to its superior RAM capacity, high-resolution OLED screen, and significantly longer battery life, alongside being more portable. While both have similar storage, the Prestige 16 AI Evo's better screen quality and lighter weight offset the Katana 15's advantages of having a dedicated GPU and hardware ray tracing for gaming.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.7
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.7
8.4
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo outshines the Katana 15 in engineering and design use due to its superior CPU, twice the RAM, and a high-quality OLED screen with better resolution and color coverage, which are essential for intricate design work. While both laptops have dedicated GPUs, the Prestige 16 AI Evo also offers more screen real estate and a thinner, lighter build for better portability, albeit with reduced gaming aesthetics compared to the Katana 15.
Content Creation
7.4
8.6
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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
7.0
8.5
6.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is very good for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
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
6.8
8.4
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
258.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Katana 15's screen offers sufficient clarity and brightness for everyday tasks and work in applications where precise color representation isn't vital, but its limited color gamut and average refresh rate detract from the experience in color-sensitive engineering work and fast-paced gaming where fluid motion is key. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo excels with its higher resolution and wider color gamut, enhancing the visual precision for tasks like photo editing and CAD design, but its refresh rate isn't suited for the demanding needs of high-end gaming or 3D rendering that benefit from smoother visuals. Both devices have their strengths, but for those prioritizing engineering design work, the Prestige offers superior screen characteristics, while neither is ideally equipped for the high refresh rate demands of gaming and 3D content creation.
Battery
4.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The MSI Katana 15 has 4 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$949
$1,349
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The MSI Katana 15 has a price of $949 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.2
7.4
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Katana 15 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Katana 15 | MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$949 | $1,349 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | December 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.96 lbs | 3.31 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.13" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.2" | 10.02" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-12450H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 53.5 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 258 nits | 362 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
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 | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
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."
MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Mark Anthony Ramirez | December 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the MSI Katana 15 or the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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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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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