Which is better for 1080p gaming?

The MSI Katana 15 HX is faster, with a Core i9-14900HX and RTX 5070. The Acer Nitro V 15 still runs 1080p games well at 165 Hz for $579 less.

Is the MSI worth the extra money?

Yes if you want QHD+ resolution, 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage out of the box. If your budget is near $900, the Acer is the better fit.

Which is easier to carry?

The Acer. It weighs 4.6 lb against 5.3 lb for the MSI, and it is rated for 10 hours of battery versus 8.

The MSI has more headroom for future games thanks to 8 GB of GDDR7 VRAM and 32 GB of RAM. The Acer's 6 GB VRAM and 512 GB SSD will need attention sooner.

Do both have a 165 Hz screen?

Yes. Both use a 15.6-inch IPS panel at 165 Hz. The MSI's is QHD+ (2560x1440); the Acer's is 1920x1080.

Can I upgrade the Acer's memory?

Yes, it supports up to 32 GB of RAM. The MSI already ships with 32 GB, so it needs no upgrade.

Acer Nitro V 15.6” FHD IPS 165Hz Gaming Laptop vs MSI Katana 15 HX

Buy the Acer Nitro V 15 if you want a light, cheap 1080p gaming laptop. Buy the MSI Katana 15 HX if you want a much faster machine with a sharper screen and more memory and storage. The Acer is $899.99 at Staples as of November 6, 2026. The MSI is $1,479.00 at Newegg.com as of November 6, 2026, and it hit $1,099.95 on that same day.

Today the Acer Nitro V 15.6” FHD IPS 165Hz Gaming Laptop costs $579.01 less at its best price.

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