StoreDeal.ai store
Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • Use in AI assistants
  • Contact
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.·2222 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Miami, FL 33134·support@deal.ai
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Compare

Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming Laptop vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

The ROG Strix G18 is the stronger machine: an 18-inch QHD+ 16:10 screen, a 24-core i9-13980HX, an RTX 4070 and a 90Wh battery. The Katana 15 is lighter at about 5 lb and easier to carry, but its 15.6-inch 1080p panel, smaller battery and lower-tier CPU and GPU put it a class below. Buy the Asus for a desktop replacement or serious gaming and creative work; buy the MSI if you move the laptop often and want a 15-inch machine. Owners of the Strix line praise the cooling and screen but note the size and fan noise; Katana owners like the value and often mention a plastic-feeling chassis and short battery life.

  • Choose the Asus ROG Strix G18 if you want a large QHD+ screen, top-tier CPU performance and a bigger battery for a laptop that mostly stays on a desk.
  • Choose the MSI Katana 15 if you want a lighter 15.6-inch gaming laptop that is easier to carry and still has a 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM.

Prices

  • Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming Laptop: $1,122.74 at Mayfer (last seen Nov 10)
  • MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop: $1,398.00 at Amazon (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming Laptop is $275.26 cheaper than the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop at the latest prices (Nov 10)
ASUS
Asus ROG Strix G18 G814JI-N6144WS Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Strix G18 G814JI-N6144WS Gaming Laptop

$1,122.74at MayferChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Mayfer
Pros
  • Large 18-inch QHD+ 16:10 display with a high refresh rate
  • 24-core i9-13980HX handles heavy gaming and creative workloads
  • RTX 4070 with 8GB GDDR6 for modern games at QHD
  • 90Wh battery is large for a gaming laptop
  • Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3
Cons
  • About 7.5 lb, heavy to carry
  • 18-inch chassis takes up desk and bag space
  • High-power CPU and GPU mean loud fans under load
MSI
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz

MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz

$1,398.00at AmazonChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Amazon

Store links may earn us a commission. As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

Pros
  • About 5 lb, much easier to carry
  • Two M.2 slots and two memory slots for upgrades
  • DDR5-5200 memory, up to 64GB
  • USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet on board
  • 1TB NVMe SSD and 16GB RAM out of the box
Cons
  • 15.6-inch 1080p panel is lower resolution than the Asus
  • Smaller 53.5Wh battery
  • Lower-tier CPU and GPU than the Strix G18
  • Plastic-feeling chassis reported by owners

What separates them

Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Screen18-inch QHD+ 16:10 at 2560 x 1600, 144Hz15.6-inch 1080p IPS-level, 144Hz listed
ProcessorIntel Core i9-13980HX, 24 cores, up to 5.6 GHzIntel Core i7-class H-series, 1.7 GHz base
GraphicsGeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 8GB GDDR6NVIDIA GeForce RTX laptop GPU, lower tier
WeightAbout 7.5 lbAbout 5 lb
Battery90Wh, 4-cell53.5Wh
Memory16GB DDR5-4800 in two SO-DIMM slots16GB DDR5-5200, two slots, up to 64GB
PortsHDMI listed, plus USB and Ethernet on the chassisUSB-C, HDMI and Ethernet listed
WirelessWi-Fi 6E tri-band, Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2

Price history

  • MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop: lowest $1,349.00 on Nov 9 at Walmart; $1,398.00 on Nov 11.

Prices at every store

Asus ROG Strix G18 Gaming Laptop

  • MayferNew

    In stockShips from the UK · duties may applyReturn policy

    $1,122.74Checked Nov 10
    Visit Mayfer
Prices and history →

MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $1,499.00Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Walmart
  • SHI InternationalNew

    In stock

    $1,580.00Free shippingChecked Nov 9
    Visit SHI International
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $1,398.00Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Amazon
  • PCNationNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,572.73Checked Nov 9
    Visit PCNation

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 7 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecAsus ROG Strix G18 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Resolution1920 x 12001920 x 1080
Operating SystemWindows OSWindows OS
Processor BrandIntel CPUIntel CPU
Graphics ProcessorNVIDIA GPUNVIDIA GPU
Drive TypeSolid State DriveSolid State Drive
LanguageEnglish / North AmericaEnglish / North America
With Backlit KeyboardYesYes
Refresh Rate144Hz144Hz
Available PortsHDMIUSB-C, HDMI, Ethernet
Weight7.5 lb5 lb
Drive Capacity1 TB drive1 TB drive
Screen Size18 inches15.6 inches
Show all 33 specsShow fewer specs
SpecAsus ROG Strix G18 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Installed Memory16 GB RAM16 GB RAM
Processor Speed5.2 GHz CPU1.7 GHz CPU
Battery90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion53.5 Battery (Whr)
Display18" QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA)—
Memory8GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM *2—
Storage1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD—
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU—
Graphic memory8GB GDDR6—
WirelessWi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetoot…—

What reviewers say

MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

Reviewers and owners generally see the Katana 15 as a good value gaming laptop with strong performance for the price. They often mention the fast 144Hz screen and upgrade options, but criticize the battery life and build quality.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedReviewers say it handles modern games at high settings at 1080p.
  • Battery lifeCriticisedOwners report it lasts only a few hours unplugged, even less when gaming.
  • Build qualityMixedSome find the plastic chassis sturdy enough, while others say it feels cheap and flexes.
  • DisplayMixedThe 144Hz refresh rate is praised, but color accuracy and brightness are considered average.

Questions and answers

Which is better for gaming?
The Asus. Its RTX 4070 and i9-13980HX are a tier above the Katana's hardware, and the QHD+ screen shows more detail. The Katana is fine for 1080p gaming but will need lower settings sooner.
Which is easier to carry?
The MSI Katana 15. At about 5 lb against 7.5 lb, and with a 15.6-inch body, it fits in more bags and is less tiring on commutes.
Which has the better screen?
The Asus. It is 18 inches at 2560 x 1600 with a 16:10 shape, which gives more vertical space for games and work. The Katana's panel is 1080p at 15.6 inches.
Which lasts longer on battery?
The Asus, on paper. Its 90Wh battery is much larger than the Katana's 53.5Wh, though a big screen and powerful CPU drain it faster under load.
Can both be upgraded?
Yes. Both have two memory slots and two M.2 SSD slots, so you can add RAM and storage later. The Katana supports up to 64GB of DDR5.
Is the Asus worth stepping up to?
If you want a desktop replacement for QHD gaming and heavy work, yes. If you mostly play at 1080p and carry the laptop often, the Katana covers that with less weight.

Ask our shopping agent

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

More comparisons

  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 GU603VI-N4076WS Gaming Laptop vs Asus ROG Strix G18 G814JI-N6144WS Gaming Laptop
  • Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 GU604VI-N4085WS Gaming Laptop vs Asus ROG Strix G18 G814JI-N6144WS Gaming Laptop
  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 GU603VI-N4076WS Gaming Laptop vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz
  • Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 GU604VI-N4085WS Gaming Laptop vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop, 15.6-inch QHD 165Hz

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best RTX 4070 gaming laptops under $1,500
Touchscreen
—
Yes
Color—Black
Display size—15.6"
Display resolution—1920x1080
Panel type—IPS-Level
Memory type—DDR5-5200
Max memory—Max 64GB
Memory slots—2 Slots
Storage slots—2x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4)
Wi-Fi—802.11 ax Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth—Bluetooth v5.2
Adapter power—200W adapter