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Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop

The Zephyrus M16 is the stronger machine: a 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ Nebula panel, an i9-13900H, an RTX 4070 at up to 140W, a 90Wh battery and a 2.1 kg chassis. The Katana 15 is a budget 15.6-inch gaming laptop with a 144Hz panel, a 53.5Wh battery and a 200W adapter. Reviewers praise the M16's screen and build and note its fans get loud under load; Katana owners accept a plasticky body and short battery life for the basics done well. Buy the M16 for serious gaming and creative work; buy the Katana for casual 1080p play.

  • Choose the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 if you want a bright, color-accurate 240Hz QHD+ screen, a strong RTX 4070 and a lighter, better-built chassis for gaming and creative work.
  • Choose the MSI Katana 15 if you mainly play at 1080p, want a simple 15.6-inch gaming laptop and don't need a high-refresh QHD+ panel or long battery life.

Prices

  • Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop: $1,227.40 at Mayfer (last seen Nov 10)
  • MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop: $1,398.00 at Amazon (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop is $170.60 cheaper than the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop at the latest prices (Nov 10)
Asus
Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 GU604VI-N4085WS Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 GU604VI-N4085WS Gaming Laptop

$1,227.40at MayferChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Mayfer
Pros
  • Bright 240Hz QHD+ 16:10 Nebula panel with full DCI-P3 coverage
  • i9-13900H and RTX 4070 at up to 140W with MUX Switch
  • 90Wh battery and 2.1 kg body for a 16-inch gaming laptop
  • 1080p IR camera with Windows Hello
  • Wi-Fi 6E and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD
Cons
  • Fans get loud under sustained load
  • 16GB RAM comes as two 8GB sticks, so upgrading means replacing both
  • Runs warm in performance modes
  • Heavier and bulkier than a thin-and-light
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
  • Simple 15.6-inch 1080p gaming setup
  • DDR5-5200 memory and two M.2 Gen4 slots
  • Backlit keyboard and common ports including Ethernet
  • Light at about 5 lbs
Cons
  • 144Hz 1080p panel is a step behind the M16's screen
  • Small 53.5Wh battery
  • Processor and GPU details are vague, so check the exact model
  • Plastic chassis feels less premium

What separates them

Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Display16-inch QHD+ 16:10, 240Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated, G-Sync, up to 1100 nits peak15.6-inch 1920x1080 IPS-level, 144Hz
ProcessorIntel Core i9-13900H, 14 cores up to 5.4 GHzIntel CPU listed at 1.7 GHz base, model not stated
GraphicsRTX 4070 Laptop, 8GB GDDR6, up to 140W with MUX Switch and Advanced OptimusNVIDIA GPU, model and wattage not stated
Memory16GB DDR5-4800 (2x8GB SO-DIMM), max 64GB16GB DDR5-5200, 2 slots, max 64GB
Battery and adapter90Wh, 280W adapter53.5Wh, 200W adapter
Weight2.10 kg (4.63 lbs)About 5 lbs
WirelessWi-Fi 6E tri-band, Bluetooth 5.2Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Storage1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD1TB SSD, 2x M.2 Gen4 slots

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 Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop

  • MayferNew

    In stockShips from the UK · duties may applyReturn policy

    $1,227.40Checked 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 Zephyrus M16 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Display size16-inch15.6"
Display resolutionQHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA)1920x1080
Refresh rate240Hz144Hz
Operating systemWindows 11 HomeWindows OS
Battery90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion53.5 Battery (Whr)
Weight2.10 Kg (4.63 lbs)5 lb
Response time3ms—
Memory16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM x 2—
WirelessWi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetoot…—
Power supplyø6.0, 280W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 14A, 280W—
Camera1080P FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello—
KeyboardBacklit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB—
Show all 33 specsShow fewer specs
SpecAsus ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming LaptopMSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Resolution—1920 x 1080
Processor Brand—Intel CPU
Graphics Processor—NVIDIA GPU
Touchscreen—Yes
Drive Type—Solid State Drive
Color—Black
Language—English / North America
With Backlit Keyboard—Yes
Available Ports—USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet
Drive Capacity

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 1440p gaming?
The Zephyrus M16. Its RTX 4070 at up to 140W and 240Hz QHD+ panel are built for higher-resolution, high-frame-rate play. The Katana 15 targets 1080p at 144Hz.
Which has the better screen?
The M16 by a wide margin: QHD+ 16:10, 240Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3 and up to 1100 nits peak. The Katana's 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz panel is fine for casual play but dimmer and less sharp.
Which lasts longer on battery?
The M16, with a 90Wh battery against the Katana's 53.5Wh. Neither is an all-day laptop, but the M16 holds up longer away from an outlet.
Is the M16 worth stepping up to?
Yes if you game at high refresh rates, edit photos or video, or want a lighter, better-built machine. The Katana covers basic 1080p gaming at a lower tier of features.
Can both be upgraded?
Both have two SO-DIMM slots and support up to 64GB. The Katana also lists two M.2 Gen4 SSD slots; the M16 ships with a 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive.
Which is easier to carry?
The M16 at 2.10 kg (4.63 lbs) is lighter than the Katana at about 5 lbs, despite its larger 16-inch screen.

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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best RTX 4070 gaming laptops under $1,500
—
1 TB drive
Screen Size—15.6 inches
Installed Memory—16 GB RAM
Processor Speed—1.7 GHz CPU
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