Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) is the premium option here, offering a sleek design with a sharp 1080p webcam. Meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop delivers serious gaming power with its RTX 4060, but sacrifices some display quality in the process. In real-world use, the Acer’s Thunderbolt 4 port adds versatility, while the MSI's dual M. 2 slots allow for easy storage upgrades. The numbers tell the story: the MSI has a 144Hz refresh rate, making it superior for gaming, but the Acer’s webcam quality and aluminum lid offer a more polished experience overall in productivity tasks.
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
| Criterion | Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) | MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.3(107)Amazon | ★4.6(38)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i7-1355U (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 5.0 GHz) | Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Air (Single fan with TwinAir cooling design) | Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (4800 MHz) | 16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) |
RAM Upgrade | No (Soldered) | Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD | 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 slot; user replaceable) | Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | IPS (Anti-glare, ComfyView) | IPS-Level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 144 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) with NumPad | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader (Integrated in touchpad) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction | 720p HD webcam (30fps) |
USB Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (DisplayPort, Data only); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1; 1x USB-A 2.0 |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports 4K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 or HDMI) | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
Battery | 50 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) | 53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer) |
Charger | 65 W barrel-pin adapter | 200 W Barrel-pin adapter |
Weight | 1,780 g (3.92 lbs) | 2,250 g (4.96 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum (Lid) / Plastic (Chassis) | Plastic chassis |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U)
✓ Pros:
- • Includes Thunderbolt 4 port (rare in this price bracket)
- • Sharp 1080p webcam is an upgrade over typical 720p budget cams
- • Aluminum lid gives a premium feel to the exterior
- • Decent performance for office tasks with Core i7-1355U
- • Wi-Fi 6E support for faster wireless connectivity
✗ Cons:
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded (limited to 16GB)
- • Display has limited color coverage (45% NTSC), appearing washed out
- • Only one M.2 storage slot (no secondary drive support)
- • Battery life is average with a 50Wh capacity
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MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
✓ Pros:
- • Excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with RTX 4060 and i7-13620H
- • Dual M.2 SSD slots allow for easy and cheap storage expansion
- • Effective Cooler Boost 5 cooling system keeps temperatures managed
- • Full-sized keyboard with 4-zone RGB lighting and number pad
- • Includes HDMI 2.1 for high-refresh external 4K monitors
✗ Cons:
- • Display is the weak point: dim (250 nits) and washed out (45% NTSC colors)
- • Battery life is short (approx. 4 hours) due to small 53.5Wh capacity
- • USB-C port does NOT support Power Delivery (charging)
- • All-plastic build quality feels budget-oriented compared to premium rivals
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Which one is better?
The MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is the better buy for gaming enthusiasts - its RTX 4060 crushes the Acer’s integrated graphics. That said, grab the Acer Aspire 5 if you prioritize a quality webcam and premium design - it’s a more refined option for everyday use.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) if: you need a sharp 1080p webcam for video calls, prefer a premium aluminum build, or want a Thunderbolt 4 port for connectivity.
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you want excellent gaming performance on a budget, need more storage with dual M.2 slots, or prefer a high-refresh display for competitive gaming.
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Acer Aspire 5 15 Laptop Core i7-1355U) excels if you value includes thunderbolt 4 port (rare in this price bracket). MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is better if you prioritize excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with rtx 4060 and i7-13620h. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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