Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) is a strong fit for productivity, while the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop targets gamers on a budget. You'd expect the Acer to dominate, but the Katana's gaming performance-per-dollar really stands out. In real-world use, the Acer's Thunderbolt 4 support makes it versatile for creative tasks, while the Katana’s RTX 4060 provides a gaming edge. However, the Katana’s 144Hz refresh rate offers a smoother experience in games compared to the Acer’s 60Hz—perfect for fast-paced action! Key specs: Refresh: 60 Hz vs 144 Hz and Weight: 62.79 oz vs 79.37 oz.
Why compare these? The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) (mid-range) and MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop (entry-level) represent different approaches to laptops. While they may appeal to different budgets, many buyers consider both options. This 2026 comparison helps you decide if the differences justify the price gap.
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Key Differences at a Glance
| Aspect | Acer Aspire | MSI Katana |
|---|---|---|
| User Rating | 4.2★ (111 reviews) | ✓4.6★ (38 reviews) |
| Top Strength | Thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket) | Excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with RTX 4060 and i7-13620H |
| Main Drawback | RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded | Display is the weak point: dim (250 nits) and washed out (45% NTSC colors) |
| Market Position | ✓Mid-range | Entry |
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Intel Core i7-1355U (10-core: 2P + 8E), 1.70 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz turbo
Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated; shared memory)
No (Not supported)
TwinAir Cooling (dual copper thermal pipes, dual fans, air inlet keyboard)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
No (Not supported)
Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
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 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
| Criterion | Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) | MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.2(111)Amazon | ★4.6(38)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i7-1355U (10-core: 2P + 8E), 1.70 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz turbo | Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated; shared memory) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | TwinAir Cooling (dual copper thermal pipes, dual fans, air inlet keyboard) | Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (Onboard) | 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 2280 PCIe Gen4 slot) | 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 (LCD; LED-backlit; ComfyView; Anti-glare) | IPS-Level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 144 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (Typical) | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US Standard (QWERTY) | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader (Touchpad integrated) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) | 720p HD webcam (30fps) |
USB Ports | 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 / Power Delivery / DisplayPort); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (one with power-off charging) | 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 | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio 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 | 3-cell Li-Ion (50 Wh) | 53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer) |
Charger | 65 W AC adapter (Barrel pin) | 200 W Barrel-pin adapter |
Weight | 1.78 kg (3.92 lbs) | 2,250 g (4.96 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum top cover; Plastic chassis (Steel Gray) | Plastic chassis |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Intel Core i7-1355U (10-core: 2P + 8E), 1.70 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz turbo
Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated; shared memory)
No (Not supported)
TwinAir Cooling (dual copper thermal pipes, dual fans, air inlet keyboard)
16 GB LPDDR5 (Onboard)
No (Soldered)
Pros
- Thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket)
- 1080p webcam with noise reduction
Cons
- RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- Display has limited color gamut (45% NTSC) and average brightness
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
No (Not supported)
Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB)
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with RTX 4060 and i7-13620H
- Dual M.2 SSD slots allow for easy and cheap storage expansion
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
Which one is better?
The MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is the better buy for gamers - its 144Hz refresh rate crushes the Acer's 60Hz. That said, grab the Acer Aspire 5 if you need a solid productivity machine with Thunderbolt 4 support.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) if: you need Thunderbolt 4 support for fast data transfer, want a high-quality 1080p webcam for video calls, or prefer a lighter laptop at 3.92lb.
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you prioritize high-refresh-rate gaming performance with a 144Hz display, require more storage with a 1TB SSD, or want a laptop that can be upgraded easily.
Quality Seekers
Higher user rating (4.6★ vs 4.2★) indicates better overall satisfaction
→ Choose MSI Katana
Safe Choice Buyers
More widely tested with 111 reviews vs 38
→ Choose Acer Aspire
Premium Buyers
Higher-tier option with more premium features and build quality
→ Choose Acer Aspire
Value Seekers
Better value proposition for buyers who don't need top-tier features
→ Choose MSI Katana
Conclusion
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) and MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Bottom line: The MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop leads with a 4.6★ rating versus 4.2★. That said, Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) could still be the right pick depending on your specific priorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which is better: Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) or MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop?
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) is the better choice if you prioritize thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket). MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop wins if you value excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with rtx 4060 and i7-13620h. Both are rated highly (4.2★ vs 4.6★), so consider your specific needs and budget.
+What are the main differences between Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) and MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop?
Key differences: Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) offers thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket), while MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop stands out with excellent gaming performance-per-dollar with rtx 4060 and i7-13620h. Consider that Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) ram is soldered and cannot be upgraded. Meanwhile, MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop display is the weak point: dim (250 nits) and washed out (45% ntsc colors). Check the detailed specs table above for a complete comparison.
+Where can US buyers get the best price?
For US buyers, Amazon typically offers competitive pricing with Prime shipping, easy returns, and reliable warranty support. We recommend comparing prices on both products using our affiliate links above—prices fluctuate regularly, and you may find sales or deals.
+Is this comparison up to date?
Yes, this comparison is current for 2026. We regularly verify specs, ratings, and availability. Last verified: January 26, 2026. PageBen uses affiliate links for monetization, but our recommendations are research-driven and independent.
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