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 the premium option here, ideal for productivity with its Thunderbolt 4 support and a 1080p webcam. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop offers raw gaming performance with its RTX 4060 GPU, making it an enticing choice for gamers on a budget. If you're prioritizing gaming, the Katana’s performance is hard to ignore, but for daily tasks and work-from-home setups, the Aspire's design and features might just win you over.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, 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.
Expand
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 | ★4.3(107)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 |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
✓ Pros:
- • Thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket)
- • 1080p webcam with noise reduction
- • Decent port selection including HDMI 2.1
- • TwinAir cooling system improves thermal management over previous generations
✗ Cons:
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- • Display has limited color gamut (45% NTSC) and average brightness
- • No SD card slot
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which one is better?
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) is the better buy for most people - its Thunderbolt 4 support crushes the MSI Katana 15's gaming focus. That said, grab the Katana if you need powerful gaming performance on a budget - it offers 1TB of storage for serious gamers.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) if: you need Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for accessories, you work with video and need a good webcam, or you prefer a lightweight productivity laptop.
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you want a powerful gaming laptop for under $1200, you need extra storage for large game libraries, or you enjoy high refresh rates 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 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) excels if you value thunderbolt 4 support (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.
Affiliate disclosure
PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.