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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Battery life: MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop is rated for up to 4 hours. In my testing, the ASUS crushes the competition with a powerful RTX 4050 running at full 140W TGP for maximum gaming performance. If you're into serious gaming and want a laptop that can keep up, this is the way to go. But if you're more budget-conscious, the MSI Katana 15 still has its merits with decent performance-per-dollar, especially for casual gaming.
⚖️ Weight: 77.60 oz vs 79.37 oz💽 Storage: 1024 GB vs 1000 GB🔋 Battery: 90Wh vs 53.5Wh
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
★4.3
(66)•Amazon
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS)
Cooling:Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents
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MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
★4.6
(38)•Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Display1 specs
Refresh Rate
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
144 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
144 Hz
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Storage
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDWinner
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer)
Design1 specs
Weight
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
2,200 g (4.85 lbs)Winner
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
2,250 g (4.96 lbs)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
+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: ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) vs MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
★4.3(66)Amazon
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
★4.6(38)Best Buy
| Criterion | ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) | MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.3(66)Amazon | ★4.6(38)Best Buy |
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz) | Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents | Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design) |
RAM | 16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) | 16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) |
RAM Upgrade | Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB) | Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB) |
Storage | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | 1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots) | 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-level (Anti-glare) | IPS-Level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 144 Hz (G-SYNC supported) | 144 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 100% sRGB | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) with NumPad | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (1-zone RGB Mini-LED) | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 720p HD camera | 720p HD webcam (30fps) |
USB Ports | 1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort); 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort/PD/G-SYNC); 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A | 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 FRL | 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 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
Battery | 90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion) | 53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer) |
Charger | 240 W AC adapter | 200 W Barrel-pin adapter |
Weight | 2,200 g (4.85 lbs) | 2,250 g (4.96 lbs) |
Build Material | Plastic chassis with Aluminum lid (Mecha Gray) | Plastic chassis |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Rating:★4.3(66)Amazon
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS)
Cooling:Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents
RAM:16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB)
Storage:1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots)
Display Size:15.6"
Resolution:1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Screen Type:IPS-level (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:144 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:100% sRGB
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (1-zone RGB Mini-LED)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:720p HD camera
USB Ports:1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort); 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort/PD/G-SYNC); 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 FRL
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
Charger:240 W AC adapter
Weight:2,200 g (4.85 lbs)
Build Material:Plastic chassis with Aluminum lid (Mecha Gray)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ Pros:
- • Large 90Wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop
- • GPU runs at full 140W TGP for maximum RTX 4050 performance
- • Comprehensive connectivity including USB 4 and HDMI 2.1
- • 100% sRGB color coverage (significant upgrade over older TUF 144Hz panels)
- • Military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H) with robust cooling
✗ Cons:
- • Screen brightness is limited to 250 nits, making outdoor use difficult
- • Fans can become quite loud under turbo loads
- • No biometric security (fingerprint or face unlock)
- • 720p webcam is average quality
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop
Rating:★4.6(38)Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13620H (Raptor Lake, 10 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 105W TGP)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Cooler Boost 5 (2 fans, 6 heat pipes, shared-pipe design)
RAM:16 GB DDR5-5200 MHz (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 64 GB)
Storage:1 TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots)
Display Size:15.6"
Resolution:1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Screen Type:IPS-Level (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:144 Hz
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB)
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (4-Zone RGB)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:720p HD webcam (30fps)
USB Ports: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 8K@60Hz / 4K@120Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.2; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:53.5 Wh (3-cell Li-Polymer)
Charger:200 W Barrel-pin adapter
Weight:2,250 g (4.96 lbs)
Build Material:Plastic chassis
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ 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.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
Key specs: Weight: 77.60 oz vs 79.37 oz and Storage: 1024 GB vs 1000 GB.
Who should buy each?
Choose the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) if: you want long battery life for extended gaming sessions, need high performance with a powerful RTX 4050, or prefer durable build quality for travel.
Choose the MSI Katana 15 Gaming Laptop if: you want a more affordable option for casual gaming, need easy storage upgrades, or prioritize RGB keyboard aesthetics. (79.37 oz weight, 1000 GB storage)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) excels if you value large 90wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop. 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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