Main points
- In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll pit the Acer Nitro 5 against the MSI Katana 15 in a head-to-head battle to determine which one is the ultimate budget-gaming laptop.
- The Nitro 5 has a more angular design with sharp lines and aggressive accents, while the Katana 15 has a more understated look with a brushed-metal finish.
- The Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 are both powered by the latest Intel Core i7-12700H processor, which is a powerful 14-core, 20-thread CPU that can handle even the most challenging tasks.
In the world of budget-gaming laptops, two names stand out above the rest: the Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15. Both laptops offer powerful hardware, sleek designs, and affordable prices, making them ideal for gamers on a budget. But which one is the better choice?
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll pit the Acer Nitro 5 against the MSI Katana 15 in a head-to-head battle to determine which one is the ultimate budget-gaming laptop. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, and more to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
Both the Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 feature sleek and stylish designs that are sure to appeal to gamers. The Nitro 5 has a more angular design with sharp lines and aggressive accents, while the Katana 15 has a more understated look with a brushed-metal finish.
As far as build quality goes, both laptops are well-made and feel solid in the hand. However, the Nitro 5 has a slight edge in this department, as it feels more durable and is less likely to flex or creak when pressure is applied.
Display
The Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 both feature 15.6-inch displays with Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. However, there are some key differences between the two displays.
The Nitro 5’s display has a faster refresh rate of 144Hz, which makes it ideal for gaming. The Katana 15’s display, on the other hand, has a higher color gamut of 100% sRGB, which makes it better for content creation.
Ultimately, the best display for you will depend on your individual needs. If you’re a gamer, the Nitro 5’s 144Hz refresh rate is the way to go. If you’re a content creators, the Katana 15’s 100% sRGB color gamut is the better choice.
Performance
The Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 are both powered by the latest Intel Core i7-12700H processor, which is a powerful 14-core, 20-thread CPU that can handle even the most challenging tasks. However, there are some differences in their graphics cards.
The Nitro 5 is equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, while the Katana 15 has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070. The RTX 3070 is a more powerful graphics card, and it will provide better performance in games and other graphically-intensive tasks.
In terms of real-world performance, the Nitro 5 can handle most games at high settings with 1080p resolution. The Katana 15, on the other hand, can handle most games at ultra settings with 1080p resolution.
Storage and Memory
Both the Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 come with 512GB of NVMe PCIe 4.0 solid-state storage and 16GB of DDR4-3200 memory. This is a good amount of storage and memory for most users, but it can be expanded if necessary.
The Nitro 5 has two M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 slot, while the Katana 15 has one M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 slot and one 2.5-inch SATA III slot. This gives the Nitro 5 a slight edge in terms of storage expandability.
Ports and Connectivity
The Acer Nitro 5 and the MSI Katana 15 both offer a good selection of ports and connections. Both laptops have three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an Ethernet port, an audio jack, and an SD card reader.