MSI Katana 15 HX (2025) vs ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025)
Get the Katana 15 HX. Unless you need it to last a day away from the plug — then the TUF A16's big battery gives 12 to 13 hours of light use.
MSI Katana 15 HX (2025)
Full-power RTX 50 graphics for the price of plainer laptops. The screen is dim and it's heavy.
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 (2025)
A big-battery 16-inch that games well and lasts all day off the plug. Very loud in Turbo.
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The builds we recommend differ in graphics: the Katana has a full-power RTX 5070, the TUF A16 a full-power RTX 5060, for similar money. The TUF A16 lasts far longer on battery, is a little lighter and has two SSD slots.
- —You want the most gaming speed for the money.
- —It mostly lives on a desk.
- —You'd like a sharper 1440p screen.
- —You need long battery life away from games.
- —You want one laptop for classes or work and games.
- —You want room to add a second SSD.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Full-power RTX 50 graphics
- +Sturdy body with a number pad
- +Lots of ports, upgradable memory
- −Every screen option is dim, about 260–280 nits, so it's hard to see in a bright room.
- −Only one SSD slot: more storage means swapping the drive, not adding one.
- −About an hour of gaming on battery; five to eight hours of light use.
- −Most builds ship with two 8 GB sticks, so going to 32 GB means replacing both.
- −Make sure it's the 2025 model: B14W in the model number. The thinner 2026 Katana 15 HX (C14W) is a different laptop.
- +12–13 hours of light use
- +Full-power graphics
- +Two memory slots and two SSD slots
- −Very loud in Turbo mode; headphones help.
- −The 1920×1200 screen is a bit washed out and reflective.
- −Cheaper versions ending in "I" (FA608UHI, FA608UMI) have a 144 Hz screen and a smaller 70 Wh battery.
- −The number pad makes the keyboard a little cramped.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Katana 15 HX worth it?
- Is the TUF Gaming A16 worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Notebookcheck, PC Gamer, Tom's Guide, TechRadar, manufacturer specifications.