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InnoReviews

Alienware m16 R2 vs MSI Katana 15

WINNER
Alienware m16 R2
51.5Inno Score
VS
MSI Katana 15

MSI

MSI Katana 15

$1,099

36.1Inno Score
42.1Performance40.5
49Display33.6
86.7Battery29
30.4Portability39.4
7 spec wins — Alienware m16 R22 spec wins — MSI Katana 15

InnoReviews verdict

Alienware m16 R2 wins this laptop face-off, 51.5 to 36.1, pulling ahead mainly in battery (+58) and display (+15). MSI Katana 15 still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.

Which would you pick?

Key differences

Reasons to pick the Alienware m16 R2

  • Stronger display score: 49 vs 34
  • Stronger battery score: 87 vs 29
  • 68% higher capacity: 90 Wh vs 54 Wh
  • 67% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 144 Hz
  • 33% higher charging: 240 W vs 180 W

Reasons to pick the MSI Katana 15

  • Stronger portability score: 39 vs 30
  • 14% lower weight: 2.25 kg vs 2.61 kg
  • Lower launch price: $1,099 vs $1,499

Display

Display comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
Screen size16 ″+3%15.6 ″
Panel typeIPS (G-Sync, Advanced Optimus)IPS
Resolution2560x16001920x1080
Refresh rate240 Hz+67%144 Hz
Peak brightness300 nits+20%250 nits

Performance

Performance comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
ProcessorIntel Core Ultra 7 155HIntel Core i7-13620H
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (RTX 4060 / 4070 optional)NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop
RAM16 GB16 GB
RAM typeDDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM)DDR5-4800 (2x SO-DIMM)
Storage1,024 GB1,024 GB
Storage typePCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2 slots)PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD

Benchmarks

Benchmarks comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
Geekbench 6 (single)2,383Bottom 18%2,430+2%Bottom 25%
Geekbench 6 (multi)12,670+11%Bottom 42%11,400Bottom 22%

Battery

Battery comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
Capacity90 Wh+68%54 Wh
Web browsing endurance—5 h
Charging240 W+33%180 W

Design

Design comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
Weight2.61 kg2.25 kg+14%
Thickness23.5 mm+6%24.9 mm
MaterialAnodized aluminum lid, soft-touch deckPlastic

Connectivity

Connectivity comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
PortsThunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort 1.4, 15W PD), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE RJ-45, microSD, 3.5mm combo1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DP), 2x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45, 3.5mm
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6E (Wi-Fi 7 optional)Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.35.3
Webcam1080p + IR720p
BiometricsIR face (Windows Hello)None

Software

Software comparison: Alienware m16 R2 versus MSI Katana 15
SpecAlienware m16 R2MSI Katana 15
Operating systemWindows 11 HomeWindows 11

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