ASUS ROG Strix G18 with RTX 4080 and intel i9 14th Gen MSI Katana 15 HX (RTX 5070 & Intel i7 14th Gen) Comparison

ASUS ROG Strix G18 with RTX 4080 and intel i9 14th Gen $2,499	MSI Katana 15 HX (RTX 5070 & Intel i7 14th Gen) $1,679	LG Gram Pro 17 with RTX 5050
Overview
Brand
ASUS	MSI
Model
ROG Strix G18 (2024)	Katana 15 HX B14WGK-016US
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
RTX 4080 Laptops \| RTX 5070 Laptops
RAM
32GB DDR5-5600MHz	32GB DDR5-5600MHz
32GB Laptops
Storage
2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD	1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD
2TB Laptops \| 1TB Laptops
Display
18-inch QHD (2560 x 1600), 240Hz	15.6-inch QHD (2560x1440), 165Hz, IPS-Level
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Home
Weight
2.9 kg or 6.39 lbs	2.4 kg or 5.29 lbs
Color
Black	Black
Processor
CPU
Intel Core i9-14900HX	Intel Core i9-14900HX Processor
Intel Core i9 Laptops
Cores
24 Cores (8 Performance Cores + 16 Efficient Cores)	24 (8 Performance-cores + 16 Efficient-cores)
Threads
32 Threads	32.0
Base Clock
2.6 GHz	2.2 GHz (P-core base), 1.6 GHz (E-core base)
Max Turbo Boost
5.4 GHz	Up to 5.8 GHz (P-core Max Turbo Frequency)
Cache
36MB Intel Smart Cache	36MB L3 Cache
TDP
55W	55W (Processor Base Power, Max Turbo Power up to 157W, Total System Power up to 115W GPU + CPU Power Share)
Architecture
	Raptor Lake (14th Gen)
Additional Features
	MSI AI Engine for AI-Powered computing experience, Copilot Key integrated in keyboard.
Display
Screen Size
18 inches	15.6 inches
Resolution
2560 x 1600 (QHD+)	2560 x 1440 (QHD)
Refresh Rate
240Hz	165Hz
Response Time
3ms	2.5ms (Typical, as seen on similar MSI panels)
Panel Type
IPS	IPS-Level, Anti-Glare
Color Gamut
100% DCI-P3	100% DCI-P3 (Typical)
Brightness
Up to 500 nits	Not explicitly specified, but typically around 300-350 nits for QHD IPS-level gaming panels.
Additional Features
Anti-Glare, G-Sync	Discrete Graphics Mode (MUX Design) for optimal performance.
Aspect Ratio
	16:9
Graphics
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
VRAM
12GB GDDR6	8GB GDDR7
Ray Tracing
Yes	Yes, with 4th Gen RT Cores
DLSS Support
Yes, NVIDIA DLSS 3	Yes, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation
Additional Features
MUX Switch, NVIDIA Advanced Optimus	Powered by NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, Max-Q technologies, powers advanced AI with 798 AI TOPS.
Architecture
	NVIDIA Blackwell (implied for RTX 50 series)
TGP
	115W (Maximum Graphics Power with Dynamic Boost, Boost Clock up to 2347MHz)
Memory
RAM Type
DDR5	DDR5
RAM Speed
5600MHz	5600MHz
Expandable Memory
Yes, up to 64GB	Yes, up to 96GB (2 Slots, 32GB*2 configured for 32GB total)
Storage
Primary Storage
2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD	1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 SSD
Secondary Storage Options
Not specified	1x M.2 SSD slot (NVMe PCIe Gen4) - this model usually has only one M.2 slot. To upgrade storage, you'd replace the existing 1TB SSD.
RAID Support
No	Not specified
Gaming Features
Dedicated Gaming Keys
Yes, with Macro Functionality	Yes (lighted WASD, specially-designed keycaps)
RGB Customization
Yes, via ROG Aura Sync	4-Zone RGB Gaming Keyboard with Copilot Key
Game Optimization
AI-powered performance tuning	MSI Center (with AI Engine), MSI App Player
Performance
Cooling Technology
ROG Intelligent Cooling with Liquid Metal and Full-width Heatsink	Cooler Boost 5 Technology (CPU & GPU Share-pipe Design, 2 Fans, 5 Heat Pipes)
Overclocking Support
Yes, via ROG Armoury Crate	Yes (via MSI Center)
Performance Modes
Silent, Performance, Turbo, Manual	Available via MSI Center (e.g., Extreme Performance, Silent)
Benchmark Scores
Not specified	Not explicitly specified in official documentation, but expected strong performance for its class.
Battery
Capacity
90Wh	75Whr, 4-cell Li-Polymer
Backup Time
Up to 7 hours (varies with usage)	Not explicitly specified, but general gaming laptop battery life.
Charging Type
Fast Charging	Standard Charging, Power Delivery 3.0 (supports 100W PD charging via Type-C)
Power Adapter
330W	240W AC Adapter
Connectivity
WiFi
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)	Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
5.3	5.3
Ports
1 x HDMI 2.1, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery, G-Sync), 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort, G-Sync), 1 x 2.5G LAN port, 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack	1x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (DisplayPort™ / Power Delivery 3.0), 3x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A, 1x HDMI™ 2.1 (8K @ 60Hz / 4K @ 120Hz), 1x RJ45, 1x Mic-in/Headphone-out Combo Jack, 1x DC-in
Ethernet
	Gigabit LAN (RJ45)
Keyboard & Touchpad
Keyboard Type
Per-Key RGB Backlit Chiclet	4-Zone RGB Gaming Keyboard with Copilot Key
Key Travel
1.9mm	1.7mm Key Travel
N-Key Rollover
Yes	Anti-Ghost Key (implied N-Key rollover capability)
Touchpad Features
Large Glass Touchpad with Multi-Gesture Support	31% Larger Touchpad (compared to previous generation), Multi-touch
Audio
Speakers
4-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology	2x 2W Speakers
Audio Enhancements
Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Certification, AI Noise-Canceling Technology	Nahimic 3 Audio Enhancer, Hi-Res Audio Ready
Dedicated Audio Jack
Yes, 3.5mm combo jack	Yes (1x Mic-in/Headphone-out Combo Jack)
Camera
Webcam
720p HD	HD type (30fps@720p)
Privacy Shutter
No	No
Enhancements
	Not explicitly specified, but generally basic.
Build & Design
Material
Aluminum and Plastic	Plastic chassis (Black)
Color Options
Black	Black
RGB Lighting
Yes, Aura Sync Light Bar and Rear Glow	4-Zone RGB Keyboard
Dimensions
40.5 x 29.0 x 2.36 cm	359 x 262 x 25.5 mm (14.13" x 10.31" x 0.99")
Special Features
Virtual Reality Ready
Yes	Yes
Advanced Cooling
Yes, with Liquid Metal and Full-width Heatsink	Yes (Cooler Boost 5 with Share Pipe Design)
Software
Pre-installed ROG Armoury Crate for system control and customization	MSI Center, Windows 11 Home, Microsoft 365 Basic (1 Year), Office Home 2024 (lifetime), AI Engine, MSI App Player
Upgrade-Friendly Design
	Up to 96GB RAM (2 slots), 1x M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen4 slot (already populated with 1TB)
Box Contents
Laptop
Yes	Yes
Power Adapter
Yes, 330W	Yes, 240W AC Adapter
User Manual
Yes	Yes
Warranty Card
Yes	Yes, 3-Year Limited Warranty (may vary by region)
Additional Accessories
32GB USB Flash Drive	Microsoft 365 Basic (1 Year), Office Home 2024 (lifetime)
Launch Date
Release Date
2024.0	July 2025 (as per current market listings)
Status
Available	Available

Which is Better: ASUS ROG Strix G18 with RTX 4080 and intel i9 14th Gen or MSI Katana 15 HX (RTX 5070 & Intel i7 14th Gen)?

Based on the comparison, here's how each product stands out:

Advantages of ASUS ROG Strix G18 with RTX 4080 and intel i9 14th Gen:

Offers better Resolution (2560 x 1600 (QHD+) vs 2560 x 1440 (QHD))
Offers better Refresh Rate (240Hz vs 165Hz)

Advantages of MSI Katana 15 HX (RTX 5070 & Intel i7 14th Gen):

Offers better Weight (2.4 kg or 5.29 lbs vs 2.9 kg or 6.39 lbs)
Has better GPU (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080)

Disclaimer: The information provided here may not be fully accurate. Please verify the specifications and prices on the retailer's website before making a purchase.