Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs MSI Katana 15
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and MSI Katana 15 sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The MSI Katana 15 is the cheaper of the two at $899 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,600. The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro stands out for largest macbook display at 16.2 inches, while MSI Katana 15 is praised for rtx 4060 laptop gpu at $899 is strong budget gaming value. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro if…
- →Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- →M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- →100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
Buy the MSI Katana 15 if…
- →RTX 4060 Laptop GPU at $899 is strong budget gaming value
- →144Hz FHD display is smooth for competitive gaming
- →13th-gen i7 processor handles gaming and productivity workloads
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro
Pros
- Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- 100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
- Thunderbolt 5
- Up to 96GB RAM with M5 Max
Cons
- 2.14 kg is heavy
- $2499 starting price
- Non-upgradable components
MSI Katana 15
Pros
- RTX 4060 Laptop GPU at $899 is strong budget gaming value
- 144Hz FHD display is smooth for competitive gaming
- 13th-gen i7 processor handles gaming and productivity workloads
- Expandable M.2 slot allows adding more storage
- Lightweight for a gaming laptop at under 5 lbs
Cons
- 250-nit display is dim and washes out in bright rooms
- 53.5 Wh battery means only 3-4 hours of real-world use
- All-plastic build quality feels budget-tier
- Single-channel RAM out of the box — needs second DIMM for best performance
- Keyboard lacks per-key RGB — single-zone backlight only
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | MSI Katana 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 4.96 lbs (2.25 kg) |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 14.09 x 9.95 x 0.94 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 53.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | IPS |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 144Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 250 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 10 cores (6P + 4E) |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | Intel Core i7-13620H (13th Gen) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all MSI products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro or the MSI Katana 15.