MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Comparison

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MSI Katana 15 2025

15.6 inches | January 2025

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Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

16 inches | May 2025

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MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Comparison Overview

MSI Katana 15 2025

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Dell Alienware 16 Au...

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MSI Katana 15 2025

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Dell Alienware 16 Au...

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In this review, we will be comparing Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora, two laptops from MSI and Dell. MSI Katana 15 2025 was introduced to market in January 2025 and Dell Alienware 16 Aurora was launched in May 2025. There is only 4 months difference between Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora are members of Dell's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

MSI Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
MSI Cyborg 15 2025	July 2025	15.6"	359.3 x 245.25 x 22.15-23.15 mm	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
MSI Cyborg 17	July 2025	17.3"	399.3 x 258 x 21.2-22.2 mm	2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)
MSI Cyborg A15 AI	July 2025	15.6"	359.3 x 245.25 x 22.15-23.15 mm	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
MSI Cyborg A17 AI	July 2025	17.3"	399.3 x 258 x 21.2-22.2 mm	2.5 kg (5.51 lbs)
MSI Titan 18 HX AI 2025	January 2025	18.0"	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
MSI Raider 18 HX AI 2025	January 2025	18.0"	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
MSI Vector A18 HX 2025	January 2025	18.0"	404 x 307.5 x 24-32.05 mm	3.6 kg (7.94 lbs)
MSI Vector 17 HX AI 2025 A2XWJ	January 2025	17.0"	380.34 x 297.97 x 22.85-28.75 mm	3 kg (6.62 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of MSI Katana 15 2025 and Dell Alienware 16 Aurora before getting into our more detailed comparison.

MSI Katana 15 2025 Key Specs

Launched in January 2025
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 14650HX,Intel Core i9 14900HX
GPU: GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB
16GB,32GB,64GB,96GB Ram
359 x 262 x 25.5 mm (14.13 x 10.31 x 1 inches)
Weight: 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Key Specs

Launched in May 2025
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core 5 210H,Intel Core 7 240H,Intel Core 9 270H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop 6GB,GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6GB,GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB,GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB
8GB,16GB,32GB Ram
356.98 x 265.43 x 15.2-22.7 mm (14.05 x 10.45 x 0.6-0.89 inches)
Weight: 2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose MSI Katana 15 2025 over Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Weight	2.40 kg vs 2.49 kg	0.09 kg lighter
Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 120 Hz	Smoother media experience
GPU Fabrication Process	5 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	14.9 TFLOPS vs 4.3-7.1 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Bottom	Higher RAM potential
Max Total RAM	96 GB vs 32 GB	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-A Ports	3x USB 3.2 vs 2x USB 3.2

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware 16 Aurora over MSI Katana 15 2025

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~78.3% vs ~71.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.2 mm vs 6.8 mm	0.6 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	16 inches vs 15.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen PPI	189 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Number of USB-C Ports	2x USB 4.0 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware 16 Aurora and MSI Katana 15 2025

Launch Dates	January 2025 vs May 2025	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the RAM size
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs Yes	Fast connection to Network via ethernet cable
Numeric Pad	Yes vs Yes	Fast way to input numbers
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Alienware 16 Aurora and MSI Katana 15 2025

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Fingerprint Sensor	No vs No	No fingerprint login feature

MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the MSI Katana 15 2025 and the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.4 kg (5.29 lbs)	2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)
Surface Area	941 cm2 (145.7 inches2)	948 cm2 (146.8 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~71.4%	~78.3%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.8 mm	~6.2 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.15 kg/inch	0.16 kg/inch
	0.33 lbs/inch	0.352 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Blue

Comparison of the MSI Katana 15 2025 and the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora External Dimensions

Weight

Katana 15 2025 weighs 2.4 kg (5.29 lbs), whereas the Alienware 16 Aurora weighs 2.49 kg (5.49 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

MSI Katana 15 2025

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Thickness Comparison

MSI Katana 15 2025

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the MSI Katana 15 2025 is 0.15 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora is 0.16 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i7 14650HX Intel Core i9 14900HX	Intel Core 5 210H Intel Core 7 240H Intel Core 9 270H
Base Frequency	2.2 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5.2 GHz	4.8 GHz
Number of Cores	16 (8P + 8E)	8 (4P + 4E)
Number of Threads	24	12
L3 Cache	30 MB	12 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics (16EU)	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4 (48EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the MSI Katana 15 2025 and Dell Alienware 16 Aurora.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core 5 210H,Intel Core 7 240H,Intel Core 9 270H ) and compare them:

MSI Cyborg 17 Compare

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB	GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop 6GB GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6GB GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop 8GB GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop 8GB
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	115 W
Nvidia Optimus	MUX
Type	Dedicated	Dedicated
FLOPS	14.9 TFLOPS	4.3-7.1 TFLOPS
Memory Size	8 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR7	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	~24 Gbps	~12 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	2560	2048
TMUs	80	64
ROPs	32	40

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. MSI Katana 15 2025 has a FLOPS value of 14.9 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora ' has a FLOPS value of 4.3-7.1 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware 16 Aurora may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB 96GB	8GB 16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	5600 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	DDR5
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Max RAM Size	96 GB	32 GB
Total Slots	2	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Katana 15 2025 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Alienware 16 Aurora's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	MSI Katana 15 (2025)	Dell Alienware 16 Aurora
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.	⚠ Can run using CPU + RAM fallback. Expect slower performance.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	⚠ Possible with CPU + RAM fallback using quantized models.	⚠ Possible with CPU + RAM fallback using quantized models.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	75 Wh	60 Wh 96 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Bottom
Charge Power	240 W	130 / 180 W

Moreover, the Katana 15 2025 boasts a larger battery capacity of 75 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Alienware 16 Aurora's60 Wh.

Battery Comparison

MSI Katana 15 2025

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

STORAGE
The Alienware 16 Aurora offers a larger max storage capacity of 4 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Katana 15 2025's storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	1	2
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the MSI Katana 15 2025 and Dell Alienware 16 Aurora since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Katana 15 2025 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, Alienware 16 Aurora has a larger16.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Katana 15 2025 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Alienware 16 Aurora's total usable screen area is 742cm² / 115inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Alienware 16 Aurora features a higher pixel density with 189 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

MSI Katana 15 2025

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Refresh Rate
The Katana 15 2025 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Brightness
Both Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora offer the same maximum brightness of 300 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

MSI Katana 15 2025

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Dell Alienware 16 Aurora

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

MSI Katana 15 2025 vs Dell Alienware 16 Aurora Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Alienware 16 Aurora features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Katana 15 2025 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora have USB-A ports. Katana 15 2025 has 3x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Alienware 16 Aurora has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora have USB Type-C ports. Katana 15 2025 has 1x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports, while Alienware 16 Aurora has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither Katana 15 2025 nor Alienware 16 Aurora has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Both Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Katana 15 2025 nor Alienware 16 Aurora has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Katana 15 2025 and Alienware 16 Aurora are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v7
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.4
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	3x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	1x USB 3.2	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	Yes
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	Yes