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Updated January 10, 2024·
If your priority is high-performance gaming or demanding engineering applications, the Dell Alienware x14 R1 with its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card is an excellent choice, though it is less affordable and slightly heavier, impacting portability. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 is more wallet-friendly and lighter, which enhances portability, making it suitable for general use and less intensive engineering tasks, but its performance is lower, particularly for 3D rendering and machine learning, as it lacks a dedicated GPU. Both laptops offer comparable battery life and have high-quality displays, but the Alienware's display is better for gaming with a higher refresh rate. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Alienware x14 R1
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
- The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the Dell Alienware x14 R1.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.2
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2
7.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is equipped with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, offering higher performance for demanding engineering and design tasks, and a screen with higher brightness and refresh rate for superior visual clarity.
Screen Quality
7.9
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
411.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Prestige 14 have displays with sufficient resolution and brightness, offering clear and vibrant visuals for everyday tasks such as browsing and video streaming. With respect to engineering and design, the screens on both laptops cover a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring accurate color reproduction crucial for professional photo editing and CAD work. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates of these laptops' screens may not deliver the smoothest visual experience that gamers and 3D designers seek, especially in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 and Dell Alienware x14 R1 both have very good portability, though the MSI Prestige 14 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,201
$1,040
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has a price of $1,201 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
411.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 is suitable for general use with a strong CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, though it's heavier and has shorter battery life compared to the MSI Prestige 14, which offers similar RAM, a moderate CPU, and a quality screen but excels in portability and battery life, making it a better choice for those prioritizing mobility over raw performance.
Content Creation
7.9
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7
7.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Alienware x14 R1 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
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How the Dell Alienware x14 R1 and the MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware x14 R1 | MSI Prestige 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,201 | $1,040 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 10.3'' x 0.57'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.06 lbs | 2.84 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.66" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.34" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 80 Wh | 53.8 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 144Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 411 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware x14 R1
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Alienware X14 series is thinner, but also slower than the competition. With the X series, you get plenty of modern technology: Intel Alder Lake CPUs, GeForce RTX 3000 GPUs, Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, Wi-Fi 6E, G-Sync, and Advanced Optimus. However, the slim design has some drawbacks, just like its larger siblings. The shifted hinge position results in a very deep device with a large footprint compared to the competition."
MSI Prestige 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Tech Radar
Collin Probst | September 2022
"The MSI Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Dell Alienware x14 R1 or the MSI Prestige 14
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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