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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a higher-resolution display and a more compact, lighter design compared to the MSI Bravo 15, making it better suited for frequent travelers or those who prefer portability. It also has a stronger battery life, which is beneficial for use on the go. However, the MSI Bravo 15 has a larger screen, a higher refresh rate suitable for gaming, and more powerful graphics capabilities, recommended for those interested in gaming or 3D work. Additionally, the Bravo has an Ethernet port and a backlit keyboard with more color options. Overall, if you require a laptop for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI Bravo 15 is a better fit, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is tailored more towards general use and business applications with its premium features. 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 Inspiron 14 5420
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.2
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The MSI Bravo 15 is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its superior Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics processor and higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's Nvidia MX570 GPU and 60 Hz refresh rate. While both laptops feature an IPS panel, which provides good screen quality, the higher refresh rate of the MSI makes for smoother visuals that are crucial in gaming.
Software Development
7.4
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for software development, and content creation, while the MSI Bravo 15 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize a clear display and vivid colors for tasks like web browsing, document work, and video streaming, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's fair screen quality for general use may suffice, but the MSI Bravo 15 with its good screen quality would provide a brighter and sharper visual experience. For engineering and design work that demand accuracy in color replication, neither laptop is ideal, as both offer only fair screen quality, lacking the extensive color gamuts required for precision work. And if 3D or gaming is your focus, both laptops fall short due to their poor screen quality in this area, where a high refresh rate and resolution are crucial, and neither laptop provides the optimal viewing experience needed for smooth, detailed visuals.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$862
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.1
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is often chosen for general use due to a higher amount of RAM, making multitasking smoother, along with a sharper screen resolution, lighter weight and better battery life, enhancing its portability and usability for diverse tasks. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15, while having gaming capabilities with its higher-end GPU and more screen real estate, is limited for general use due to lesser RAM which can restrict multitasking efficiency, and a shorter battery life paired with higher weight, making it less ideal for constant movement and long hours away from power sources.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Bravo 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a balance of performance for engineering and design thanks to its Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and Nvidia MX570 GPU, alongside a high-resolution 14-inch screen that provides sharp imagery for detailed work; it's also more portable and has a higher-quality keyboard compared to the MSI.
Content Creation
7.5
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and MSI Bravo 15 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.
Build Quality
7.0
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to have good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | MSI Bravo 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $862 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 267 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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Dig into reviews and images
Smarthouse
Nick Ross | March 2023
"If laptops were food, then the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is arguably a Big Mac. There are cheaper and more expensive options, but this arguably represents the baseline of quality and value in the world of mobile computing… something that’s underlined by the attractive $1,279 price tag."
MSI Bravo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the MSI Bravo 15
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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