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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is generally more expensive and offers a more powerful processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, which makes it more suitable for intensive tasks like engineering and light gaming but slightly less portable due to its higher weight. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 is more affordable, lighter, and offers integrated graphics, which is efficient for general use and business productivity but not as capable as the Dell for demanding software and games. Both laptops have similar storage, RAM, and comparable screens, but the Dell has a slightly longer battery life and brighter display. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
- The MSI Prestige 14 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers adequate resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks, while the MSI Prestige 14 provides higher resolution and brightness, providing a clearer and more vibrant display. In engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial, the MSI Prestige 14 has a wider color gamut, offering more accurate color reproduction than the Dell Inspiron. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rate becomes more important, and both the Dell Inspiron and MSI Prestige have lower refresh rates not ideal for the smooth visuals needed in high-paced gaming scenarios.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability, though the MSI Prestige 14 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$1,040
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.5
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and MSI Prestige 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a high-quality screen and solid battery life, making it well-suited for general use with proper CPU and RAM for smooth multitasking; its heft and size, however, may affect portability. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 14 provides similar CPU and RAM capabilities in a more portable package with a particularly good screen and longer battery life, though it trades off slightly by using integrated graphics, which may not be optimal for graphics-intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.2
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and MSI Prestige 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with an Nvidia MX570 GPU which generally offers modest gaming and 3D performance, while the MSI Prestige 14 uses integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which are decent for light gaming but may not handle intensive 3D tasks as well. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, but the GPU is the primary factor influencing their suitable use for gaming and 3D applications, with the Nvidia MX570 of the Dell being superior to the MSI's integrated graphics in this aspect.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.4
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The MSI Prestige 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the MSI Prestige 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | MSI Prestige 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,040 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.84 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.8 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 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 Inspiron 14 5420 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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