If you're looking to save money and need a laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working with documents, and streaming video, the Dell Inspiron may suit your needs. However, if you're involved in creative work such as video editing, graphic design, or 3D modeling, the MSI Creator is designed for these purposes and offers higher performance that could make it worth the extra cost. It's also typically more robust in build and may have a better display. The tradeoff, aside from price, is that the MSI Creator likely has shorter battery life and is less portable than the lighter, more compact Dell Inspiron. 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 5425
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, while suitable for casual gaming, has a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate; intense gaming or 3D rendering may be less fluid and visually impressive compared to laptops designed specifically for these tasks. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14, with its more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, delivers smoother gameplay and better 3D performance, although it may come at a higher price and with possibly greater power consumption.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
8.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The MSI Creator M14 typically offers a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software, alongside a superior screen for precise design work. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, while capable, may lag in performance but could gain an edge in being more portable and quieter, with a comfortable keyboard and decent speakers for everyday use.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425's screen is adequate for general activities like browsing and video streaming due to acceptable resolution and brightness, but it lacks the wide color gamuts necessary for precision in engineering and design work and the high refresh rate crucial for the smooth visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Creator M14, with its good screen quality, offers better color reproduction for professional engineering and design tasks where color accuracy is paramount, although it too falls short for gaming and 3D because of an inadequate refresh rate. Both laptops can handle everyday tasks well, but for tasks that demand high color fidelity or fluid motion graphics, you'll find limitations.
Battery
12.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $500 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 offers a balance of efficient processing power, adequate memory, and portability, making it a solid choice for everyday tasks, but its screen quality and battery life might not stand out. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 steps up with superior screen quality and stronger specs like CPU and RAM, appealing to users who prioritize high-definition visuals and multitasking efficiency in a still portable package, even though it might come with a heftier price tag and slightly less impressive battery longevity.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
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
7.5/10
7.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5425 to have very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
"A slim chassis, an acceptable weight (1.6 kg) and a real-world battery life of almost 13 hours turn the Inspiron into a mobile companion. Good: The battery can not only be charged using Dell's proprietary power adapter, but also with a universal USB-C power adapter (min. 45 watts). Office and Internet applications are handled by the built-in combination of Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM just as easily as modest computer games. Heat and noise development are generally okay, but the laptop should work a bit quieter under full load."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 or the MSI Creator M14
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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,095
Recommendations made
28,188
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.