If you're looking to save money and need a laptop for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming, the Dell Inspiron is a solid and more affordable choice. However, if your work involves resource-intensive activities like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, investing in the MSI Stealth would be beneficial as it offers superior performance for these tasks. Keep in mind the MSI Stealth may also have a heavier build and could be less convenient for travel compared to the more compact Dell Inspiron, which offers greater portability but may have a shorter battery life. 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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 offers a balance of portability, decent battery life, and adequate performance for everyday tasks, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its higher-end CPU and RAM, excels in screen quality and is more capable of handling demanding applications, making it a better choice for intensive use despite being less portable and having a shorter battery life. While both laptops have satisfactory storage, keyboards, and speakers, the MSI stands out with better heat management and less operating noise, which contributes to a smoother user experience for more resource-heavy activities.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has modest graphics capabilities and a lower screen refresh rate, making it sufficient for casual gaming and simple 3D tasks, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio comes equipped with a high-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate ideal for immersive gaming and complex 3D work. Despite both having capable processors and good screens, the MSI's superior graphics hardware and screen speed provide a smoother and more detailed experience for demanding graphics applications.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
9.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 offers solid CPU and RAM for engineering tasks, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio surpasses it with a more powerful GPU and superior screen quality, which are crucial for intensive design work. While the Inspiron is more portable and quieter, the Stealth's keyboard and speakers provide a better experience for extended use, though its increased capabilities come with a tradeoff in size and potentially louder operating noise.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is 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
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
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
6.3/10
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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 modest resolution and brightness levels suffice for everyday tasks like browsing and office work, making it acceptable for general use, but its limited color gamut and standard refresh rate might disappoint engineers, designers and gamers. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio's high resolution and brightness provide a crisp and vibrant display that benefits general tasks and meets the demanding color accuracy needs for professional engineering and design work, though its standard refresh rate isn't ideal for fast-paced 3D games. For those into gaming and 3D rendering, consider looking for laptops with screens that offer high refresh rates for smoother visuals during rapid movements.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
18.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $500 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
"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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
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.
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