The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, being slightly less expensive, may interest you if you are looking for value. However, the MSI Thin GF63, while a bit pricier, offers a superior gaming experience with its dedicated graphics card. It's ideal for demanding tasks but comes with a tradeoff in terms of greater weight and, usually, shorter battery life. If you prioritize machine learning, 3D applications, or enjoy gaming, the MSI Thin GF63 is a solid choice. Conversely, for everyday tasks with the benefit of portability and longer battery life, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 may be more appealing. Both provide ample storage and memory, but the MSI excels in display refresh rate, which is particularly beneficial for gaming. 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
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
The MSI Thin GF63 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5425.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The MSI Thin GF63 offers a better experience for gaming and 3D due to its Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card that generally outperforms the Vega 8 GPU in the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz compared to the Dell's 60Hz, making on-screen movements smoother. Although the Dell Inspiron has a higher screen resolution, the quality of the GPU and the refresh rate are more crucial for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Thin GF63 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen processor and Vega 8 GPU and has a higher resolution display with better brightness and color coverage, making it suitable for design where screen quality is critical. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 features an Intel i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX GPU, offering more powerful computational and graphics capabilities, which might be preferable for complex engineering simulations and tasks that require better graphics performance.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a better screen than the MSI Thin GF63 for software development, while the MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When it comes to general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the MSI Thin GF63 offer screens that are adequate in clarity and brightness, but they might not have the high resolution or the panel type that provides the most vibrant colors and viewing angles. For engineering and design, while both devices are usable, they lack the wide color gamuts necessary for the most accurate color representation, which is crucial for detailed and color-critical work. As for 3D and gaming, the lower refresh rate on these laptops means less fluid motion and slower response times, which are less optimal for fast-paced visuals and can detract from the immersive experience.
Battery
12.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has very good portability, while the MSI Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$479
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $479 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,400.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and MSI Thin GF63 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is well-suited for general use due to its capable CPU, ample RAM, high-quality IPS screen with good color coverage, and lengthy battery life in a slim and light form factor, which enhances its portability. The MSI Thin GF63, on the other hand, offers similar storage and RAM with a high-refresh-rate screen and a stronger CPU designed for gaming, but this comes with the tradeoff of reduced battery life and a bulkier build compromising its portability compared to the Dell Inspiron 5425.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and MSI Thin GF63 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
7.5/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and MSI Thin GF63 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
7.0/10
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5425 to have good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the MSI Thin GF63 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."
"The MSI GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 or the MSI Thin GF63
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
97,095
Recommendations made
21,038
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.