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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Inspiron and the MSI Creator, consider how you'll use the laptop. If you're focusing on everyday tasks like browsing and office applications, the Dell offers a more budget-friendly choice without compromising much on performance for these activities. However, the MSI Creator is tailored for creative professionals and offers better performance for tasks like video editing, graphic design, and 3D modeling, but at a higher cost. It also comes with a heftier price tag. The Dell will likely be lighter and offer longer battery life, making it more portable, whereas the MSI provides more power for demanding applications at the expense of portability and 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 7420
- Very good portability
- 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
- Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with capable CPU and RAM, offers a balance suitable for everyday tasks, but the MSI Creator M14 takes the edge in general use with its higher-quality screen and longer battery life, enhancing the user experience for activities like streaming and web browsing. While both are portable, the MSI's focus on screen quality and battery longevity, despite potential trade-offs in storage and heat management, makes it more appealing for users who prioritize visual performance and the ability to use the device on the go without frequent charging.
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.3
3.7/10
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 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while sufficient for casual gaming and basic 3D tasks, has a GPU and screen refresh rate that aren't as advanced as those found in the MSI Creator M14, which offers a better graphics card and a higher refresh rate, making it more suitable for smoother and more detailed gaming and 3D rendering. Additionally, the MSI's superior screen quality and CPU offer enhanced visuals and overall performance, further distinguishing it as a better fit for more demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.9
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
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 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while suitable for engineering tasks, may be outpaced by the MSI Creator M14, which often comes with more powerful CPUs and GPUs critical for demanding software, along with higher RAM, ensuring smoother multitasking and better screen quality for precise designs. Although both have decent portability, the MSI's focus on creative professionals means it might sacrifice some battery life and lightness for its enhanced performance and display features, and while both laptops have quality keyboards, the Creator's attention to detail might also extend to a quieter operating noise and better speakers.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
7.3
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
6.2
7.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers suitable resolution and brightness for daily tasks and its screen will render fairly accurate colors for casual design work, but it lacks the high refresh rates gamers crave, deeming it poor for fast-paced games and 3D modeling. The MSI Creator M14, with its good color accuracy covering a wider range of color gamuts, makes for a solid choice for professionals in engineering and design, yet it still falls short for gaming due to a less impressive refresh rate. Both laptops might disappoint serious gamers or 3D artists, but serve well in their respective strengths for general users and creators.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$801
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 260 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | June 2022
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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.
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