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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a more versatile device that's easier to carry and offers touchscreen functionality with the flexibility to be used as a tablet, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 could be the better choice. It also tends to be somewhat less expensive. However, if you need higher graphics performance for tasks like gaming or 3D work, the MSI Cyborg 15, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, could be more suitable despite being a bit heavier and lacking the 2-in-1 convertible feature. Bear in mind that the MSI also has a larger screen and a more gamer-centric design but comes with 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 7420
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.2
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
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
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers fair gaming and 3D performance with its integrated Intel graphics and a screen refresh rate that is suitable for casual gaming, whereas the MSI Cyborg 15, with its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher refresh rate display, is tailored for a smooth gaming experience and is thus rated higher for gaming and 3D tasks. Although both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the GPU and screen refresh rate are more critical for gaming, giving the MSI Cyborg 15 an edge in this area.
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers a solid CPU and integrated graphics suitable for engineering and design tasks, while its high-resolution touchscreen and convertible design provide flexibility and quality visuals for design work. The MSI Cyborg 15, with its more powerful dedicated GPU and better screen refresh rate, is better equipped for the demands of both engineering simulations and design-related tasks, though it may be less portable and have a louder operating noise due to increased power.
Screen Quality
6.2
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The MSI Cyborg 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Cyborg 15's fair screen quality can be attributed to their adequate resolution and brightness levels that suffice for daily tasks but may not impress in more color-critical applications. In engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, both models offer fair performance by covering a decent range of color spectrums, yet they may not meet the high standards required by professionals for precision work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates limit the smoothness and responsiveness that's essential for a truly immersive experience, despite having acceptable resolution and panel types.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.7
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$1,100
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is well-suited for general use due to its efficient Intel i7 processor, 16 GB of RAM for multitasking, high-quality IPS touchscreen for better viewing angles, and light weight for easy portability, coupled with a respectable battery life. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15 also fits general use with a strong Intel i7 processor and Nvidia graphics for casual gaming, although it has less RAM which may affect multitasking, but compensates with a larger screen and higher refresh rate, though it is heavier which may limit its portability.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Cyborg 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
7.3
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Cyborg 15 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.
Battery
7.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 260 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
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."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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