The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, being less expensive, offers a blend of portability, longer battery life, and a sharper display with touch capabilities, making it suitable for general use and productivity tasks. It's also lighter and generally performs well for day-to-day activities. However, if you need a laptop more suited for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI GF65 Thin may be a better choice, with a dedicated Nvidia graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals, although it comes with shorter battery life and is heavier, making it less portable. Both have similar storage capacity, but the Dell includes more RAM for multitasking. Keep in mind the MSI's more powerful graphics also make it more suitable for engineering applications, albeit at a higher price point. 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 for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 7420.
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is better suited for general use because it offers a balance of features important for everyday tasks, like a good processor, sufficient RAM, and a high-quality screen, in a more portable form factor with longer battery life compared to the MSI GF65 Thin. While the MSI has a dedicated GPU, making it suitable for gaming, its heavier weight, shorter battery life, and specs that otherwise do not outclass the Dell make it less optimal for non-gaming general use.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
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 GF65 Thin and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a less capable integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for high-performance gaming and 3D applications, whereas the MSI GF65 Thin has a more powerful dedicated gaming GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, which is better suited for such tasks but may come at a higher price and reduced battery life.
Software Development
7.3/10
6.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.2/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize a sharp and clear display for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing, neither the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 nor the MSI GF65 Thin excel due to basic screen resolutions and modest brightness. For engineering and design work, accurate colors are crucial; both laptops provide only fair performance since they don't cover color gamuts extensively. Finally, for immersive gaming and 3D work, the refresh rate is vital for smooth visuals; both models fall short in offering a high refresh rate, which can limit the gaming and 3D experience.
Battery
7.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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 GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its strong CPU, ample RAM, quality screen, and included GPU that handle design software effectively, while its portability and touch screen enhance flexibility in various work environments. The MSI GF65 Thin offers a robust dedicated GPU suitable for engineering tasks that require graphic intensity, and its high refresh rate screen and cooling system are a plus, but it's slightly less portable and has less RAM than the Dell, potentially affecting multitasking performance.
Content Creation
7.3/10
6.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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