The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is often less expensive and more portable due to its smaller screen and lighter weight, making it suitable for general use and comfortable to carry around. However, for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering applications, the MSI Prestige 15, which typically costs more, offers better performance with its dedicated graphics card (Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q). The MSI also boasts a longer battery life and includes a hardware ray tracing feature, which may be beneficial for certain types of graphical work or gaming, but it is slightly heavier and less portable than the Dell. 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
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
Good for engineering and design
Very good speakers
Key differences
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
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers a display that meets the basic needs for clarity and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks that don't require top-tier visuals, but it may lack the color accuracy and wider color gamut that professional engineering and design work demand. The MSI Prestige 15, with its superior color reproduction, caters well to professionals who require high color fidelity for precise engineering and design projects, but neither laptop provides the high refresh rate desired for smooth visuals in 3D applications or gaming. As a result, while the MSI Prestige 15 is a better fit for users focused on visual accuracy in productivity tasks, gamers and those heavily invested in 3D graphics may find both models lacking in providing the most immersive experience.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$801
$1,044
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Prestige 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420's high-resolution touchscreen and 2-in-1 convertible design offer versatility for general use, while the powerful Intel i7 CPU and ample RAM support smooth multitasking; its portability and substantial battery life cater to mobile users.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is fair for gaming and 3D because it has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU which is less powerful for these tasks and a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, while the MSI Prestige 15 also offers fair gaming and 3D capabilities with a dedicated Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q GPU that provides better performance than integrated graphics, yet it still matches the Dell with a 60Hz screen refresh rate which is not ideal for high-frame-rate gaming. Both laptops are equipped with similar quality IPS displays and capable CPUs, however, the dedicated GPU in the MSI makes it more suited to gaming and 3D tasks than the Dell, although neither are top choices for the most demanding gaming experiences due to the refresh rate limitations.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is equipped with a capable Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics suitable for engineering software, complemented by a high-resolution touch display advantageous for design tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Prestige 15, also with solid CPU and RAM for engineering, stands out with its dedicated Nvidia GPU and larger screen which offers quality color reproduction critical for design work, while both maintain a balance with portability and overall user experience.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 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
7.3/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Prestige 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 Prestige 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and MSI Prestige 15 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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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the MSI Prestige 15 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 Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the MSI Prestige 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.
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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