When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, consider that the Dell is more budget-friendly and offers sufficient performance for everyday tasks, making it a practical choice for general use and portability. On the other hand, the MSI excels in demanding applications like 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, and engineering, thanks to its higher-end hardware. However, it's usually heavier and has a shorter battery life, which means less portability and frequent charging. So, if your priority is high-end performance and you are less concerned about cost and mobility, the MSI might be the better option. 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
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its decent processing power and memory, suitable screen, and good balance between portability and battery life, offers solid performance for everyday tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its higher-end CPU and more RAM, excels with a superior screen, which enhances its capabilities for more demanding applications, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life, which could be a tradeoff for users needing a machine for more intensive use.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while suitable for casual gaming, has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate which limits its performance in demanding 3D applications and gaming. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, on the other hand, is equipped with a high-end GPU and a screen with a faster refresh rate, providing a smoother and more immersive experience for high-end gaming and 3D modeling.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
9.1/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its capable CPU, sufficient RAM, and decent GPU, is a good fit for engineering tasks and has a quality screen to match, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio excels with a more powerful CPU, greater RAM, and superior GPU, providing smoother performance for demanding engineering software, alongside a higher quality display that benefits design work; however, the latter trades off with less portability due to its size and potentially louder operating noise. While both have good keyboards and speakers, those seeking top-tier performance and screen real estate for complex projects may favor the MSI despite the increased size and noise.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
7.3/10
8.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
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
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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's fair screen quality for general use is due to an adequate panel type, resolution, and brightness that suffice for everyday tasks but may not stand out in vibrancy or clarity. For engineering and design, its fair quality stems from moderate coverage of color gamuts, offering acceptable color accuracy for professional work but not the ideal range for the highest precision. The poor gaming and 3D experience is primarily because of its lower refresh rate, which limits the smoothness and responsiveness needed in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has 6 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
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
"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 Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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