If you're looking for a more portable and affordable option, the Dell Inspiron 14 7435 could be your choice, as it's likely lighter and smaller than the MSI Katana 17. However, if your work involves tasks that demand higher performance such as gaming, 3D rendering, or engineering software, the MSI Katana 17, despite being more expensive, would generally provide better performance due to its larger size allowing for more powerful components and better cooling. Keep in mind, the larger size might also mean that the MSI Katana 17 could have shorter battery life and be less easy to carry around. 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 Inpsiron 14 7435
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 17
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 17 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 14 7435 in gaming and 3D applications primarily because it boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz, compared to the Inspiron's integrated AMD Vega 8 GPU and a 60 Hz screen refresh rate. These features are critical for rendering complex graphics smoothly, which makes the Katana more suitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 is good.
The MSI Katana 17 is geared towards engineering and design with a more powerful processor and double the RAM of the Dell Inspiron 14 7435, along with a higher-end GPU, making it superior for demanding tasks. Although both have good screen quality, the Dell's smaller size and lower weight make it more portable, but its performance is less suited for heavy engineering workloads compared to the MSI Katana 17's larger screen and higher refresh rate.
Screen Quality
6.1/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
216.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's screen might not be as sharp or vivid as you'd like due to its average resolution and brightness, which can affect how crisp and clear images appear, while the MSI Katana, with its better resolution and brightness, provides a more satisfying viewing experience. When it comes to engineering and design, neither laptop offers optimal color accuracy for professional work, as they don't fully cover professional color gamuts, which are crucial for tasks requiring precise color representation. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to low refresh rates, meaning that fast-paced visuals may not appear as smooth, although the MSI's better resolution and panel type are slight pluses.
Battery
8.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 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
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$779
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 has a price of $779 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 are both good for general use.
The MSI Katana 17 comes with more RAM and a stronger CPU than the Dell Inspiron 14 7435, which translates into better performance for various tasks, but this also leads to a heavier and larger device, reducing portability. Furthermore, while both laptops offer good screen quality, the larger screen of the MSI may improve the viewing experience at the expense of reduced battery life.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 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
7.4/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 and Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 and MSI Katana 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 and the MSI Katana 17 compare to other laptops
"We see no shame in an economy laptop missing the four-star mark. Frankly, we considered giving the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 three-and-a-half stars for its low price, competitive performance, and long battery life. Unfortunately, working with a screen that can't deliver at least 300 nits of brightness is simply no fun to the point of detrimental. Still, if you're looking for a convertible laptop on a tight budget, it's worth keeping an eye on Dell's sales and discounts. That Lavender Blue model is fairly tempting."
"The MSI Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inpsiron 14 7435 or the MSI Katana 17
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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