The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a better price-to-performance ratio with a longer battery life and higher portability due to its lighter weight, making it a good fit for general use and business tasks. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while more expensive, boasts a high-end GPU that excels in intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. Its larger screen, higher refresh rate, and features like hardware ray tracing and DLSS make it suited for power users who prioritize performance over cost and portability. Both laptops come with ample RAM and good build quality, but if gaming or heavy graphics work is a priority, the MSI might be the better choice despite its shorter battery life and added heft. 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 Plus
Very good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz which is suitable for casual gaming and basic 3D tasks, while the MSI GP66 Leopard boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, making it better suited for intensive gaming and demanding 3D applications.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
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
7.0/10
7.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has a better screen for general use, and gaming and AI.
If you need a laptop primarily for browsing, document editing, or watching videos, both the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the MSI GP66 Leopard offer good screen quality with sharp resolution and brightness suitable for these tasks. For engineering and design where color accuracy is crucial, they both provide a wide range of colors, but keep in mind that intense color work may require better than what these screens offer. Gamers and 3D professionals should note that while the resolution and panel type of these laptops are adequate, their refresh rates are lower than what is preferred for smooth, fast-paced visuals.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI GP66 Leopard has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$808
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is well-suited for general use with its capable CPU, ample RAM, high-quality screen, and lightweight design which enhance its portability and battery life; making it ideal for everyday tasks and mobility. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard, while also equipped with a strong CPU and enough RAM, prioritizes graphics performance with its advanced GPU and is less portable due to its heavier weight and shorter battery life, fitting users who need power for graphics-intensive applications but can compromise on mobility.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
7.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI GP66 Leopard and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its high-resolution IPS display and capable integrated GPU, suits design tasks well, while the strong CPU and ample RAM handle engineering software proficiently. In contrast, the MSI GP66 Leopard offers a powerful dedicated GPU suitable for demanding design and engineering applications, with a high refresh rate display for smooth visuals, although it's heavier and noisier, which might affect its portability and use in quiet environments.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Battery
6.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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 Plus and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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