The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers better portability due to its smaller screen size and lighter weight, making it a solid choice for those who frequently travel or commute. It also provides a higher resolution display with better color coverage, which can be important for tasks such as photo editing. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is equipped with a more powerful dedicated graphics card suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks, but it's heavier and has a lower battery life, which may not be ideal for long periods away from a power source. Both laptops have the same amount of storage and RAM, and their prices reflect their respective strengths. If you prioritize gaming or high-performance tasks and don't mind a bulkier laptop with less battery life, the MSI Katana 15 might be the way to go; otherwise, for general use with better portability and display quality, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus would be a better choice. 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
Good overall display quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
Good for gaming and AI
Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
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
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has an Intel i7 CPU and integrated GPU, which are suitable for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks; meanwhile, the MSI Katana 15, with its Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and high refresh rate display, is more capable of handling intensive gaming and 3D applications, providing smoother visuals and better overall performance.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI Katana 15 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
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus boasts a high-resolution panel with impressive brightness, which makes it excellent for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, and its strong color reproduction benefits engineers and designers who require accurate colors for their work. However, its lower refresh rate does not lend itself well to 3D applications and games, which require smoother transitions and rapid image updates. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 has a fair display that suffices for daily activities and design tasks but falls short for gaming and 3D purposes due to similar limitations in refresh rate, even though its resolution and panel type are adequate.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 15 has 4 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
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$808
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen with good brightness and color coverage, which make it well-suited for general use; additionally, its larger battery and lighter weight contribute to better portability and longer battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15, while also equipped with sufficient RAM and a capable CPU for everyday tasks, includes a dedicated graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate more suitable for gaming, but this comes at the cost of reduced battery life and heavier weight, making it less portable.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI Katana 15 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
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 Katana 15 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI Katana 15 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 Inspiron 14 Plus and the MSI Katana 15 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 Katana 15 B12 combines a Gen12 CPU with an RTX 4050, which is actually not a bad idea for a budget gamer. The CPU is anything but bad and the GPU in the Katana 15 proves to be significantly more efficient than last year's models. However, our main point of criticism for budget gamers is the price: while you can get budget laptops with RTX 3060 from around US$800, you pay a whole US$1,499.99 here! The efficiency advantages of the RTX 4050 do not justify this price premium."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the MSI Katana 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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