The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is often less expensive and more portable, offering solid performance for general use and good battery life, making it a practical choice for those who prioritize affordability and carrying ease. The MSI Prestige 16, despite being somewhat more expensive, boasts a larger screen, higher RAM, a better battery capacity, and superior performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks. Additionally, its build and speaker quality are better. Choose the Dell for cost efficiency and portability, or the MSI if you need more power and can handle a slightly heavier and costlier laptop. 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
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.0/10
8.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a balance between resolution and brightness suited for general tasks and engineering work, but its lower refresh rate may hinder the smooth visuals desired for gaming or fast-paced 3D applications. The MSI Prestige 16 elevates the viewing experience with a high-resolution and bright display, providing sharp and vivid images for both everyday activities and detail-sensitive tasks like engineering and design, though it still falls short for 3D tasks due to its lower refresh rate. While both laptops have screens that effectively cover color gamuts for professional design work, neither is optimized for the high refresh rate demands typical of gaming and advanced 3D modeling.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 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.
Cost
$1,200
$1,611
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,200 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The MSI Prestige 16 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus in general use largely due to its superior CPU and double the amount of RAM, which provide better multitasking and smoother performance. Additionally, the Prestige 16 has a larger, higher-resolution screen with better color accuracy and contrast, and longer battery life, though it is slightly heavier and less portable.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
6.7/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is equipped with an Iris Xe GPU and a screen that refreshes 60 times per second, which is suitable for moderate gaming and 3D tasks, while the MSI Prestige 16 also has an Iris Xe GPU, but with a higher screen refresh rate of 165 times per second, providing a smoother gaming experience and better handling of fast-moving 3D graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
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
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
7.7/10
8.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Prestige 16 to be very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 Plus to have very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and MSI Prestige 16 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 Plus and the MSI Prestige 16 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 Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the MSI Prestige 16
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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