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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
To help you with your decision, let's consider what each laptop offers and its compromises. If portability is a top priority and you prefer a laptop that's easy to carry, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus would be the lighter option compared to the MSI Stealth 17, which is larger and heavier. However, for those requiring high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth 17 provides more power, better suited for those intensive tasks. The tradeoff here is that the Stealth 17 may have a shorter battery life due to its powerful components and larger screen. Price is another significant factor. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is usually more affordable, making it a good choice for general use without stretching your budget. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 17 often comes at a higher price, reflecting its superior performance capabilities. Last but not least, consider the actual usage: if you're engaged in engineering work, gaming, or content creation, the MSI's power will likely serve you better, even with its added weight and cost. If your work involves more general tasks, and you appreciate mobility and longer battery life, the Dell might be the practical and economical 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
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 17
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.7
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth 17 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The MSI Stealth 17, with its higher-end CPU and GPU, significantly more RAM, and superior display features such as a higher refresh rate and better color coverage, provides a luxurious and high-performing experience for general use that justifies its lower portability due to larger size and heavier weight. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, although offering a competent CPU and sufficient RAM for typical tasks, sacrifices some performance and screen features for better portability and battery life, making it a balanced choice for everyday mobility without compromising too much on capability.
Gaming and AI
6.6
9.1
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.8
9.4
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 17 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The MSI Stealth 17 is excellent for engineering and design use due to its high-end Intel i9 processor, ample 64GB of RAM, and robust Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics, paired with a larger, high-resolution screen that enhances visual detail. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, while still good for these tasks with its capable Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and integrated graphics, falls short of the MSI in terms of raw power and screen size, but offers greater portability and a quieter operating noise.
Content Creation
7.9
8.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 17 is 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
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Stealth 17 is 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.
Screen Quality
7.0
8.6
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 17 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 boasts a screen that's sharp and bright, making it conducive for tasks like browsing and document editing, which enhances general user experience. Its display covers a wide spectrum of colors, serving well for engineering and design where color accuracy matters, but the lower refresh rate limits its appeal to gamers and 3D designers who often require smoother visual transitions. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 17 offers an equally impressive color range and higher brightness, ensuring vibrant visuals for both everyday tasks and professional design work, yet like the Dell, the lower refresh rate may dampen the experience in fast-paced gaming scenarios.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$808
$4,480
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the MSI Stealth 17 costs $4,480.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 17 has 5.5 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Stealth 17 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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 Stealth 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 Plus | MSI Stealth 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$808 | $4,480 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | July 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 15.7'' x 11.2'' x 0.79'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 6.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 15.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 11.16" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i9-13900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 64 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 326 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | August 2022
"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."
MSI Stealth 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | April 2023
"The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is a laptop with a quiet RTX 4080 for almost every occasion. The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is equally capable of high-level media processing and playing current games. It remains pleasantly quiet, even if a few percentage points of power have had to be sacrificed in the process. But, it is not quite perfect: To some extent, the Stealth 17 is well thought out. It packs tons of graphics power and high-end components in a slim case. The laptop's cooling system can be set such that, noise-wise, it doesn't even reach low volume. However, small flaws cloud otherwise exceptionally positive impressions."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the MSI Stealth 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.
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Why trust us
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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