For general use with a focus on saving money, the Dell Inspiron might be a suitable choice since it’s less expensive and covers basic needs. On the other hand, the MSI Creator is likely more appropriate for demanding tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming due to better performance, but it comes at a higher cost. You’ll also find the MSI potentially offers a higher quality display, which is beneficial for creative work. In terms of carrying your laptop around, the MSI might be easier to handle due to a more portable design compared to the heavier Dell. 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 15 3530
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers adequate processing power and memory for routine tasks, complemented by a decent screen and reasonable portability, but it may not excel in battery life. The MSI Creator M14, on the other hand, boasts a superior CPU and RAM for smoother multitasking, enhanced screen quality for sharp visuals, and improved battery life, making it more suitable for prolonged, versatile use, albeit at a higher cost.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while capable of handling less demanding games and 3D tasks, is limited by its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate compared to the MSI Creator M14 which offers a superior gaming experience thanks to its higher-end GPU and faster refresh rate. Additionally, although both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's emphasis on graphics performance makes it a better fit for those specifically interested in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The MSI Creator M14 typically offers a higher-end CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, providing smoother and faster performance for demanding engineering software and better screen quality for detailed design work. While the Dell is more portable and may have a quieter operating noise, its keyboard and speaker quality don't significantly offset the performance advantages of the MSI for engineering tasks.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
7.2/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 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
6.6/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's display quality may be considered fair due to its average resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks, but it may lack the sharpness and clarity found in higher-end panels. The MSI Creator's screen provides a clearer and brighter image, contributing to its good rating, and its superior color reproduction makes it more suitable for engineering and design tasks where color accuracy is crucial. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications since they lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth motion and a more immersive experience in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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
6.2/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$722
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and MSI Creator M14 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
Dell Inspiron 15 3530
MSI Creator M14
GENERAL
Price
Price
$722
$1,500
Release Date
Release Date
May 1, 2023
March 1, 2024
Overall Dimensions
Overall Dimensions
14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65''
12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88''
Weight
Weight
3.64 lbs
3.53 lbs
Width
Width
14.11"
12.39"
Depth
Depth
9.25"
9.19"
INTERNAL
Processor
Processor
Intel i5-1335U
Intel i7-13620H
RAM
RAM
16 GB
32 GB
DDR Memory Version
DDR Memory Version
4
5
RAM Slots
RAM Slots
2
2
Storage
Storage
512 GB
1024 GB
Storage Slots
Storage Slots
1
1
Graphics
Graphics
Iris Xe
RTX 4060 (45 W)
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus
No
No
GPU Type
GPU Type
Integrated
Dedicated
GPU Memory (VRAM)
GPU Memory (VRAM)
N/A
8 GB
Supports DLSS
Supports DLSS
No
Yes
Supports Ray Tracing
Supports Ray Tracing
No
Yes
BATTERY
Battery Life
Battery Life
6.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
Battery Capacity
Battery Capacity
41 Wh
53.5 Wh
SCREEN
Diagonal Size
Diagonal Size
15.6"
14"
Display Technology
Display Technology
IPS
IPS
Resolution
Resolution
1920 x 1080
2880 x 1800
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120Hz
60Hz
Display Brightness
Display Brightness
220 nits
350 nits
Screen Aspect Ratio
Screen Aspect Ratio
16:9
16:10
Pixel Density
Pixel Density
141.21 PPI
242.59 PPI
Contrast
Contrast
700: 1
1019: 1
Display Response Time
Display Response Time
35 ms
12.9 ms
DCI-P3
DCI-P3
49 %
100 %
sRGB
sRGB
66 %
100 %
Adobe RGB
Adobe RGB
49 %
85 %
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS
Build Quality Score
Build Quality Score
6.3/10
7.8/10
Portability Score
Portability Score
8/10
7.8/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
Gaming Laptop Appearance
No
No
Premium Business Laptop
Premium Business Laptop
No
No
Fan Noise Score
Fan Noise Score
7.5/10
7.8/10
Facial Recognition
Facial Recognition
No
No
Upper Side Temp (Max)
Upper Side Temp (Max)
37.8°C
Lower Side Temp (Max)
Lower Side Temp (Max)
55.6°C
Palm Rest Temp (Max)
Palm Rest Temp (Max)
20.6°C
Keyboard Lighting Color
Keyboard Lighting Color
N/A
White
Warranty Period
Warranty Period
1 year
1 year
HARDWARE FEATURES
Keyboard Quality Score
Keyboard Quality Score
6.5/10
8/10
Speaker Quality Score
Speaker Quality Score
6.5/10
7.5/10
Webcam
Webcam
1080p
720p
Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint Reader
No
Yes
Backlit Keyboard
Backlit Keyboard
No
Yes
Number Pad
Number Pad
Yes
No
CONNECTIVITY
USB Type-A
USB Type-A
2
3
USB-C ports
USB-C ports
1
1
USB-C Charging
USB-C Charging
No
No
Display Outputs
Display Outputs
1
2
Thunderbolt Ports
Thunderbolt Ports
0
0
DisplayPorts
DisplayPorts
0
0
HDMI Ports
HDMI Ports
1
1
Ethernet
Ethernet
No
Yes
Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth Version
5.2
5.3
WiFi Version
WiFi Version
6
6E
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the MSI Creator M14
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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