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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 and the MSI Katana 15 depends on your needs. The Dell is more budget-friendly, lighter, and offers silent operation, making it a good choice for general use, while the MSI, being pricier, has a more powerful processor and graphics card suited for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks. The MSI also has additional gaming features such as a high refresh rate display and RGB backlit keyboard, but has lower battery life and is heavier, making it less portable. Both have the same amount of RAM and non-touch IPS displays, but the Dell offers a bit longer battery life for typical usage. 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 16 5620
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has fair performance in gaming and 3D because of its integrated Iris Xe graphics and a screen refresh rate of only 60Hz, which are less suited for fast-paced gaming experiences. In contrast, the MSI Katana 15 offers significantly better gaming and 3D capabilities with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which results in smoother and more responsive gameplay.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.7
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Katana 15 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is suitable for engineering and design due to its larger screen with higher resolution, which benefits detailed work, and its quiet operation that enhances the work environment; however, it has integrated graphics, which are less powerful than dedicated graphics cards for certain engineering applications. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15 is geared towards similar uses, offering a robust dedicated Nvidia graphics card for demanding tasks and a high refresh rate display, although it's slightly less portable and has a lower screen resolution, which might affect the sharpness of visual detail in design work.
Screen Quality
6.2
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has a better screen than the MSI Katana 15 for software development, while the MSI Katana 15 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 and MSI Katana 15 have screens that are adequate for general tasks, with resolution and brightness levels that meet basic needs but may not provide standout clarity or vibrancy. For engineering and design, both models offer screens with decent color representation but lack the extensive color gamut coverage professionals may need for precise, color-critical work. While for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short primarily due to lower refresh rates, which can limit the smoothness and responsiveness essential in these scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has 8 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
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$500
$949
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 has a price of $500 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
265.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 is favored for general use due to its lightweight design, making it more portable, as well as its larger screen with higher resolution and brightness, which offers a clearer and more vibrant display. The MSI Katana 15, while slightly less portable due to its weight, provides double the storage and a more powerful GPU which can handle more demanding tasks, making it a versatile option for general as well as more intensive use, despite its standard resolution display.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.0
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5620 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.0
7.2
The MSI Katana 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5620 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 16 5620 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5620 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.68'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.12 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.92" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 4 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 265 nits | 258 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 16 5620
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Stuff
Brett Venter | January 2023
"If the world is exciting enough right now, you can do far worse than a solid performer that you know will get the job done. Our review model is as powerful as you'd want an office machine to be unless you're performing specialist tasks and the price point is pretty attractive (unless work will let you have a MacBook Air instead)."
MSI Katana 15
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NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"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 16 5620 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.
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