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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and the MSI Katana 15, consider that the Dell is usually less expensive and offers good battery life, making it suitable for general use and productivity tasks with its silent, fanless operation. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15, although more expensive, includes a high-performance graphics card making it better for gaming, 3D applications, and tasks that require more graphics processing power. The MSI also has a higher refresh rate for its display, which enhances gaming and video experiences, but is heavier and may reduce portability compared to the lighter 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 16 5630
- Very good for general use
- Very good for content creation
- Good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Katana 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 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 5630 is very good for general use, while the MSI Katana 15 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 excels in general use largely due to its superior CPU and higher screen resolution, which enhance multitasking and provide clearer visuals, respectively, making it very good for productivity and multimedia tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Katana 15, while still good for general use, has a more modest CPU and lower screen resolution, but counters with a dedicated graphics card and higher refresh rate, appealing more to users interested in gaming or graphic-intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.6
3.8/10
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 5630 is only fair.
The MSI Katana 15 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to a superior Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, which enables smoother visuals and gameplay compared to Dell's integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and a 60Hz refresh rate. The screen quality and CPU, while important, are secondary factors that slightly affect this difference as both laptops have similar display quality and adequate CPUs for gaming, with the MSI's CPU being a bit less powerful than the Dell's.
Content Creation
8.1
7.4
8.2/10
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 5630 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Katana 15 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
7.9
7.0
8.2/10
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 5630 and MSI Katana 15 are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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
6.8
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
258.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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 16 5630's higher resolution and superior panel type offer clearer and more vibrant visuals for general tasks and detailed work in engineering and design, benefiting from better color accuracy. Its screen, however, lacks the high refresh rate critical for smooth visuals in fast-paced 3D applications, making it less suitable for gaming. The MSI Katana 15's adequate performance in resolution and panel quality meets basic needs for everyday use and professional design, but like the Dell, its lower refresh rate detracts from the gaming experience, where fluid motion is key.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good portability, while the MSI Katana 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$849
$949
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a price of $849 and the MSI Katana 15 costs $949.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
7.7
7.7
8.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Katana 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 boasts an Intel i7 CPU with integrated graphics, suitable for design tasks, and has a higher screen resolution and brightness for clear visuals during engineering work, along with a silent operation which is preferable in professional environments.
Build Quality
7.0
7.2
The MSI Katana 15 and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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 5630 and the MSI Katana 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 16 5630 | MSI Katana 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$849 | $949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.67'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.28 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.05" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.91" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1360P | Intel i5-12450H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 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 | 300 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 | Yes | 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 Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
MSI Katana 15
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Dig into reviews and images
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 5630 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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