If saving money is a priority and you'll primarily use the laptop for everyday tasks like browsing and office work, the Dell Inspiron may suffice and leave some room in your budget. However, if you intend to engage in demanding activities such as video editing, 3D modeling, or running complex software, the MSI Creator is designed for such tasks and usually offers better performance, but at a higher cost. Keep in mind the MSI may also have a sleeker design with potentially better display quality, which could be worth the extra investment if you value visual work or entertainment. 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 5635
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is only fair.
The MSI Creator M14 typically comes equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635, which is crucial for smooth gaming and 3D rendering. While both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's superior graphics performance makes it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
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 16 5635 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with its capable CPU, adequate RAM, and modest GPU, suits general engineering tasks, while the MSI Creator M14's superior CPU, larger RAM, and more powerful GPU, along with a high-quality screen, make it better suited for more demanding engineering and design work. However, the Inspiron may benefit from better portability and potentially quieter operation, whereas the MSI, with its premium features, could be less portable and have a louder operating noise.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
7.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
265.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's screen may not be as clear or vibrant as the MSI Creator M14 due to differences in panel type, resolution, and brightness, which are critical for everyday viewing comfort and clarity. The MSI Creator's higher color gamut coverage makes it more suitable for engineering and design work, offering more accurate color representation which is essential for professional editing and modeling tasks. However, both laptops may fall short for gaming and 3D applications as they lack high refresh rates, which are vital for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals, despite the MSI having some advantage in resolution and panel quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 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
7.0/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$735
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a price of $735 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and MSI Creator M14 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635, with its balanced CPU and ample RAM, handles everyday tasks smoothly, offers a high-quality screen for crisp visuals, and maintains portability with reasonable battery life, making it well-suited for general use. The MSI Creator M14, while similar in CPU and RAM, provides added benefits for content creators such as superior screen quality, but may be less portable due to its form factor and potential trade-offs in battery life.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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