A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
If you prioritize saving money and need a laptop for general use with good battery life and portability, the Dell Latitude 5430 is a solid choice. On the other hand, if you require a laptop for 3D work, machine learning, gaming, or intensive engineering tasks and are willing to invest more for increased performance and a higher-quality display, the MSI Creator M14 would be the better option. Keep in mind, though, that the MSI model may be less portable and have shorter battery life compared to the Dell Latitude. Choose based on what your daily needs and budget dictate. 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 Latitude 5430
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
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
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
248.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 5430 is good.
The Dell Latitude 5430 offers satisfactory performance for everyday tasks with a decent processor and enough memory, plus it's lightweight and has a long-lasting battery making it suitable for on-the-go use. Meanwhile, the MSI Creator M14, with a higher-quality screen and superior CPU and RAM, not only excels in general use but also caters to more demanding applications, although it might be less portable and have a shorter battery life than the Dell.
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.3
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 5430 is only fair.
The MSI Creator M14 typically comes with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D performance, while the Dell Latitude 5430 has modest graphics capabilities and a standard refresh rate that might not handle intense graphics as effectively. Although the Latitude's CPU and screen quality are adequate for general usage, the Creator M14 has the edge in tasks requiring graphical power due to its superior GPU and screen attributes.
Engineering and Design
6.5
8.4
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5430 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 5430, while capable of handling basic engineering tasks, may not perform as smoothly with intensive design software due to its less powerful CPU, GPU, and lower RAM compared to the MSI Creator M14, which has high-end specs that ensure better performance for demanding engineering and design applications. While both have good screen quality, the MSI's superior display benefits detailed design work; however, the Dell offers better portability and less operating noise, making it more suitable for on-the-go use and quieter environments.
Content Creation
7.2
8.0
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Latitude 5430 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
7.1
7.8
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Latitude 5430 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
6.1
7.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
248.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5430 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, you'll appreciate the Dell Latitude's adequate resolution and brightness, but these features don't stand up to more specialized demands. While the MSI Creator M14 offers crisp images and vibrant color accuracy, which is vital for engineering and design tasks, it doesn't cater to the high refresh rates required for a smooth 3D gaming experience. Both laptops, due to their average refresh rates, are not ideal for gaming, where fluid motion and quick screen updates are crucial.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 5430 has 9 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Latitude 5430 has very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$790
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Latitude 5430 has a price of $790 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Latitude 5430 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Latitude 5430 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 5430 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$790 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.76'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.01 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.65" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.35" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1235U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 248 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 5430 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
131,295
Recommendations made
28,448
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
