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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI Creator M14, consider your primary use. If your work involves graphics design, video editing, or demanding creative software, the MSI Creator M14's higher-end graphics and processing power will serve you better, but it comes with a higher price. For everyday tasks like browsing, office applications, and lighter workloads, the Dell Latitude will be cost-effective and still perform well. The Dell also offers better battery life and easier portability, making it a sensible choice for those who prioritize convenience and are budget-conscious. The MSI, while less portable, is designed for content creators needing top-tier performance. 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 14 7490
- 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
305.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with its dependable CPU and ample RAM, ensures smooth performance for everyday tasks, while its portable design and long battery life make it ideal for users on the go. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14 offers a higher screen quality which is great for visual tasks, yet it remains easily transportable with good battery life, though it's more tailored towards those who prioritize a vibrant display for creative work.
Gaming and AI
5.9
7.3
3.5/10
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
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a modest GPU which isn't ideal for the heavy graphics processing required in high-end gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Creator M14 comes with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing gaming and 3D performance. Although both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the MSI make it a better fit for those demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.5
8.4
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.5/10
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 Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, while suitable for general use, may struggle with demanding engineering tasks due to its average CPU, RAM, and GPU compared to the MSI Creator M14, which excels with higher-end components that provide smoother performance for intensive design work. Although both laptops have high-quality screens, the MSI's superior components make it a better choice for engineering and design, despite the Dell Latitude's advantages in terms of its lighter weight and potentially quieter operation, which make it more portable and less disruptive in quiet environments.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
3.8/10
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 Latitude 14 7490 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
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 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 14 7490 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
6.7
7.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When choosing between the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI Creator M14 for general use, consider that both have sufficient resolution and brightness, but the panel type on the Dell may not be as vibrant. For engineering and design tasks, both laptops offer good color accuracy, but the MSI Creator M14 might provide a broader color gamut, important for precise color work. However, neither is ideal for gaming or 3D modeling due to lower refresh rates, with the Dell potentially lagging behind the MSI, which may have a slight edge in this area despite both having room for improvement.
Battery
9.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 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.
Cost
$300
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to have very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.8
The MSI Creator M14 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7490 | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2018 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.11 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.7" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-8650U | 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 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 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 | 305 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 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 | 8.8/10 | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Latitude 14 7490
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Henry T. Casey | April 2018
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 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.
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