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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 offers a more budget-friendly option and tends to be lighter, making it more portable and suitable for business and general use. Also, its longer battery life would benefit users who need to work on the go without frequent charging. However, the MSI GF65 Thin boasts a more powerful graphics card, higher screen refresh rate, and is targeted toward gaming and graphic-intensive tasks. While it is usually more expensive, the MSI offers superior performance for gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning applications but comes at the cost of reduced battery life and increased weight. 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
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
- The MSI GF65 Thin has no clear advantages over the Dell Latitude 14 7490.
Key differences
General Use
7.2
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
305.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good for general use, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is preferred for general use due to its superior battery life, portability, and screen quality, as reflected in the larger battery capacity, lighter weight, and higher screen pixel density, color coverage, and brightness. In contrast, the MSI GF65 Thin offers a more powerful graphics card and higher refresh rate screen which may appeal to gamers, but these features contribute to a heavier build and lower battery life, making it less optimal for general use.
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.8
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with an integrated Intel graphics chip, is less suitable for demanding gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which is equipped with a higher-performing Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and benefits from a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing smoothness in visuals during gameplay. While the Dell has a decent CPU for general tasks, the GPU and screen refresh rate are critical for gaming performance, making the MSI a better option for those uses.
Software Development
7.1
6.3
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell Latitude 7490, with its higher resolution and brightness, offers a clearer and more vibrant display for general use and detailed work in engineering and design, where color accuracy is crucial. However, this laptop's lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications and gaming, where smooth motion is key. The MSI GF65 Thin, while having an adequate display for everyday tasks and some design work, lacks in both color range for professional design and the high refresh rates needed for fluid gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
9.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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
15.6in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.7
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality, while the MSI GF65 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
6.5
6.7
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490, with its Intel i7 CPU and integrated graphics, delivers fair engineering and design performance; its solid build and good keyboard make it suitable for professionals who prioritize portability. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin's stronger GPU, the Nvidia RTX 3060, along with a comparable Intel i5 CPU, makes it better for demanding engineering tasks and design work, but it trades off some portability and has a lower quality keyboard.
Content Creation
7.3
6.8
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin is only fair.
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.
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How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7490 | MSI GF65 Thin |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$300 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2018 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.11 lbs | 4.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.7" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-8650U | Intel i5-10500H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 305 nits | 262 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
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."
MSI GF65 Thin
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2021
"The MSI GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the MSI GF65 Thin
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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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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