If you're looking for a cost-effective option for everyday tasks, the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is a solid choice. However, if your work involves graphics-intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or if you're interested in gaming, the MSI Stealth GS77, while more expensive, offers the high performance necessary for those activities. The MSI laptop will also typically have shorter battery life due to its powerful hardware and may be less portable given its size. Choose the Dell for a balance of price, portability, and battery life for general use, and the MSI if performance for demanding applications is a priority despite the higher cost and reduced portability. 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
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
305.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 offers a balance of performance for general tasks with its capable processor and sufficient RAM, alongside great portability thanks to its smaller screen and lighter weight, which also contributes to its longer-lasting battery life.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
7.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
6.5/10
8.7/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth GS77 is geared more towards engineering and design use with a more powerful main processor, double the RAM, and a superior GPU than the Dell Latitude 14 7490, facilitating better handling of intensive applications and graphics-heavy tasks. Furthermore, the MSI boasts a higher resolution and screen quality which is essential for design accuracy, whereas the Dell Latitude, while still competent, offers more moderate specifications suitable for lighter workloads, but with the advantage of being lighter and more portable.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth GS77 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
7.1/10
8.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is very good for software development, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
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
6.7/10
8.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth GS77 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 selecting a laptop for general use, a higher resolution and brightness on the Dell Latitude enhances everyday tasks, but the MSI Stealth's screen offers superior visual clarity and color, elevating even routine experiences. For engineering and design work where precise color representation is crucial, both laptops deliver with good color gamuts, but the MSI's broader range of colors might give it an edge for the most color-critical tasks. However, for gaming or 3D applications that rely on fluid motion, neither laptop's lower refresh rate will be ideal compared to models designed specifically for those purposes, where smoother on-screen movements are a priority.
Battery
9.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 has 6 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
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 has very good build quality, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$2,499
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the MSI Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
"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."
"The MSI Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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