The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is more budget-friendly and has a slightly longer battery life, making it a good option for general use and business tasks. If you are looking for a machine with better performance, particularly for gaming, 3D work, or machine learning, the MSI Thin GF63 offers a much stronger graphics card. However, the MSI is heavier, which could be a detractor if portability is a major concern for you. The Dell is lighter and more portable but doesn't match the MSI in graphics capability. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize cost and portability over high-end 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
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Thin GF63
Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
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
8.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 which is less capable of handling gaming and 3D tasks compared to the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU in the MSI Thin GF63, which is specifically designed for gaming and can render graphics more efficiently.
Engineering and Design
6.5/10
7.5/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Thin GF63 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has an older processor and integrated graphics, which are adequate but not optimized for high-performance tasks like engineering software and design work, whereas the MSI Thin GF63 is equipped with a newer processor and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, better suited for demanding engineering applications and graphic design work. Additionally, the Dell offers better keyboard quality and is lighter, enhancing portability, but the MSI, while heavier, provides more powerful hardware necessary for intensive tasks and gaming, despite having lower speaker and build quality.
Screen Quality
6.7/10
6.8/10
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 Thin GF63 for engineering and design, while the MSI Thin GF63 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490's screen has higher resolution and brightness, making it sharp and clear for general use, while its color coverage is beneficial for tasks like engineering and design that demand color accuracy. The MSI Thin GF63, with similar resolution and brightness, offers decent visual quality for everyday tasks and is adequate for some design work, although limited color gamut may affect precision. However, both have lower refresh rates, which means they aren't ideal for 3D applications or gaming where smooth motion is crucial for an immersive experience.
Battery
9.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Thin GF63 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 Thin GF63 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.5/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality, while the MSI Thin GF63 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$1,150
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the MSI Thin GF63 costs $1,150.
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 provides a balance for general use with its adequate CPU and RAM, a high-resolution screen with good color coverage, and long battery life, while being lightweight for portability. In contrast, the MSI Thin GF63 offers a more powerful CPU and graphics for demanding tasks, albeit with a slightly shorter battery life and increased weight, which might be less ideal for users who prioritize mobility over performance.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for content creation.
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
7.2/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Thin GF63 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 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.
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How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the MSI Thin GF63 compare to other laptops
"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 GF63 Thin 11SC can be an admirable value for gamers and power users on a minimal budget. For just $599 as reviewed in its base model, its Intel Core i5 H-class processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics perform much better than low-wattage CPUs and integrated graphics. That said, this is a light-class gaming laptop. Low scores in our demanding gaming benchmarks indicate using lower visual-quality settings will be required for playable performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the MSI Thin GF63
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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