Dell vs MSI:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Dell had more branded searches than MSI among laptop brands in the United States. Dell had about 135,000 branded searches, while MSI had 18,100. Dell made up 8.2% of all laptop brand searches we track, and MSI accounted for 1.1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about laptop brands, Dell appeared in all five answers and MSI in one. Dell was mentioned before MSI in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Dell, about 7 searches for every 1 for MSI
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Top laptop brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Dell appeared in all five answers. MSI was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Dell was listed before MSI in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Apple MacBook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Dell5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lenovo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
ASUS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
HP2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Alienware1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Acer1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
MSI1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Razer1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Framework0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about laptop brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which laptop should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best laptop brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best laptop for college students?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“laptop”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best laptop”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Dell or MSI more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Dell and MSI by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 laptop brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Dell, MSI. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple MacBook | HP | Dell | Lenovo | Alienware | ASUS | Framework | Microsoft Surface | Samsung | Acer | MSI | Razer | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44% | 13.1% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 4% | 4% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.97% | 0.65% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.9% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 8.2% | 3% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.7% | 14% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| Jan 2026 | 42% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.62% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.3% | 13.5% | 11.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 3.3% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.81% | 0.67% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.2% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.82% | 0.55% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| May 2026 | 48.2% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.87% | 0.58% |
| Jun 2026 | 48.8% | 12% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.59% |
| Jul 2026 | 47.5% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.57% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.3% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.6% |
How has the Dell and MSI comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Dell was ahead of MSI in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dell’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 10.8% to 8.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, MSI’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 1.5% to 1.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 22.2K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for United States laptop brands in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dell’s and MSI’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among laptop brands
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