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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 with its AMD Ryzen processor and Radeon graphics is more budget-friendly and has a long battery life, which makes it suitable for general use and convenient for those needing a laptop for everyday tasks without spending much. It's lighter and quieter due to fanless operation, enhancing portability. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14, though more expensive, comes with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and double the memory, which translates to better performance for engineering and 3D tasks. It also has a higher-resolution, brighter display with touch support, a backlit keyboard, and more USB-C ports which could be a deciding factor for professionals looking for a versatile, higher-end device. However, it’s heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may not be ideal for users on the move. 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 Acer Aspire 3 14
- The Acer Aspire 3 14 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 7420.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.1
6.9
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 14's moderate CPU, RAM, and GPU make it fair for engineering and design, but these specs could limit performance in very complex tasks. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a stronger CPU and GPU, more RAM, and higher screen resolution and quality, making it good for such demanding applications, although it may be less portable and potentially noisier under load.
Screen Quality
6.1
6.2
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for content creation.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 3 and the Dell Inspiron 14 have screens that offer adequate resolution and acceptable brightness but may fall short when it comes to the vibrancy and viewing angles owing to their panel types. When it comes to engineering and design work, the importance of accurate colors means that these laptops' screens, which don’t cover professional color gamuts extensively, can be a limitation for detailed color work. As for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates of these screens mean they're less suitable for fast-paced visuals that benefit from smoother motion clarity.
Battery
9.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$434
$801
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers better performance for general use compared to the Acer Aspire 3 14, considering it has a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and faster processing. Additionally, the Dell Inspiron 14 has a higher resolution touchscreen and longer battery life, which contributes to a better user experience in various settings, though it is slightly heavier and not as silent in operation as the fanless Acer.
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.2
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 14's gaming and 3D capabilities are limited by its AMD Radeon 610M graphics, which offers basic performance, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is equipped with the more capable Intel Iris Xe graphics, providing better handling of graphic-intensive tasks. Additionally, both laptops have similar screen refresh rates that are standard for daily use but may not offer the smoothest experience for gaming and 3D applications which benefit from higher refresh rates.
Content Creation
7.2
7.3
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Acer Aspire 3 14 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
7.3
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Acer Aspire 3 14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Dell Inspiron 14 7420 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$434 | $801 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 260 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | June 2022
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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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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