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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly laptop for everyday tasks, the Acer Aspire 5 15 is a solid choice. It offers a larger 15.6-inch display for comfortable viewing but is heavier to carry around. The performance is generally suitable for regular computing, but it's not ideal for demanding work like gaming or video editing. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while typically more expensive, has a faster processor and dedicated graphics, making it better for intensive tasks and some light gaming. It also has a higher resolution screen, albeit slightly smaller at 14 inches, and is lighter, promoting greater portability. In conclusion, if cost-saving is a priority and you engage in everyday work like document editing and web browsing, the Acer may serve you well. If you can stretch your budget for higher performance and a better display for media consumption while gaining some portability, the Dell could be a worthwhile investment. 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 5 15
- The Acer Aspire 5 15 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 with its Iris Xe graphics is a strong candidate for engineering and design, offering a comfortable 15.6-inch screen and 16GB RAM for efficient multitasking, although its Intel i5 processor may be less powerful than the Dell's. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, despite being more portable due to its smaller 14-inch display, boasts a higher-resolution screen and a superior Nvidia MX570 GPU paired with an Intel i7 processor, making it more suitable for graphics-intensive tasks.
Screen Quality
6.2
6.5
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offer screens suitable for general tasks with decent resolution and brightness, ensuring clear visuals and adequate visibility in various lighting conditions. However, for engineering and design, where precise color representation is crucial, their limited color gamuts may not display colors as accurately as specialized screens, potentially affecting the fidelity of the work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the screens fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times, diminishing the immersive experience and competitive edge in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 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
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$480
$971
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is equipped with a capable processor and ample memory, making it suitable for everyday tasks; its larger screen offers a good viewing experience despite its lower portability and battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 includes a more powerful processor, better graphics, and a higher-resolution display, while also being lighter and offering longer battery life, making it ideal for more demanding general use applications.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.4
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is equipped with an Intel Iris Xe GPU, which is integrated and generally less powerful than dedicated GPUs, thus offering just fair gaming and 3D performance; the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, on the other hand, has the Nvidia MX570, a dedicated GPU which typically provides better performance for gaming and 3D tasks than integrated ones, but both laptops only support the standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which could limit the smoothness in fast-paced games. The CPU in the Acer Aspire 5 15 is adequate for general use, while the Dell model features a more powerful CPU, which can help with gaming and 3D applications, and whilst both have comparable screen quality, neither is optimized for high refresh rate gaming experiences.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire 5 15 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
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire 5 15 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.
Build Quality
6.5
7.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to have good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 15 | Dell Inspiron 14 5420 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$480 | $971 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 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 | 7 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 275 nits | 279 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | November 2022
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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Dig into reviews and images
Smarthouse
Nick Ross | March 2023
"If laptops were food, then the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is arguably a Big Mac. There are cheaper and more expensive options, but this arguably represents the baseline of quality and value in the world of mobile computing… something that’s underlined by the attractive $1,279 price tag."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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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