For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a more robust experience with its higher RAM capacity and faster processor, making multitasking smoother, though it comes at a higher price point. The Acer Aspire Go 14, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly and still capable for everyday tasks like web browsing and office applications.
In terms of performance for more demanding tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Dell's Nvidia MX570 GPU outperforms the Acer's AMD Radeon 610M, providing better graphics capabilities. However, if these activities are not your primary focus, the Acer's GPU may still suffice for casual use.
The Dell also has a higher resolution display, which translates to sharper images and more screen real estate, thanks to its 2240 x 1400 resolution compared to the Acer's 1920 x 1200. Both laptops have a 60Hz refresh rate, so neither has an advantage for fast-motion content.
Battery life is longer on the Acer, making it a better choice if you need to work on the go without frequent access to a power outlet. The Dell, however, offers better color accuracy and a wider color gamut, which is beneficial for tasks that require color precision, such as photo editing.
Portability-wise, both laptops are quite similar in size and weight, though the Acer is slightly lighter, which might be a consideration if you carry your laptop around frequently.
Ultimately, if you prioritize performance and display quality for tasks like photo editing and can stretch your budget, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is the better choice. However, if you're looking for a more cost-effective solution for general use and value longer battery life, the Acer Aspire Go 14 is a solid option. 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 Go 14
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire Go 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
6.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire Go 14 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
6.2/10
7.1/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire Go 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
6.7/10
6.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The Acer Aspire Go 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Cost
$350
$971
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire Go 14 has a price of $350 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire Go 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
7.0/10
7.4/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire Go 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire Go 14 has 9 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
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Acer Aspire Go 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire Go 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good 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 Go 14 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
"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 Go 14 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.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.