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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 involves considering portability, power, and display quality. The Acer Swift Edge 16, with its lighter weight and thin design, excels in portability, and its OLED screen offers excellent color accuracy, which is highly suitable for visual tasks. However, for longer battery life and stronger general use performance, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 may be the better option despite it being a bit heavier. Both laptops are capable of handling general use and engineering applications, but if screen size and premium visuals are less critical, and you prioritize battery longevity and professional software demands, the Dell could be more fitting. 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 Swift Edge 16
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 offers a high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU and AMD Radeon GPU along with a vivid OLED screen, making it well-suited for demanding engineering applications and design work that require accurate color representation and graphics processing. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 also caters to engineering needs with a capable Intel i7 CPU and Nvidia graphics, but has a standard IPS screen which, while still good for design tasks, is less color-accurate compared to the OLED display of the Acer.
Content Creation
8.1
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.8
6.5
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
383.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 boasts an impressive screen with higher resolution and brightness, offering sharp and vibrant visuals ideal for everyday tasks and professional engineering or design work, where accurate colors are crucial. However, its underwhelming refresh rate might not deliver the smooth visuals gamers and 3D artists look for. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers serviceable screen quality for both everyday and professional use, but like the Swift Edge, it doesn't cater to the high refresh rate preferences of gaming and 3D modeling enthusiasts.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Swift Edge 16 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
Very Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability, though the Acer Swift Edge 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$820
$971
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Swift Edge 16 has a price of $820 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.9
7.6
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
383.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is praised for general use due to its ample storage, high RAM, powerful AMD CPU coupled with AMD GPU, superior OLED screen quality, and thin and lightweight design which enhances portability, although its battery life is shorter. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with equally ample RAM and a capable Intel CPU paired with Nvidia GPU, offers good screen quality through its IPS display, with a focus on longer battery life for lasting general use, but is slightly heavier and less portable.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.4
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is equipped with a more capable AMD Radeon 780M GPU and a higher 120Hz refresh rate OLED display, which makes it better suited for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, which has an Nvidia MX570 GPU and a 60Hz refresh rate IPS display.
Software Development
7.9
7.4
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Acer Swift Edge 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.2
7.0
The Acer Swift Edge 16 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Swift Edge 16 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Swift Edge 16 | Dell Inspiron 14 5420 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$820 | $971 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.51'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.73 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.68" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | 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 | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 383 nits | 279 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Swift Edge 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | October 2023
"The Acer Swift Edge 16 is a solid super thin-and-light that pairs a large, gorgeous 16-inch display with portable design that rivals the weight of LG’s superlight Gram 16. Remarkably, Acer achieves this at a lower price point without sacrificing performance. Boring design and disappointing battery life hold the laptop back from stardom, but its rivals frequently suffer in these areas, too. That makes the Swift Edge 16 an alluring value pick."
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 Swift Edge 16 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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