If you prioritize high-end gaming or demanding tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning, the ASUS ROG Strix, despite its higher price and likely shorter battery life, will provide the performance you need. The Dell Inspiron, being more affordable and lightweight, is better suited for general use and easier to carry around, but it won't match the ASUS in power for resource-intensive applications. 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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
7.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with a high-end CPU and more RAM, offers top-tier performance and a premium screen which is ideal for intensive tasks such as gaming or content creation, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to lighter laptops. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while still delivering good performance for everyday tasks, is more portable and has longer battery life, making it a better option for those on the go who need a machine for general use without the need for specialized high-performance features.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is equipped with a high-end GPU and a high refresh rate screen, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications that require smooth and detailed graphics performance. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a more modest GPU and lower refresh rate, making it only fair for these tasks, but it still manages decent performance boosted by a good CPU and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
9.2/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and a superior GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering software and tasks, along with a higher quality screen for detailed visuals. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while competent for engineering, provides less raw power and screen quality but is more portable and may offer a quieter operation, making it a better choice for on-the-go use and less intensive applications.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) 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.
Software Development
8.5/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
6.5/10
18.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering screen quality for general use, the ASUS ROG Strix G18's panel type, high resolution, and brightness contribute to its very good quality, offering crisp and vibrant visuals suitable for a variety of everyday tasks. For engineering and design, the same laptop excels because it covers a wide range of colors, an essential aspect for accuracy and detail in professional applications. However, for gaming and 3D, the laptop's lower refresh rate holds it back, making it less ideal for fast-paced visuals where smooth motion is key, unlike higher-refresh panels which provide a more fluid experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Poor
Very Good
18.0in
SIZE
14.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,203
$971
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has a price of $2,203 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) or the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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