If you prioritize gaming or working with 3D applications and robust performance, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 with its higher-tier graphics card is a better choice despite being less portable and having a shorter battery life than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420. However, the Inspiron 14 5420 offers greater portability, a sharper display with a higher resolution, and longer battery life, which could be ideal if you value carrying ease and battery longevity over top-notch graphics performance for less demanding tasks and everyday use. Both laptops have comparable memory and storage, but your decision should be influenced by your specific performance needs versus mobility and battery requirements. 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 TUF Dash 15
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.4/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications because of its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, enabling smoother visuals and better handling of graphics-intensive tasks. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while offering a higher screen resolution for crisp image quality, is equipped with a less powerful Nvidia MX570 graphics card and a lower 60Hz refresh rate, making it less optimal for gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
7.1/10
8.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
7.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers high-performance components suitable for engineering and design, including a powerful CPU, plentiful RAM, and a robust GPU that can handle complex computations and graphics-intensive tasks, along with a good quality screen. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while also equipped with adequate RAM and a capable CPU for engineering tasks, includes a less powerful GPU and a higher resolution screen that benefits design work with sharper detail, all in a more portable and compact form factor.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
272.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, where people value crisp text and vivid images, the ASUS TUF Dash 15's higher resolution and brightness provide a clearer and more comfortable viewing experience compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420. When it comes to engineering and design, professionals require accurate color representation, and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers better coverage of professional color gamuts, making it superior for detailed visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, where fluid motion is crucial, the ASUS falls short due to its lower refresh rate, which can make fast-paced visuals less smooth than desired.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,150
$971
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a price of $1,150 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 offers solid performance with its high-end CPU and dedicated graphics card, making it suitable for general use and even gaming, though its heavier weight and larger size affect portability and battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with a slightly less powerful CPU and a lower-tier graphics card, still handles general tasks smoothly; it boasts better portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, along with higher screen resolution and longer battery life, but might not be as suitable for graphics-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.5/10
8.7/10
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 ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.4/10
7.4/10
8.7/10
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 ASUS TUF Dash 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 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.
Give feedback
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How the ASUS TUF Dash 15 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
"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 TUF Dash 15 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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