If you prioritize saving money and want a high-resolution OLED display, the ASUS Zenbook 14 is a solid choice, especially when considering its lightweight design and good battery life. However, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while more expensive, offers a larger storage capacity, more memory, and better performance with a slightly superior processor, making it better for more intensive tasks. Additionally, the Dell is a 2-in-1 convertible, which gives it the versatility to be used as a tablet, a feature the ASUS lacks. If versatility, higher performance, and increased storage and memory are crucial for you, and you don't mind the higher price, the Dell would be the better 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 ASUS Zenbook 14
Good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 14.
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
6.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS Zenbook 14's display excels in clarity and color reproduction, which is crucial for tasks like document editing and graphic design due to its higher resolution and wider color gamuts, providing vibrant and accurate colors for engineers and designers. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D work because of its lower refresh rate, which can lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and casual design work but lacks the color precision and smoothness required for more specialized applications.
Cost
$300
$801
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has a price of $300 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is regarded better for general use because of its higher RAM for multitasking, a more powerful CPU, double the storage capacity, and superior keyboard and speaker quality; however, it is heavier and has less battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 14 is praised for its exceptional OLED display, lightweight design for portability, and longer battery life, but it has a less robust CPU, less RAM, and lower quality in keyboard and speakers.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with a higher screen refresh rate, provides smoother visuals which is preferable for gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a standard refresh rate which may not be as smooth for such tasks. Both use integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which are adequate for moderate gaming and 3D work, but neither laptop is designed with the high-performance dedicated GPUs preferred for more intensive gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
6.9/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook 14 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 14, with its higher screen resolution, OLED display, and efficient processor, provides crisp visuals and strong performance for tasks in engineering and design. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers more RAM, a powerful processor, and a 2-in-1 touchscreen feature, enhancing multitasking capabilities and interaction for engineering software and design applications.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and ASUS Zenbook 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
7.2/10
7.3/10
7.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and ASUS Zenbook 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
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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 ASUS Zenbook 14 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 compare to other laptops
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14 or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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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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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