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Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering your needs, if you prioritize portability and longer battery life, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is the more suitable option as it is slightly more portable and offers a significantly longer battery life. However, if you're looking for better color performance and a higher refresh rate display which may be important for design or entertainment, the ASUS Zenbook 14X stands out with its OLED screen, providing richer colors and smoother visuals. For general use, both laptops are comparable in terms of performance, but for tasks that require intensive graphics handling, the Dell's slightly better GPU could give it an edge. The ASUS comes at a lower price and could be the more cost-effective choice, while the Dell, with Windows 11 Pro and potentially better build quality, may offer a more premium experience at a higher price. 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 14X
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.7
7.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X is suited for engineering and design owing to its OLED screen which provides superior color accuracy and contrast, alongside a dedicated Nvidia MX550 GPU for handling graphical tasks. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while slightly heavier hence less portable, comes with a more powerful Nvidia MX570 GPU and a good IPS display, which together support demanding engineering and design workloads effectively.
Screen Quality
8.3
6.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook 14X offers a superior display with its higher resolution and brightness, which provides clear and vivid visuals, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a fair display that is adequate but less impressive in clarity and illumination. For engineering and design tasks that depend on accurate color representation, the Zenbook shines with its wider color spectrum coverage, making it better suited for professionals who require precise color fidelity for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of both laptops makes them less ideal, with the Zenbook's advantages in resolution and color not compensating for the smoother visuals that a higher refresh rate would provide.
Battery
5.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 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
7.8
7.0
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook 14X has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$777
$971
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.6
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
339.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers solid performance for general use with its fast processor, plentiful RAM, and high-quality OLED display, which all contribute to a satisfying user experience; however, its portability and battery life may not match up to some users' mobility needs. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 also delivers strong performance with a capable processor and ample memory, and its battery life is superior, making it an attractive option for those who prioritize longer use without frequent charging, despite having a less vibrant IPS screen.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.4
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both fair for gaming and 3D due to their mid-range GPUs, which can handle gaming but not at the highest settings or frame rates. While the Zenbook 14X has a higher screen refresh rate, which is better for smooth gameplay, the Inspiron 14 5420 compensates with a slightly more powerful GPU, striking a balance between visual fluidity and graphic processing power.
Content Creation
7.6
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 14X 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
7.4
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook 14X | Dell Inspiron 14 5420 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$777 | $971 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.25" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1260P | 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 | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 90Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 339 nits | 279 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook 14X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | April 2022
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
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 ASUS Zenbook 14X 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.
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