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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is generally less expensive and offers a unique dual-display feature which can be beneficial for multitasking. It has better screen brightness and wider color coverage but with standard Full HD resolution. It’s heavier and has shorter battery life compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, which may impact portability. The Dell Inspiron, with a slightly higher price, includes a dedicated graphics card making it more suitable for tasks that require better GPU performance, such as 3D rendering or light gaming, and it has a higher resolution display. It also comes with newer operating system Windows 11 Pro and double the RAM of the ASUS, enhancing its overall performance for engineering tasks. The Dell Inspiron leads in battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use. Choose the ASUS if you want a unique dual-screen setup and can manage with less battery life, or the Dell if you need stronger graphics performance, more memory, and longer battery life for more intensive tasks. 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 Duo 14
- The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good battery life
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.1
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 offers a high-quality screen and a capable built-in GPU for design tasks, along with a touch screen that can be handy for engineering designs, but the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 includes a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which could be an advantage for more GPU-intensive engineering software, and also features more RAM for multitasking and complex tasks. While both laptops have good CPUs and quality displays, the Dell has a higher resolution screen, but the ASUS may attract those who prefer dual screens for productivity, despite it being slightly heavier and having a slightly shorter battery life than the Dell.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.5
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
314.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen for content creation.
For general use, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14's higher resolution and brightness make for clearer, more vibrant visuals, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's fair screen quality provides a good but less superior experience. In engineering and design tasks, the Zenbook Duo's coverage of color gamuts ensures more accurate color representation, crucial for detailed work, unlike the Inspiron with fair coverage which may not be as precise. For gaming and 3D, neither laptop excels, as their modest refresh rates limit smooth motion rendering, although resolution and panel type still contribute to an acceptable visual quality.
Battery
8.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 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 Duo 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.1
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
314.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 outperforms the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 for general use primarily because it has more RAM for multitasking and a more powerful dedicated graphics card, boosting overall performance. While both have similar screen sizes and types, the ASUS has better screen brightness, but the Dell offers higher resolution for sharper images; despite having a smaller battery, the Dell manages better battery life, and its lighter weight makes it more portable than the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU which is decent for light gaming and 3D tasks, with a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 includes a dedicated Nvidia MX570 GPU, which provides a modest boost in graphics performance over integrated graphics for similar uses but also comes with the same standard refresh rate of 60Hz; both laptops, therefore, offer fair gaming and 3D capabilities.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 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
7.0
7.4
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$999
$971
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has a price of $999 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 costs $971.
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How the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 | Dell Inspiron 14 5420 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$999 | $971 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.8'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.76" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.74" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1195G7 | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 70 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 314 nits | 279 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 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 | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 Duo 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2020
"The Asus ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
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 Duo 14 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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