The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 comes at a midrange price and is typically more expensive than the 5425. It has an Intel processor and a separate Nvidia GPU, tailored for better performance in general use and 3D tasks, while providing decent battery life. The Inspiron 14 5425, priced lower, includes an AMD processor with integrated graphics, which offers competitive performance for everyday tasks and slightly longer battery life. Both are portable, but if you need more power for tasks like engineering software or light gaming, choose the 5420; for cost savings and general use, the 5425 is sufficient. 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 Dell Inspiron 14 5420
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5425.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 5425
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5/10
6.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and 5425 have displays that provide adequate resolution and brightness, but they might not be exceptional in terms of panel technology, meaning they’re suitable for daily tasks but not the best choice for high-quality visual experiences. In terms of engineering and design, these laptops offer fair color accuracy allowing for some level of professional work, though they lack the wide color gamuts needed for high-end color-critical tasks. For gaming and 3D work, their screens fall short because they do not have the high refresh rates required for smooth motion, even though their resolutions and panel types may suffice for some users.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 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.
Cost
$971
$500
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 costs $500.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.2/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
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 5420 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, equipped with an Nvidia MX570 graphics card, and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, utilizing the integrated AMD Ryzen 7 5825U Vega 8 graphics, both offer fair gaming and 3D performance due to their decent GPUs and standard screen refresh rates, but neither is designed for high-end gaming, as indicated by the max 60Hz refresh rate on both models. The difference in resolution between the two might slightly favor the 5420 for clarity, though the impact on gaming and 3D tasks would be minor compared to the capabilities of the GPUs.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers strong performance for engineering and design tasks with an Intel processor and Nvidia graphics, alongside ample RAM and a high-resolution IPS screen. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 provides comparable computational performance using an AMD processor with integrated Vega graphics, with the same amount of RAM and very similar screen quality, ensuring both are competent for demanding workloads; differences in operating noise and portability are minimal between the two, but these factors are secondary to their processing capabilities and visual output.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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 Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 compare to other laptops
"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."
"A slim chassis, an acceptable weight (1.6 kg) and a real-world battery life of almost 13 hours turn the Inspiron into a mobile companion. Good: The battery can not only be charged using Dell's proprietary power adapter, but also with a universal USB-C power adapter (min. 45 watts). Office and Internet applications are handled by the built-in combination of Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM just as easily as modest computer games. Heat and noise development are generally okay, but the laptop should work a bit quieter under full load."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Inspiron 14 5425
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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