A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus comes down to your needs and preferences. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers dedicated Nvidia graphics, which is preferable for more graphics-intensive tasks like light gaming or video editing, but it is typically more expensive. On the other hand, the Inspiron 14 Plus boasts a higher storage capacity and a more powerful CPU, suitable for demanding applications and multitasking, but uses integrated graphics, which might not be ideal for graphics-heavy workloads. If you prioritize higher computing power and storage over dedicated graphics, the Inspiron 14 Plus could be the better value. However, if your work or hobbies involve graphics performance, the Inspiron 14 5420 with its dedicated GPU could be worth the extra cost. Both models share similar displays and design, so your decision will likely hinge on the performance aspect and price considerations. 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
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
- Good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
6.5
7.0
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, a laptop with a high-resolution display, clear IPS panel, and adequate brightness ensures comfortable viewing for everyday tasks, hence the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with its better brightness and clarity is preferred over the Inspiron 14 5420. When dealing with engineering and design, accurate color representation is crucial for work precision; the Inspiron 14 Plus shines due to its wider color gamut covering more DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB spaces. For gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, both models fall short because of their lower refresh rates, despite their respectable resolution and panel type.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 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
$1,200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus costs $1,200.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers solid performance for general use with its capable Intel i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a bright IPS screen, while also being quite portable and having better heat management, making it a comfortable choice for everyday tasks. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus steps up with an even more powerful i7 processor, double the storage, and a higher screen brightness as well as better color coverage, but it trades off slightly on portability due to increased weight and has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.6
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
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 Plus and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus outperforms the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 in gaming and 3D applications due to its superior Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU backed by a higher screen refresh rate, compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's Nvidia GeForce MX GPU and standard refresh rate; while both laptops share high-quality CPUs and screens, these features have more impact on gaming and graphical workloads.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Dell Inspiron 14 Plus |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | July 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.36" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.96" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 64 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2240 x 1400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 326 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.1/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 5420
See more
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."
Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | August 2022
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 5420 vs. Acer Nitro 17
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 5420 vs. MSI Prestige 14
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 5420 vs. MSI Bravo 15
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 Plus vs. Lenovo Legion 5 15"
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 Plus vs. Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 14 Plus vs. Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,695
Recommendations made
28,318
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
