If you need a more portable laptop with a higher-resolution screen, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is suitable and also offers slightly better performance for general use and engineering tasks. However, it's more expensive. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers a larger screen with a touch option and costs less, but it is heavier and has lower screen resolution. Both have similar battery life, storage, and RAM. The 16 5625 also scores lower in performance for 3D and machine learning tasks, which may be important if those are your intended uses. 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 portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5/10
6.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Inspiron 16 5625 have screens with adequate resolution and brightness, but the quality may not be as sharp or vibrant as panels found on higher-end laptops. When it comes to engineering and design, their screens cover a limited color range, lacking the wider color gamuts necessary for precise color work. For 3D and gaming, their screen refresh rates are lower than gaming-optimized models, leading to less fluid motion and slower response times.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has 8 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
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$800
$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 16 5625 costs $800.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with a portable 14-inch screen, and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, with a slightly larger 16-inch screen, both offer strong CPU and RAM configurations for general use, though the Inspiron 14 has a slightly brighter screen and the Inspiron 16 a touch-enabled display. While both have comparable storage, keyboard, and speakers, the Inspiron 14 is adjudged as more portable and has slightly longer battery life, whereas the Inspiron 16 has better heat management with silent fanless operation.
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
10.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
7.1/10
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 16 5625 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its higher screen resolution and Nvidia GPU, is well-suited for engineering and design work requiring detail and moderate graphics performance, complemented by its portability and quiet operation. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 boasts a larger screen and integrated AMD graphics, which are adequate for less demanding design tasks, while also featuring a touchscreen, though it is slightly heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.6/10
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 16 5625 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
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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."
"I think there is fair value in the Inspiron 16 this year. Very little has changed with the laptop and my opinion hasn’t really changed either. In other words, I like it. Overall, I think the pros far outweigh the cons of this laptop and the price is certainly justifiable. I found this to be a great typer and I could potentially work all day on this machine, provided I don’t need a graphics card."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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.
By the numbers
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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
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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.