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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is more expensive but offers better construction quality and a slightly higher performance for general use and engineering tasks with its Intel processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics. It's also more portable due to its smaller size and weight. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 is less expensive, has a larger screen with higher resolution, and more storage out of the box, but it relies on integrated AMD graphics which may not be as powerful for demanding applications. Its larger size and weight make it less portable. Choose the 5420 for better portability and slightly better performance, or the 5635 for a larger display and better value for money. 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 5635
- Very good for general use
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.6
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Inspiron 16 5635 laptops offer screens with serviceable resolution and brightness, but they might not stand out due to more premium panels available on other devices which provide better viewing experiences through higher resolutions or superior panel technologies. In the realm of engineering and design, these models may fall short due to their limited coverage of professional color gamuts such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which are crucial for precision in color-critical tasks. Gamers and professionals in fields requiring 3D graphics may find the refresh rates on these models lacking, as higher rates are essential for smoother visuals and better performance in games and interactive 3D applications.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$735
$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 16 5635 costs $735.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
8.0
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 16 5635 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for general use, offering sufficient performance with an Intel CPU and NVIDIA GPU, a high-quality IPS screen, and an excellent battery life, all packed in a lightweight, portable design. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 stands out for very good general use due to a larger screen with higher resolution, double the storage capacity, and similarly impressive battery life, albeit at the cost of slightly reduced portability and lower battery life in hours of typical usage.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.3
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 5635 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its Nvidia MX570 GPU, is more capable in handling gaming and 3D tasks than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635, which uses integrated AMD Vega 8 graphics; however, both laptops have a screen refresh rate capped at 60Hz which is adequate but not ideal for fast-paced gaming. Screen quality is similar in both, featuring 16:10 IPS panels with comparable pixel density and color coverage, but neither excels in refresh rates or GPU power required for high-end gaming or intensive 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is suited for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel processor, dedicated Nvidia graphics, and high-resolution IPS display, balancing portability with performance. Conversely, the slightly larger and heavier Dell Inspiron 16 5635 excels with an AMD processor that integrates strong Vega graphics, offers a larger screen with higher resolution for detailed work, and has silent operation, beneficial for extended engineering and design sessions.
Content Creation
7.5
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
7.0
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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 5635 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Dell Inspiron 16 5635 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $735 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.9'' x 0.72'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.05" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 54 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 265 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
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."
Dell Inspiron 16 5635
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Dig into reviews and images
UltrabookReview
Derek Sullivan | January 2023
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Inspiron 16 5635
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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