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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a laptop with more storage out of the box and some extra graphics performance for casual gaming or light media creation, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its additional GPU, might be the better choice. However, the Dell Latitude 5430, despite having less storage, provides you with enhanced business features like hardware ray tracing and premium business laptop appearance, which could be beneficial if you're looking for a laptop for professional needs. It also boasts a marginally better battery life and portability score, meaning it might be easier to carry between meetings or on commutes. Both laptops are suited for general use and light engineering tasks, but if those specific professional or graphical features don't matter as much, the additional storage on the Inspiron may offer a more immediate benefit. 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
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 5430
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5430 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 5430, with their fair screen qualities, offer suitable displays for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, thanks to adequate resolution and brightness; yet their panel types are not top-tier. For engineering and design work, these laptops provide just acceptable color accuracy with limited coverage of professional color gamuts, which could hinder precise color-critical work. When it comes to Gaming and 3D, their refresh rates are lower, which means less fluid motion and responsiveness, while their moderate resolution and decent panel types prevent them from being ideal for high-end gaming or intensive 3D applications.
Cost
$971
$880
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Dell Latitude 5430 costs $880.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.4
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 5430 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a higher resolution screen, more powerful CPU, and better GPU than the Dell Latitude 5430, which makes it better suited for tasks that require more graphical power and detail, such as photo editing. However, the Latitude 5430 counters with slightly better portability and heat management, making it a more comfortable choice for day-to-day use and travel.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.1
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 5430 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Latitude 5430 both have GPUs that can handle games and 3D applications decently, but they won't deliver top-tier performance due to their more average refresh rates and screen quality. While both laptops come equipped with CPUs capable of supporting gaming, they still fall short for enthusiasts looking for the high-end gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5430 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is considered better for engineering and design because it houses a superior dedicated Nvidia GPU and offers a higher screen resolution for finer detail, which are key for intensive tasks and detail-oriented work. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5430, while still capable due to its solid CPU and integrated Intel graphics, offers less graphical power and lower screen resolution, which may not be as suitable for the demands of engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 5430 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
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 5430 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5430 has 9 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Latitude 5430 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The Dell Latitude 5430 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Latitude 5430 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Dell Latitude 5430 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $880 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.76'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.01 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 58 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 248 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 720p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Latitude 5430
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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