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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490, consider that the Inspiron offers higher performance with a more recent processor and dedicated graphics, which is better for intensive tasks and light gaming. However, this comes at the cost of being more expensive. The Latitude, although less powerful, could serve well for general office use and comes at a lower cost. Also, the Latitude offers longer battery life, which is useful for extended use without charging. Deciding between them depends on whether performance or cost-saving with longer battery life is your priority. 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 14 7490
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
5.9
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
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
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is fair for gaming and 3D work partly because it has a dedicated Nvidia MX570 graphics card which outperforms the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 in the Dell Latitude 14 7490; however, both have similar screen refresh rates, which limits their gaming potential.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Nvidia MX570 GPU and newer Intel i7 processor, allowing for more complex tasks and better handling of graphics-intensive applications compared to the Dell Latitude 14 7490 which has a less capable Intel UHD Graphics and an older Intel i7 processor. While both have similar RAM and screen quality, the Inspiron's better CPU and GPU make it more ideal for engineering purposes, whereas the Latitude, though still capable, offers fair performance for engineering and design, with portability and build quality being strong points for both models.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.7
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for software development, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The Inspiron 14 5420 likely has adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks but may lack the wide color gamuts required by engineering and design professionals for precise color work, and the screen's refresh rate isn't high enough for the smooth visuals needed in gaming and 3D applications. The Latitude 14 7490, while similar to the Inspiron for general use, probably offers better color accuracy and a wider range of colors, making it preferable for engineering and design, yet it still falls short for gaming and 3D due to a refresh rate that can't match the demands of those applications. In both cases, the strength of their screens lies in basic functionality for typical use and specific color-related tasks, but neither is optimized for the high refresh rates crucial for the gaming and 3D experience.
Cost
$971
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.2
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and sharp screen quality, complemented by a discreet GPU for better performance in general use, but with a modest battery life and heavier build affecting portability. The Dell Latitude 14 7490, while lacking a dedicated GPU, still provides strong CPU and RAM support with superior battery life, a more portable design, and a touchscreen, though its older generation processor and lower resolution screen might be less appealing for those seeking the latest features.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 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
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 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
9.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 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
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Dell Latitude 14 7490 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 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 14 7490 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Dell Latitude 14 7490 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2018 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 13'' x 8.7'' x 0.8'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.11 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.7" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-8650U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 60 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 | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.2/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
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 | 3 | |
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 Latitude 14 7490
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Henry T. Casey | April 2018
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Dell Latitude 14 7490
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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