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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is a more expensive option with a higher resolution display, a more powerful Intel i7 processor, and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which will provide better performance for intensive tasks such as engineering and 3D/machine learning applications, but its portability is slightly lesser than the Gateway due to its smaller screen and lighter weight. The Gateway 15.6" has a larger screen size with lower resolution and relies on integrated graphics, making it less suited for demanding tasks but could be more cost-effective for general use. Despite being heavier, it still offers decent portability. If your work involves general computing tasks and price is a primary concern, the Gateway may serve well, whereas if you require high performance for specialized applications and can invest more, the Dell could be a better fit, despite being less portable. 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
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
7.0
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is well-suited for general use with its higher-resolution screen for better clarity, a more powerful i7 processor paired with dedicated Nvidia graphics for smooth performance, and a lightweight design that enhances portability, all running on Windows 11 Pro with a decent battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, which are crucial for demanding engineering and design workloads, whereas the Gateway 15.6" has a lesser Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, making it less suited for such intensive tasks.
Software Development
7.4
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Gateway 15.6" offer adequate screen resolutions and brightness, but they may not provide the color richness or superior viewing angles which are often appreciated in higher-quality panels. For engineering and design tasks, neither laptop hits the mark in terms of color accuracy and range, which can be crucial for professionals needing precise color representation, provided by standards like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. Regarding 3D and gaming, both laptops' displays fall short on refresh rates, making them less ideal for the smooth visuals crucial in fast-paced gaming or 3D rendering where higher refresh rates paired with decent resolutions ensure better motion clarity and user experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" 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
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
5.1
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $400.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.0
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
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a dedicated Nvidia MX570 GPU, better suited for gaming and 3D tasks than the Gateway 15.6", which relies on an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU. Both laptops sport a 60Hz screen refresh rate which is adequate but not ideal for high-end gaming; however, the Dell's slightly higher screen resolution and dedicated GPU give it an edge for gaming and 3D performance over the Gateway model.
Content Creation
7.5
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gateway 15.6" 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
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 | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
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 | 1 | |
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."
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Gateway 15.6"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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