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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers better overall battery life and portability, making it suitable for those who need to move around frequently and work on the go. Its higher resolution screen and superior color coverage may also appeal to users engaged in photo editing or design work. Conversely, the Gigabyte A5, while less expensive, provides better gaming and engineering performance due to its more powerful GPU. It's better suited for tasks that require intensive graphics processing like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which might be a downside for mobile users. 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 Gigabyte A5
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.1
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 is better for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, which has a less capable Nvidia MX570 GPU and a lower refresh rate of 60 Hz. While the screen quality and CPU are also important for performance, the GPU and refresh rate make the most significant impact in this context.
Screen Quality
6.5
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with a fair screen quality for general use, likely offers a decent resolution and adequate brightness, but may not stand out in terms of panel quality, affecting the overall viewing experience. For engineering and design, this laptop's fair screen quality suggests acceptable color representation but perhaps falls short in covering the wider color gamuts professionals need for precise work. The poor rating for gaming and 3D on both the Dell and Gigabyte A5 indicates low refresh rates, which would result in less fluid motion, though the A5's good screen quality for general use and engineering may mean it has better color accuracy and brightness.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Gigabyte A5 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$830
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.3
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is suitable for general use with its high-resolution screen, lighter weight for greater portability, and longer battery life, alongside a capable CPU and adequate RAM. The Gigabyte A5, whilst also appropriate for general tasks, offers a more powerful GPU suitable for gaming and creative work, a larger screen, and better speaker quality, but is less portable and has a shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gigabyte A5 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
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Gigabyte A5 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
7.2
The Gigabyte A5 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 Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
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 | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 49 Wh | |
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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
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 | 3 | |
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."
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Gigabyte A5
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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