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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is a more portable and affordable choice with adequate performance for general use and a good balance of features. It's lighter, making it easier to carry around, and has a reasonable battery life for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16 offers superior performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering applications due to its more powerful processor and graphics card. It has a larger, high-resolution OLED display which is great for creative work and delivers vibrant colors and contrast. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which can limit mobility. Both laptops have 16GB of RAM and are similarly priced, but the Aero 16 comes with much more storage space. If you need a laptop for intensive tasks and can handle less portability, the Aero 16 is the better option, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is suitable for general use with the added benefit of being easier to carry around. 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
- Good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.8
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420's less powerful Nvidia MX570 GPU makes it fair for gaming and 3D tasks, while the Gigabyte Aero 16's superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU elevates it to good for those same tasks despite both having the same screen refresh rate. Additionally, Gigabyte Aero 16's higher-quality OLED screen contributes to a more vibrant gaming and 3D experience compared to Dell's IPS panel, although both share the same refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for engineering and design use mainly due to its stronger GPU, superior screen quality with higher resolution and OLED technology, and a more powerful CPU, which outperform the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 in these critical areas. However, the Aero 16 is less portable and has a lower battery life compared to the Inspiron 14, which still offers respectable capabilities for such tasks but at potentially a lower cost and with better portability.
Content Creation
7.5
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
6.5
8.4
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron's screen may not provide the sharpest detail or brightness, making it just fair for everyday tasks and less ideal for color-sensitive engineering work. The Gigabyte Aero, with its higher resolution and brightness, excels in clarity and color accuracy, essential for professional design, but both laptops lack the high refresh rate needed for smooth 3D graphics, rendering them less suitable for high-end gaming or 3D applications. Therefore, while the Aero stands out for creative professionals, gamers might find both models lacking.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 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
5.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.8
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the Gigabyte Aero 16 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$1,260
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 costs $1,260.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
8.0
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 16 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 boasts a solid CPU and ample RAM for smooth multitasking, an IPS screen with decent color coverage for clear visuals, and impressive portability with a lighter weight and good battery life, making it well-suited for general use. Contrarily, the Gigabyte Aero 16 provides exceptional screen quality with an OLED display and higher color accuracy, a more powerful CPU for demanding tasks, and a significantly larger storage capacity, yet it is less portable due to its heavier weight and has a shorter battery life, though still offers a robust option for general use that involves more intensive applications or content creation.
Software Development
7.4
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Gigabyte Aero 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,260 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 5.07 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 368 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
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 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
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."
Gigabyte Aero 16
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Isaac Rouse | May 2022
"The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a workstation laptop for light gaming. It's design is still muted, with a silver chassis alongside a black keyboard and trackpad that provides some contrast. The Gigabyte Aero’s full-size chiclet-style keyboard is enjoyable to type on thanks to its snappy feel and responsiveness. The 4K+ AMOLED display is good, but it could be better. It doesn’t handle true black very well and suffers from strong reflections and glare. The Gigabyte Aero excels at productivity performance and can keep up with other gaming laptops in 1080p. But it has very few ports and its refresh rate leaves a bit to be desired."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Gigabyte Aero 16
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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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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