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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize performance for tasks like engineering, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with a stronger processor and better graphics, would be advantageous; however, it comes at a higher price. Alternatively, the HP 15" Laptop is more affordable and sufficient for general use, but it has less storage, lower processing power, and might not handle intensive tasks as smoothly. The Dell also has a smaller, higher-resolution screen that is better for color-sensitive work, while the HP offers a larger screen size for easier viewing. Both have a similar build and design, yet the Dell is slightly lighter, potentially offering more portability. The battery life is longer on the Dell, which might be crucial if you work on the go. 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 general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the HP 15" Laptop
- The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
6.7
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is favored for general use due to its higher-end CPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality, ensuring smoother performance and better visual experience; it also offers a slight advantage in portability and battery life compared to the HP 15" Laptop. In contrast, the HP 15" Laptop, although fair for general use, has a lower-tier CPU, less RAM, and a lower quality screen, making it less suitable for demanding tasks, but it's still a serviceable option at a likely lower price point.
Gaming and AI
6.4
5.9
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
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with an Nvidia MX570 GPU, better suited for gaming and 3D tasks than the HP 15" Laptop's integrated Intel UHD Graphics, although both have screens with equally standard refresh rates of 60Hz, making them fair for gaming and 3D applications. While the Dell model should perform better in graphical tasks, it’s important to note that for the most demanding games or 3D work, more powerful GPUs would offer an enhanced experience.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, a dedicated Nvidia MX570 GPU, a higher resolution screen with better pixel density, and double the RAM capacity compared to the HP 15" Laptop, which has a more basic Intel i3 processor with integrated graphics, a lower resolution screen, and less RAM. While both laptops are similar in portability and have decent keyboard and speaker quality, the higher performing components in the Dell make it a more capable device for demanding engineering software and tasks that require better graphics processing.
Content Creation
7.5
6.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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
6.3
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 HP 15" Laptop for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the HP 15" Laptop have screens that are adequately bright and sharp, but the type of screen and lack of higher resolution make them just fair. During engineering and design tasks, while the resolution and size are suitable, both lack the wider color gamut coverage needed for precise color work which professionals often require. Meanwhile, for gaming and 3D tasks, the lower refresh rates of their displays hinder the smooth visual experience, despite having acceptable resolutions and panel types for moderate use.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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.
Build Quality
7.0
6.0
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$375
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the HP 15" Laptop costs $375.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to have very good portability, while the HP 15" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the HP 15" Laptop compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | HP 15" Laptop |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $375 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i3-1215U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 41 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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."
HP 15" Laptop
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | August 2022
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the HP 15" Laptop
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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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