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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize performance and display quality and can afford a higher cost, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 with better processing power, superior graphics, and a higher-resolution display would be suitable. This makes it especially beneficial for intensive tasks or engineering work. However, its higher price also reflects these enhancements. The HP 250 G10, on the other hand, is more wallet-friendly and could suffice for general usage or basic tasks, but it may not handle demanding applications as effectively, and it offers a lower quality display, which is less ideal for detailed visual work or entertainment. Remember that a more powerful laptop like the Dell will likely have shorter battery life than a less performance-intensive model like the HP, and also consider the weight and size if you'll be carrying the laptop frequently. 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 250 G10
- The HP 250 G10 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
6.3
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
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 250 G10 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is considered good for general use due to its faster CPU, superior dedicated graphics card, higher-resolution IPS screen, and longer battery life, making it well-suited for a range of tasks and better at handling more intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
6.4
5.7
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
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 250 G10 is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its Nvidia MX570 graphics card, which is more capable than the integrated Intel UHD Graphics found in the HP 250 G10. While both have the same screen refresh rate, the GPU in the Dell vastly outperforms the HP's, thus making it fair for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the poor performance on the HP.
Engineering and Design
7.1
5.8
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 HP 250 G10 is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a powerful i7 processor and a dedicated Nvidia graphics card suitable for demanding engineering applications, while also offering a high-resolution IPS display for detailed design work. On the other hand, the HP 250 G10 is limited by a basic processor and integrated graphics, in conjunction with a lower resolution TN display, making it less suitable for engineering and design tasks where high computing power and screen quality are very important.
Content Creation
7.5
6.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for content creation, while the HP 250 G10 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
6.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good for software development, while the HP 250 G10 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
5.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the HP 250 G10 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you're seeking a laptop mainly for general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 with fair screen quality offers a better viewing experience due to its adequate resolution and brightness, whereas the HP 250 G10 may not be as clear or vibrant. For engineering and design work, the Dell's fair screen quality gives it an edge as it likely produces a wider range of colors, essential for precision tasks, unlike the HP's poor screen, which may not represent colors as accurately. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the Dell still might not be ideal because of its fair screen quality since it doesn't prioritize high refresh rates for smooth motion, and the HP's poor quality makes it even less suitable for these demands.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP 250 G10 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 250 G10 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$330
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the HP 250 G10 costs $330.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 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 250 G10 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 250 G10 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | HP 250 G10 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $330 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.73'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.17" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.29" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel N200 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
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 | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1366 x 768 | |
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 | 7.9/10 | |
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 250 G10
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | December 2023
"The HP 250 G10 is a decent budget device that surprises us with its high CPU frequencies under load. Still, our configuration has a Core i5-1335U which doesn’t require significant cooling, if choose a 28W P-series processor, maybe the situation with the clocks could be different. If you want to play some casual game after work, a memory in dual-channel is a must because it increases greatly the iGPU performance."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the HP 250 G10
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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