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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If battery life and portability are top priorities and you're looking to spend less, consider the HP Envy x360 15", which also offers 2-in-1 flexibility with a touchscreen. However, for better performance in intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering programs, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card is superior, at a higher price point. Bear in mind, the Dell's smaller screen may be less ideal for multi-tasking and entertainment compared to the larger HP Envy. 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
- Very good portability
Advantages of the HP Envy x360 15"
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
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 Envy x360 15" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a stronger CPU, dedicated Nvidia graphics (GPU), a higher resolution screen, and more RAM, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks. In contrast, the HP Envy x360 15" has an integrated GPU and a lower resolution screen, and although it has a flexible 2-in-1 form factor, its specs are less optimized for intensive engineering and design applications.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.2
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the HP Envy x360 15" for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the HP Envy x360 15" offer screens that are adequately bright and sharp, but they might not have the most vibrant displays due to limited color range and average panel technology. Engineering and design tasks may require precise color representation, and while these laptops provide fair accuracy, professionals seeking high fidelity in color-sensitive work may find the screens lacking in coverage of professional color gamuts. For gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rates on both laptops are not ideal for the smoothest motion and may lead to less fluid visual experiences, even though their resolutions and panel types are acceptable for moderate use.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the HP Envy x360 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$430
$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 Envy x360 15" costs $430.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.2
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its high-quality CPU and RAM paired with a crisp display, makes for a well-rounded device that’s also portable due to its lower weight and smaller size, while the HP Envy x360 15" is versatile as a 2-in-1 with a touch screen and larger display, but has less RAM and storage which may affect multitasking and data storage, and it's slightly heavier which could impact portability. Both laptops have quality screens and manage heat and noise well, with the Dell having a higher resolution and the HP providing the additional tablet functionality.
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
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Content Creation
7.5
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" 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
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Envy x360 15" has 10 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
7.2
The HP Envy x360 15" 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 HP Envy x360 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | HP Envy x360 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $430 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9'' x 0.72'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.43 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.07" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 55 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 | 271 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
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."
HP Envy x360 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Matt Elliott | January 2023
"Despite its good looks, stellar webcam and comfortable keyboard, the Envy x360 15 is hard to recommend because of its dim, 16:9 display. If the display isn't an issue for you, just be sure to wait for a good sale price. Otherwise, a more modern two-in-one with a 16:10 display such as the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 or Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 provides a larger workspace without adding much to the size and weight of the system."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the HP Envy x360 15"
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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