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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use with a good balance of performance and price, the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is often less expensive, offers a larger storage space, and has slightly better battery life. It also features a touchscreen and is suitable for on-the-go use, with a 360-degree hinge for versatility. The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while typically more expensive, provides a dedicated graphics card, which makes it a better choice for light gaming or engineering applications. However, it lacks a touchscreen. Both laptops have the same screen size, resolution with high-quality displays, and come equipped with 16GB of RAM for smooth multitasking. The choice between them should depend on whether the priority is a touch-enabled versatile device or one with a bit more graphical power for specific applications. 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 speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 14
- The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 have similar screen quality.
If you're using your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web and watching videos, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 both offer screens that are decent in resolution and brightness, which are crucial for these activities. However, both laptops may not satisfy professional engineers and designers as their screens do not cover a wide range of colors according to key industry standards, making them less ideal for color-critical work. For avid gamers and those into 3D work, the lower refresh rates on these laptops mean less fluid visuals and potentially less immersive experiences, despite having acceptable resolution and panel types for moderate levels of detail.
Battery
10.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has 11.5 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.7
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is favored for its high-resolution screen and build quality, making it suitable for those who prioritize visual clarity and durability in general computing tasks, despite its moderately heavy weight which might affect portability.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.2
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its Nvidia MX570 GPU, and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 with an integrated AMD Vega 8 GPU, are both capable of handling gaming and 3D tasks, but neither are top-tier gaming machines. They share similar screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which is adequate for moderate gaming, but won't deliver the smoothness of higher-end gaming laptops with faster screens, and while both have competent CPUs and good screen quality, serious gamers and 3D professionals might seek more powerful options.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 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
7.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.0
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$950
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 costs $950.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo Flex 5 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | December 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.3'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.42 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.32" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.85" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 52.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 277 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.3/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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."
Lenovo Flex 5 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2021
"The highlight of the latest IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is clearly its AMD CPU. The octa-core Ryzen 7 5700U is insanely fast even when compared to the best Tiger Lake Ultrabooks in the market or even Core H CPUs in many gaming laptops. It's a lot of raw processing power for what is supposed to be a budget 14-inch convertible. If your daily workloads can benefit from extra multi-thread CPU performance, then look no further than the inexpensive AMD-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. For regular on-the-road browsing or video streaming, however, a slimmer and lighter 10th gen Core Yoga, Spectre, or XPS would be a more balanced option."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo Flex 5 14
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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