If portability is important to you and you want a laptop that offers better general performance, consider the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 since it is lighter and has higher performance scores for general use and engineering tasks, but it is also more expensive. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a larger screen, a number pad on the keyboard, and a lower price, yet it comes with less RAM and a less powerful processor and graphics; this could affect performance in demanding applications and tasks. Also, the Lenovo has slightly longer battery life but is heavier, making it less portable than the Dell. Both laptops are not ideal for intensive gaming, but they can handle general use and lighter engineering work well. 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
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 5420.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5/10
6.7/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a better experience with its larger screen size, higher resolution, and brighter display, which enhances everyday activities like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the Lenovo's wider color gamut provides richer and more accurate colors, crucial for tasks such as photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, but the Dell's smaller size and therefore lower resolution can be less immersive for these visually intensive tasks.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$784
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its superior CPU and more RAM, provides smooth performance for multitasking, while its higher resolution and brighter screen improve visual quality, making it suitable for general use. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and better heat management, but at a trade-off with less portability due to its size and weight compared to the Dell, yet it still maintains adequate performance and screen quality for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.1/10
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
9.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.6/10
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to be good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, dedicated Nvidia GPU, and higher RAM, which collectively enhance performance for demanding applications, while also featuring a higher resolution screen that offers better visual precision. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has an integrated AMD GPU and less RAM, which may limit performance with intensive engineering software, but it offers a larger screen which could be advantageous for design work despite its lower resolution and screen quality.
Content Creation
7.5/10
7.4/10
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 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
7.4/10
7.2/10
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
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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
7.0/10
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to have good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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.
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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