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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a smaller, lighter, and more portable option suitable for general use with a longer battery life, making it easier to carry around for daily tasks. The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, on the other hand, is heavier and less portable but provides significantly higher performance, particularly for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, thanks to its more powerful processor and graphics card. Its larger screen size and higher refresh rate also enhance visual experiences during gaming or video editing. While the Legion 5 Pro may cost more, it's a better fit for performance-intensive activities, whereas the Dell Inspiron is better for everyday computing and mobility. 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
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
8.4
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5's Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and high screen refresh rate contribute to its excellent performance in gaming and 3D applications, providing smooth and visually rich experiences. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's Nvidia MX570 GPU and lower screen refresh rate result in fair performance, which is suitable for casual gaming but may not deliver the same level of detail or fluidity in motion.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro stands out with its considerably more powerful CPU and GPU combo, making it very suitable for demanding engineering tasks and design work which often require strong processing capabilities and high graphic performance. While the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is a competent machine, especially given its portability and quality build, its less powerful GPU and CPU make it a good choice rather than a very good one for engineering and design use.
Screen Quality
6.5
8.0
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420's display offers adequate brightness and resolution for everyday tasks and casual use, making it suitable for general purposes; however, its limited color range and modest refresh rate might not meet the high demands of engineering applications or deliver the smooth visuals desired in gaming and 3D rendering. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 provides a vibrant display with wide color gamut coverage, ensuring precise color representation vital for engineering and design professionals, though its lackluster refresh rate falls short for the fast-paced action in gaming and 3D environments. Overall, the Dell suits basic and cost-conscious users, while the Lenovo caters to those requiring color accuracy, albeit not ideal for high-frame-rate gaming.
Battery
10.0 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has 3.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$1,320
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 costs $1,320.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.8
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a balance of performance and portability with a capable CPU and ample RAM for general tasks, a good screen quality for daily use, lighter weight, and longer battery life, making it well-suited for carrying around and everyday activities. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro, with a more powerful CPU and GPU, larger RAM and storage, and superior screen quality, excels in more demanding tasks like gaming or intensive applications, but with trade-offs in portability due to its heavier weight and shorter battery life. Both have good keyboards and manage heat and noise effectively, making them versatile for general use.
Content Creation
7.5
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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
7.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo Legion Pro 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,320 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.3'' x 10.3'' x 0.97'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 5.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.31" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 10.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7745HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 3.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 340 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 4 | |
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."
Lenovo Legion Pro 5
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | July 2023
"It doesn't quite match its Legion Pro 7i sibling as an Editors' Choice winner, but Lenovo's AMD-powered Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 is a stylish, well-built gaming laptop with solid performance at both 1080p and its sharper native resolution. It's cheaper than some comparably equipped machines and better than some similarly priced ones. That's a recipe for success, even without its frequent availability of discounts or sales. A brighter screen and longer battery life would be nice, but even as is the Legion Pro 5 earns a solid recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo Legion Pro 5
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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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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