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Updated January 10, 2024·
When comparing the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo LOQ 15, consider the following: The Dell Inspiron has a more compact and lighter design, which makes it more portable; however, it offers a less powerful Nvidia MX570 graphics card compared to the Lenovo's more capable Nvidia RTX 4050, which is better for demanding visual work or gaming. The Dell's screen has a higher resolution, which can give crisper visuals for media and productivity, yet the Lenovo has a larger display and a much higher refresh rate ideal for smoother gameplay. The Dell runs on an Intel processor and Windows 11 Pro, while the Lenovo uses an AMD processor with Windows 11 Home, which might have implications for specific software preferences. The Lenovo also brings extra gaming features like a higher refresh rate and a newer release date, indicating more up-to-date hardware. In terms of weight and size, the Dell is more travel-friendly, but if performance, especially in graphics-intensive tasks, is a priority, the Lenovo is the stronger choice. 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
- Good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo LOQ 15
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4
7.5
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is only fair.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 offers better performance for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 which comes with a less powerful Nvidia MX570 graphics card and a lower 60Hz screen refresh rate. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the GPU and screen refresh rate are significant factors for gaming and 3D performance, giving the Lenovo an edge in this regard.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo LOQ 15 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is considered very good for engineering and design use due to its robust AMD Ryzen 7 processor, premium Nvidia RTX graphics, and slightly better screen quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia MX graphics, offers a solid, though slightly less powerful, option that still handles engineering tasks effectively. Both laptops have ample RAM and share similar portability and build characteristics, but the Lenovo edges out in performance, making it the better choice for more demanding engineering and design work.
Screen Quality
6.5
7.1
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Lenovo LOQ 15 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a balance suitable for everyday tasks and engineering applications with its reasonable resolution and brightness, but lacks in the color gamut which is critical for design precision. The Lenovo LOQ 15's screen, providing both vibrant color representation and sufficient brightness, makes it great for both general use and detail-oriented work like engineering and design, though its standard refresh rate is not ideal for the split-second visuals needed in gaming and 3D modeling. Both laptops may not fully satisfy gamers or 3D designers due to less emphasis on high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced graphics.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo LOQ 15 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$1,179
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo LOQ 15 costs $1,179.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.6
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is suited for general use due to its balanced mix of performance from a capable CPU and adequate RAM, good screen quality, and excellent build, alongside a very good portability score and a solid 10 hours battery life. The Lenovo LOQ 15, while also offering good general use capabilities with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and excellent keyboard, leans more towards gaming with its high-end GPU and hardware features like ray tracing, but is less portable due to its larger size and heavier weight, with a lower battery life of 6 hours.
Content Creation
7.5
7.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo LOQ 15 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
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 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 LOQ 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 Lenovo LOQ 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo LOQ 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,179 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.4'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 5.28 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 10.42" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 60 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 | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 6.7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
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 LOQ 15
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | August 2023
"Even after a short time with the LOQ 15, you'll find it has a lot going for it, but ultimately it's just "good"—not quite a star. The performance is respectable for the hardware it’s running, but Lenovo had to make some design sacrifices to trim the price. One of the better aspects is the keyboard, making it one of the better low-cost gaming laptops to actually put your hands on."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo LOQ 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 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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