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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is a good mid-range laptop that offers a balance between performance and battery life, suitable for general use and light engineering tasks, with a dedicated graphic card that can handle some graphics-intensive applications. However, if you require a laptop with higher graphics performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has a more powerful graphics card. It also features a slightly larger and higher resolution touchscreen display, which can be beneficial for creative work or multitasking. Both are similarly priced and portable, but the Lenovo has a longer battery life, making it more suitable for extended use away from a power source. 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
- The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is somewhat better.
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
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
6.5
7.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.5in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 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 screen may offer suitable clarity and brightness for daily tasks like browsing and video streaming, but its limited color range and average brightness may not deliver the vibrant hues necessary for precision work in engineering and design. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14, with its higher color accuracy and wider color gamut, provides richer and more precise visuals necessary for professional design work, though both laptops’ screens fall short for gaming or 3D rendering due to lower refresh rates not providing the smooth motion desired in these scenarios. Consequently, while the Lenovo stands out for design tasks, neither is ideal for high-frame-rate gaming or intensive 3D modeling where screen fluidity is a priority.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has 12 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
7.8
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$1,200
$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 Slim Pro 7 14 costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
8.0
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 to be very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 provides a superior general use experience with a more powerful graphics card, a higher-resolution and brighter screen with touch capability, and a significantly better battery life, along with double the storage capacity of the Dell Inspiron 14 5420. While both have the same amount of RAM and very capable processors for daily tasks, the Dell prioritizes portability with a slightly lighter and thinner design, but lacks the extended battery life and high-end screen features of the Lenovo, making it less suited for demanding applications.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.7
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers better gaming and 3D capabilities primarily due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5420's Nvidia MX570, and also benefits from a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing visual fluidity during gameplay. While both have quality IPS displays, the higher refresh rate and stronger GPU in the Lenovo Slim Pro will provide a more responsive and visually appealing experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Software Development
7.4
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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
14.5in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.9'' x 8.9'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.91" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
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 | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 73 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 334 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
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 Slim Pro 7 14
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | May 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 is an attractive, portable laptop that’s ideal if you need a combination of CPU and GPU performance. It also nails the fundamentals with solid connectivity, an enjoyable keyboard, a large touchpad, and top-notch webcam. Display quality is a weakness, but it’s an acceptable compromise for the laptop’s extremely competitive $1,199 MSRP. The Slim Pro 7 is a versatile, affordable laptop and hard to beat for the price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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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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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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.
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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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