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Updated March 21, 2024·
If saving money is a priority and general use is your main focus, the Dell Inspiron may serve your needs well. However, if you require a more robust build quality, better keyboard for typing, and additional enterprise features for business use or engineering tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is a worthwhile investment, despite its higher price. ThinkPads typically offer more durability and security features, which could be beneficial for professional environments, but this could make the ThinkPad less budget-friendly. Portability is similar for both, but battery life and performance might be slightly better in the ThinkPad, which is important if you're frequently mobile or do demanding tasks. 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 battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6
8.5
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, while offering satisfactory performance, portability, and battery life for everyday tasks, is outshined by the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 which provides a stronger CPU and more RAM, ensuring smoother multitasking and better handling of more demanding applications, along with a higher-quality screen which is a significant factor for prolonged use. The ThinkPad's superior keyboard quality as well as better heat management and operating noise also contribute to a more comfortable user experience, despite both laptops having comparable storage capabilities and speaker quality.
Engineering and Design
7.1
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are equipped with powerful CPUs and ample RAM, essential for running engineering and design software smoothly, while their dedicated GPUs and high-quality screens deliver the necessary visual performance for intricate graphical tasks. Moreover, the ThinkPad T14 offers superior keyboard quality and portability, benefiting users who frequently travel or type extensively, although the Inspiron might have an edge in speaker quality and operates quieter under load, enhancing the multimedia experience.
Content Creation
7.5
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Software Development
7.4
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
6.5
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vivid display with clear resolution and good brightness for everyday tasks like browsing or document editing, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 outshines the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 as it offers better overall screen quality. For engineering and design work where color accuracy matters for tasks like photo editing or CAD applications, the ThinkPad T14 is again a better match due to its higher color gamut coverage. However, for gaming or 3D applications where fast on-screen movements are common, neither laptop excels since they have lower refresh rates, but the Dell and Lenovo both fall short, more so for immersive gaming experiences.
Build Quality
7.0
8.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.7
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
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
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 may handle gaming and 3D tasks adequately due to their decent GPUs, which are crucial for rendering graphics smoothly, but they won't excel compared to specialized gaming laptops with higher-end graphics cards and faster screen refresh rates. While they pack sufficient processing power for moderate use and offer good screen quality, demanding games and complex 3D work might not perform as well, often requiring more powerful CPUs and screens with higher refresh rates for optimal experiences.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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 ThinkPad T14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo ThinkPad T14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,241 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.5'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.51" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.93" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 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 | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 39.3 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 | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1440p | |
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 | 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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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 ThinkPad T14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | December 2023
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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