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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 typically costs more and offers better performance for engineering tasks, but is less portable than the LG Ultra 13. The LG Ultra 13 is more affordable, more portable, and still suitable for general use and some 3D/machine learning tasks. If requiring a balance between performance and portability at a lower price point, the LG Ultra 13 stands out, but for more demanding engineering uses, and a midrange budget, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 would be the better 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
- Good for engineering and design
- Good speakers
Advantages of the LG Ultra 13
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the LG Ultra 13 for content creation, while the LG Ultra 13 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize work in engineering or design, the LG Ultra 13's superior color gamut will deliver more accurate colors, but for gaming or 3D applications, both laptops won't satisfy due to poor refresh rates, limiting smooth movement and response. For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is adequate, but the LG Ultra 13 will give you better screen clarity and brightness, enhancing everyday viewing experiences. Overall, for sharpness, vibrant images, and a pleasant viewing experience in non-gaming tasks, the LG Ultra 13 stands out, while neither is ideal for high-refresh gaming.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$971
$529
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.2
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its higher resolution screen, more storage, and additional graphics card, offers strong performance for general use, but it's a bit heavier which impacts its portability compared to the LG Ultra 13. The LG Ultra 13, on the other hand, despite offering less storage and a simpler integrated graphics solution, is lighter and boasts a slightly better battery life, a higher brightness screen with more color accuracy, and superior heat management, making it a better option for those prioritizing portability and screen quality.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.1
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
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 provides fair gaming and 3D performance with its dedicated Nvidia MX570 graphics chip, but is limited by a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate that may not be optimal for fast-paced games. Meanwhile, the LG Ultra 13 relies on integrated graphics from its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, which also results in fair gaming and 3D capabilities, but shares the same limitation with a 60Hz screen refresh rate that doesn't cater to high-end gaming expectations.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 5420 to be good for engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, paired with a higher resolution screen, which are very important for such tasks. On the other hand, the LG Ultra 13, while more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, has a less powerful integrated AMD GPU and a lower resolution screen, making it only fair for engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.5
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and LG Ultra 13 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
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and LG Ultra 13 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
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 13 has 10 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
7.4
The LG Ultra 13 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 LG Ultra 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | LG Ultra 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $529 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.1'' x 8.1'' x 0.6'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.16 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.14" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 9.3/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
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."
LG Ultra 13
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | April 2017
"The 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the LG Ultra 13
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 LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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