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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, being less expensive, offers a good balance between cost and features, with a mid-range processor and dedicated graphics, making it suitable for everyday use and light gaming or graphic work. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, although more expensive, includes a high-resolution touchscreen, making it convertible into a tablet. It’s ideal for professionals who need flexibility and portability, as well as a stronger onboard graphics for creative tasks, but it comes at a higher price tag and may not be necessary for just casual use. If budget is a concern and your tasks aren't graphically intensive, the Dell might be your choice, otherwise, the MSI offers increased versatility and better display. 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 MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
- Good overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia MX570 GPU, which, along with its capable CPU and high-quality IPS display, makes it suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks that may require discrete graphics. In contrast, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, while featuring a high-resolution touchscreen display that can enhance design work, utilizes integrated Iris Xe graphics, which may not be as powerful for certain engineering applications, but it offers better portability and flexibility as a 2-in-1 convertible.
Screen Quality
6.5
7.7
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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, while suitable for tasks like browsing and video streaming, may not have the high resolution and peak brightness that make images really pop. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo's display likely offers a sharper image and better viewing angles, which can be particularly beneficial for detailed work in engineering and design due to its superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rate needed for fluid motion and an immersive visual experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has 7 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.
Cost
$971
$1,599
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo costs $1,599.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.8
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a capable CPU and discrete graphics, making it suitable for general use and providing moderate gaming capabilities, along with a balance of screen quality and decent battery life for daily tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, while sharing similar CPU and RAM capabilities, offers greater portability with its 2-in-1 convertible design, a higher resolution touchscreen for enhanced interaction, and a more vibrant display, but it has a shorter battery life which may require more frequent charging.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.5
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with the Nvidia MX570 graphics card, which allows for satisfactory gaming and 3D performance, but may not handle the most demanding titles smoothly. Both laptops feature a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which is adequate for casual gaming, but not optimal for high-frame-rate experiences.
Content Creation
7.5
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.4
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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 MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-1260P | |
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 | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 468 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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."
MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | July 2022
"The MSI Summit E14 Flip convertible review: a legit alternative to HP, Dell or Lenovo. Instead of taking the 13-inch Summit E13 Flip and simply enlarging it for a 14-inch form factor, the Summit E14 Flip is the full chassis redesign we've been looking for. It loses some of the golden trims of its smaller sibling, but the gains in rigidity and build quality are arguably worth it especially from a professional standpoint where reliability takes priority. It doesn't quite feel as strong as the HP Spectre just yet, but it's certainly getting close."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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