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Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, your choice will depend on your priorities. The Dell model offers a dedicated graphics card which is preferable for 3D and machine learning tasks, and it's suited for more intensive workloads like engineering software. On the other hand, the Lenovo comes with a higher screen resolution and better battery life, making it great for general use and portability. The Lenovo also tends to be less expensive, but if the cost isn't a deciding factor and you need more performance for specialized tasks, the Dell could be the better option. Both have backlit keyboards, but only the Lenovo includes a fingerprint reader. If a touchscreen is a must, then the Lenovo is your only choice between the two. 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 ThinkBook 13s
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering a laptop for general use, a brighter screen with higher resolution will make the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s more appealing than the Dell Inspiron 14 5420, as these features provide clearer and more vibrant visuals for everyday tasks. For engineering and design work, where accurate colors are essential, the Lenovo stands out with its ability to display a broader range of colors, making it more suitable for professionals in these fields. However, both laptops may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, though they'll still manage basic tasks in these categories.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.8
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a dedicated Nvidia MX570 graphics unit and ample screen size for general use, but its portability and battery life are outpaced by the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which boasts superior portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size. While both laptops come equipped with powerful Intel CPUs, plenty of RAM, and high-resolution IPS screens, the ThinkBook 13s has a touch screen feature and its battery lasts longer, making it more suitable for on-the-go use, but it lacks a dedicated GPU, which might be beneficial for certain visual tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.4
6.4
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is fair for gaming and 3D primarily due to its dedicated Nvidia MX570 GPU, which offers better performance over integrated graphics, but its standard 60Hz screen refresh rate doesn't provide the smoothest experience for fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
7.1
7.5
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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, offers stronger graphical performance for demanding engineering software compared to the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics in the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, making it more suitable for design tasks where GPU is crucial. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s not only features a sharper display with higher resolution and color accuracy but is also lighter and more portable, making it appealing for engineers who prioritize screen quality and mobility.
Content Creation
7.5
7.8
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 ThinkBook 13s 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
2560 x 1600
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Cost
$971
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.3" | |
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 | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
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."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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