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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a lightweight laptop with a longer battery life and better build quality, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is an excellent option. It also has a higher portability score, slightly better keyboard quality, and it features a fingerprint reader and facial recognition for added security. However, its general use performance and screen for general use are rated marginally lower compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5425. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is geared more towards general use with a marginally better performance score and screen quality, but it is slightly heavier and has a slightly shorter battery life. Neither laptop is suitable for intensive gaming or high-end 3D and machine learning tasks, so for general use and moderate engineering tasks, both would suffice, with the Lenovo offering a bit more in terms of build quality and the Dell being marginally better in terms of performance. 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 5425
- The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425's screen may not be as vibrant or true-to-life as needed for professional design tasks, thus its fair rating, and its lower refresh rate hinders the immersive experience in gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers better visual fidelity with its screen, rendering it suitable for the precise color work in engineering and design, but, like the Dell, falls short for gaming due to a refresh rate not tailored for such high-intensity visuals. Both laptops are equipped with screens that serve general purposes adequately, with sufficient resolution and brightness, but their limitations become apparent in specialized tasks like engineering and gaming.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have very good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.8
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$899
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $500 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i costs $899.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.7
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with its robust CPU and sufficient RAM, delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, and its screen quality, lightweight design, and long battery life make it ideal for users who prioritize portability and longevity of use without frequent charging. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers similar performance capabilities with a sharp display and good battery life, while also providing a comfortable keyboard and quieter operation, making it a strong choice for those who spend long hours typing or prefer a quieter working environment.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with its AMD Ryzen 7 5825U Vega 8 graphics, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, featuring Intel i7-1165G7 Iris Xe graphics, both offer fair gaming and 3D performance, but neither are designed for high-end gaming, as indicated by their standard refresh rates and integrated GPUs. While capable for casual play, intensive gaming experiences or detailed 3D tasks might be limited by these systems compared to laptops with dedicated high-performance GPUs and higher screen refresh rates.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, is equipped with potent processing capabilities and a high-quality screen that supports demanding engineering and design software, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is powered by an Intel i7 CPU with Iris Xe graphics, delivering robust computational performance and detailed visuals on its high-resolution display. Both laptops offer significant memory for complex tasks, but the tradeoff lies in the Dell's slightly better GPU for graphics-intensive work vs the Lenovo's lighter weight and quieter operation, making it preferable for users who prioritize portability and a less intrusive working environment.
Content Creation
7.5
7.7
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
7.5
7.5
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
12.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5425 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $899 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 12.6'' x 8.2'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.99 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.62" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i7-1165G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 340 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
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 5425
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | August 2022
"A slim chassis, an acceptable weight (1.6 kg) and a real-world battery life of almost 13 hours turn the Inspiron into a mobile companion. Good: The battery can not only be charged using Dell's proprietary power adapter, but also with a universal USB-C power adapter (min. 45 watts). Office and Internet applications are handled by the built-in combination of Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM just as easily as modest computer games. Heat and noise development are generally okay, but the laptop should work a bit quieter under full load."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Ted Needleman
| January 2022
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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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