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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize a lower price and want solid performance for general use and multitasking, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is a suitable option. It comes with a good processor and enough memory to handle everyday tasks efficiently. However, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a sleeker design, a higher-resolution screen, and a lighter build, making it more portable and better suited for those who are often on-the-go and prefer a premium build. The Surface Laptop also tends to have a better display quality, which could be important if you appreciate sharper images and work with visual content. Keep in mind that a higher quality build and portability come at a higher cost with the Surface Laptop. If your workload includes engineering or intensive tasks, both laptops may suffice, but you'll want to look closely at the specific software requirements as performance may vary due to the different processors. For gaming or 3D work, neither is ideal, but the Dell's AMD graphics may handle light gaming better than the Surface Laptop's integrated graphics. Battery life is another consideration: the Dell has decent battery life, whereas the Surface Laptop may offer a bit more, but this can also depend on your specific usage pattern. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.3
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 stands out with a high-resolution display that offers crisp text and vibrant visuals, enhanced by a panel type known for its color accuracy and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. For engineering and design professionals, this laptop's display covers a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring that designers and engineers can work with color-critical applications with confidence due to its ability to represent a broader spectrum of colors accurately. However, when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of both laptops might not deliver the smooth visuals that these applications demand, with the Dell and Microsoft screens possibly appearing less fluid and responsive during fast-paced scenes.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$500
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $500 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.4
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and 16GB of RAM offers solid performance for general tasks; its 14-inch screen, though not touch-enabled, provides a decent visual experience and, along with substantial battery life, contributes to its portability. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" features a similarly powerful Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, a slightly smaller but higher-resolution touch-enabled display for sharper images, and is lighter and thinner than the Dell, but has a shorter battery life, making it a very portable option with a premium on screen quality.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are fair for gaming and 3D because their integrated GPUs, the AMD Vega 8 and Intel Iris Xe respectively, deliver moderate performance that can handle some gaming and 3D tasks but not at high settings or resolutions.
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Vega 8 graphics, 16GB RAM, a 14-inch display, and a larger battery is a robust choice for engineering and design tasks that require good performance and screen real estate. Meanwhile, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" stands out with its Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, a higher resolution and touch-capable 13.5-inch screen offering better portability and interactivity but with slightly less battery capacity.
Content Creation
7.5
7.4
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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
7.5
7.2
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5425 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i7-1255U | |
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 | 12 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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