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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 provides more storage and memory, which is beneficial for multitasking and data-intensive tasks, along with a more powerful AMD processor, making it suitable for general use and engineering tasks. However, it's less portable and offers lower battery life compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. The Microsoft Surface Laptop is lighter, with a better battery life and a touchscreen that may enhance user experience, making it a good option for on-the-go users who prioritize portability and do not require intensive processing power. Both have a solid build and good heat management, but the Dell is slightly less expensive despite offering more robust specs. 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
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.7
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 stands out for general use with a more powerful CPU, double the amount of RAM, and larger, higher resolution screen which is not touch-enabled and has good portability and battery life; on the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while being more portable and having a touch screen, offers a less powerful CPU, half the RAM for multitasking, and a smaller, lower resolution screen, and it trails in battery life but still maintains decent portability.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.5
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is better for engineering and design due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, double the RAM, and superior integrated Vega graphics compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which has a less powerful Intel i5 CPU and lower RAM, impacting complex task handling and multitasking. While the Surface Laptop Go 2 offers greater portability and a touchscreen, it falls short in screen resolution and overall performance crucial for engineering and design tasks.
Screen Quality
6.3
6.9
14.0in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 for software development, and content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 offers richer colors and sharper details due to a better panel type and higher resolution, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a fair display that might not be as vibrant or clear. In the context of engineering and design, the Surface Laptop Go 2 likely provides a wider color gamut, crucial for precise color work, unlike the Inspiron which has a more limited color range, making it less ideal for professional design tasks. When it comes to Gaming and 3D performance, both laptops fall short with lower refresh rates, but the panel type and resolution on the Surface Laptop Go 2 still contribute to a marginally better visual experience.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
12.4in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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 Go 2 and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
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 Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both categorized as fair for gaming and 3D primarily because neither has a dedicated high-performance GPU, instead relying on integrated graphics (AMD Ryzen 7 5825U Vega 8 and Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe respectively), which limit their ability to handle graphically intensive tasks smoothly. Additionally, both laptops have a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming, but not ideal for fast-paced games that benefit from higher refresh rates; the CPUs and screen quality are satisfactory but not high-end, further contributing to their fair assessment in this context.
Content Creation
7.5
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
7.0
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 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
$500
$495
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has a price of $500 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $495.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5425 | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$500 | $495 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.75'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.48 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 12 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 401 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 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 | 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 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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 Go 2
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | August 2022
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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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