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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, consider the following: the Inspiron 14 7420 may be more expensive, but offers better portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, and it can double as a tablet with its 2-in-1 convertible feature. It's well-suited for those needing a compact device with versatile usage options. On the other hand, the Inspiron 15 3511, while generally less costly, provides a larger screen and may offer better storage and memory options, making it a good fit for users seeking a more traditional laptop experience at a more modest price point, especially if portability is not a major concern. Depending on your priority between cost, portability, performance, and how you intend to use your device, one may be more appealing than the other. 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 7420
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
- Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.0
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use.
Both the Dell Inspiron 14 and 15 offer displays that provide adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and productivity applications, which is why they are considered to have fair screen quality for general use. For engineering and design, their screens fall short in offering the wide color gamuts that professionals require for precise color work, hence they are only rated as fair for these fields. When it comes to gaming and 3D work, their lower refresh rates can lead to less fluid motion and responsiveness, resulting in a poor viewing experience for those specific needs.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
6.2
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$560
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $560.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.6
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with a strong CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen, stands out for general use, offering enhanced portability and better battery life, tailored for those who need a compact and longer-lasting device. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, though slightly less portable, boasts a larger screen and substantial RAM for multitasking, alongside greater storage capacity, suitable for users requiring more screen real estate and data space.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are considered fair for gaming and 3D because they both use integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which can handle these tasks but are not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, and they both have standard screen refresh rates that are fine for casual gaming but not ideal for high-level competitive play. While the Inspiron 14 has a slightly more powerful CPU, neither laptop excels in screen quality or refresh rate for demanding gaming or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3511 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with a high-tier CPU and a mid-tier GPU, offers strong performance for engineering and design while also featuring a high-quality screen, essential for tasks requiring color accuracy and detail. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 pairs a mid-tier CPU with the same level GPU as the 7420, but doubles the memory, making it better for multitasking and complex projects, and has a larger screen, which is beneficial for design work, despite a slightly lower screen resolution and color accuracy.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
7.3
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
7.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 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 7420 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | Dell Inspiron 15 3511 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $560 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 260 nits | 230 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | June 2022
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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.
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