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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers better performance, with a higher-end processor and more RAM, making it more suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and general engineering work. It is also more portable due to its smaller size and slightly longer battery life. If better display quality is important to you, this model has better color coverage and brightness. However, it is more expensive than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is more budget-friendly, still offers a solid processor but less RAM, and has a slightly larger screen that's lower in resolution and color accuracy. It has a shorter battery life and a lower portability score, but it is still capable of handling general use and less demanding engineering tasks. If you are looking for a laptop for basic to moderate use without straining your budget, the Inspiron 15 3525 is a good option. 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 for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 7420.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is equipped with more RAM and a higher resolution screen which are very important for engineering and design tasks, offering improved performance and better detail for intricate work. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, while still suitable for engineering and design, provides less RAM which could limit performance with complex projects, and it has a lower screen resolution, which might affect the clarity and detail of visual content.
Screen Quality
6.2
6.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and 15 3525 offer screens that are adequate in terms of clarity and brightness, but they might not have the high resolution that makes text and images exceptionally sharp. In the realm of engineering and design, while these laptops provide decent resolution for most tasks, professionals looking for precise color work may find their screens lacking in color accuracy and range. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rates on these models can result in less fluid motion and slower response times, which could hinder the gaming experience compared to laptops designed specifically for that purpose.
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 3525 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 3525 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 costs $400.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 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 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is more suited for general use due to its better CPU and larger RAM which contribute to faster performance, a higher quality screen with better brightness and color coverage enhancing visuals, and its more compact and lighter build providing greater portability. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, while also suitable for general tasks, is limited by its moderate CPU and smaller RAM affecting multitasking, as well as a bulkier form factor and lower battery life, though it offers a larger screen.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
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 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are on par for gaming and 3D due to their integrated graphics, which can handle light gaming but are not suited for demanding games requiring powerful dedicated graphics cards. Both laptops feature similar screen refresh rates and high-quality IPS displays, but are held back for intense gaming activities by their GPUS and moderate refresh rates.
Content Creation
7.3
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
6.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to be good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
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 3525 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 3525 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | Dell Inspiron 15 3525 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.71 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.27" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 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 | 259 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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
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 3525
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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