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Updated January 10, 2024·
In choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431, consider that while the Inspiron is slightly less expensive, the Latitude offers a larger battery capacity and better portability. The Latitude also comes with Windows 11 Pro, and its more durable build may better suit business users. If a touchscreen and a higher resolution display are important, go for the Inspiron. However, for those requiring longer battery life and a machine that's easier to carry around, the Latitude would be a preferable option. The Inspiron's processor could be better for multitasking, but for day-to-day tasks, both would be suitable. 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
- Very good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 5431
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use.
If the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 have fair screen quality for general use, it suggests their panel type, resolution, and brightness are adequate but not exceptional, providing a satisfactory experience for daily tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. For engineering and design, the fair designation implies that while they may cover a decent range of colors, they're not particularly suited for color-sensitive work due to limitations in covering wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. For gaming and 3D applications, their poor screen quality can be attributed to subpar refresh rates that result in less fluid motion, and possibly average resolution and panel quality that don't meet the high demands of these visually intensive activities.
Battery
7.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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.
Cost
$801
$950
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Dell Latitude 5431 costs $950.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.2
3.7/10
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
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 with an Intel i7-1255U GPU and a standard 60Hz refresh rate display offers fair gaming performance, though the slightly higher screen resolution might provide better visual detail compared to the Latitude 5431, which sports an Intel i5-1250P GPU and the same refresh rate but with a lower screen resolution, implying its performance might not be as sharp but still decent for casual gaming. The CPUs in both laptops are adequate for gaming, with the Inspiron potentially leading thanks to its higher-tier CPU, while screen quality on both is similar, featuring IPS panels which deliver good color reproduction and viewing angles, important for visual experiences in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 stands out for engineering and design with a high-resolution 16:10 aspect ratio screen and a powerful processor, making it useful for tasks requiring significant processing power and beneficial for creative work due to its convertible 2-in-1 design. In comparison, the slightly lighter Dell Latitude 5431 offers a professional build with longer battery life and an excellent fan noise management system, suited for extended engineering work without the distraction of a loud operating noise.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 5431 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
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to have very good portability, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
7.4
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Dell Latitude 5431 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the Dell Latitude 5431 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | Dell Latitude 5431 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.96'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i5-1250P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 64 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 | 260 nits | 241 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Dell Latitude 5431
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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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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