The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is less expensive and offers good general performance with a better battery life than the Precision 5470, suitable for typical use and some lighter engineering tasks. The Precision 5470, although more expensive, provides higher performance for engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning, with a dedicated Nvidia GPU and a more powerful processor, as well as higher color accuracy and brightness for the display, which benefits design work. Both laptops have similar portability, but the Precision is slightly lighter. The Inspiron offers a touchscreen option which the Precision does not, potentially adding convenience for regular use. 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
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has no clear advantages over the Dell Precision 5470.
Advantages of the Dell Precision 5470
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
7.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers a balance of resolution, brightness, and panel type suitable for everyday tasks but the screen isn't as vivid for technical applications like engineering where color accuracy is key, nor does it have the high refresh rates needed for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D work. The Dell Precision 5470, with its higher color accuracy, caters well to professionals in engineering and design who need precise color representation but, like the Inspiron, falls short for gaming and 3D due to a standard refresh rate. Both lack the high refresh rates preferred for gaming and 3D, but while the Precision excels in display quality for professional use, the Inspiron is adequate for general purposes, bearing in mind its affordability.
Battery
7.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Precision 5470 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$1,669
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Dell Precision 5470 costs $1,669.
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is a versatile 2-in-1 convertible that appeals to general users with its adequate processing power and portability, providing a good balance of screen quality and battery life. On the other hand, the Dell Precision 5470, with its powerful CPU and dedicated graphics, addresses the needs of more demanding tasks while also delivering superior screen brightness and larger battery capacity, though at the expense of greater weight and possibly reduced portability.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is less suited to gaming and 3D tasks as it uses an integrated Iris Xe graphics unit, which is less powerful than dedicated graphics cards. The Dell Precision 5470, on the other hand, includes a dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 graphic card, offering better performance for such tasks, even though both laptops have the same screen refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 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
7.3/10
7.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the Dell Precision 5470 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Dell Precision 5470
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.
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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