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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers better performance with a higher storage capacity, more RAM, and a more powerful processor, suitable for general use, light engineering tasks, and some 3D or machine learning applications. Its battery life is decent, and its larger 14-inch screen provides a better, higher-resolution display which is also touch-enabled. However, it's heavier and more expensive. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" is highly portable, budget-friendly, and sufficient for basic tasks due to its smaller size, lower weight, and adequate battery life. Its performance is more modest with significantly less storage and RAM, suitable for non-intensive applications like web browsing and document editing. If performance and screen quality are important, go with the Dell; if portability and cost are priorities, consider the Gateway. 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 general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.5
5.6
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 excels in general use with its powerful Intel i7 processor, ample RAM, and quality IPS screen, offering better multitasking, performance, and visual experience, alongside reasonable portability and battery life. Meanwhile, the Gateway 11.6" falls short due to its basic Intel Celeron processor, limited RAM, and lower-resolution screen, which lead to inferior performance and less ideal visual clarity despite its excellent portability.
Gaming and AI
6.2
5.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
6.9
5.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 excels in engineering and design tasks because it has a more powerful Intel i7 processor, larger RAM capacity, and superior integrated GPU, which are crucial for complex computations and high-definition graphics rendering. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" falls short for such tasks due to its lower-tier Intel Celeron processor, limited RAM, and less capable GPU, alongside a lower-resolution screen which would affect the clarity of design details.
Content Creation
7.3
5.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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.
Screen Quality
6.2
5.7
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers a balance with sufficient resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday activities like browsing and watching videos, but it may not satisfy those requiring precise color reproduction for engineering and design, nor will it appeal to gamers due to a standard refresh rate. On the other hand, the Gateway 11.6" struggles with lower screen quality across all fronts, which might make text less sharp and images less vivid for general use, and its limited color range and low refresh rate make it a compromise for both professionals working with detailed color work and gamers seeking fluid motion. For more immersive engineering, design tasks, or gaming experiences, a laptop with an advanced color gamut and high refresh rate is important, areas where both these models fall short.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
5.1
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$89
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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Key similarities
Battery
7.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 7.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 260 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 9.2/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Gateway 11.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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