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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while pricier, offers a better processor, more memory, and larger storage, making it suitable for more demanding tasks and general use. Its smaller size and higher battery capacity offer better portability and longer use on a single charge. Additionally, it features a higher resolution touchscreen, which is useful for interactive tasks and creative work. In contrast, the HP 15" Laptop is more affordable, with a larger screen size that may be better for watching videos and simpler tasks, but it has a weaker processor, less memory, and smaller storage, making it less equipped for performance-intensive activities. 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 portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the HP 15" Laptop
- The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 7420.
Key differences
General Use
7.5
6.7
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 outperforms the HP 15" Laptop for general use primarily due to its superior CPU and double the RAM, which contribute to faster, more efficient multitasking and processing. Furthermore, the Dell's higher screen quality, greater portability due to its smaller size and 2-in-1 convertible design, alongside a longer battery life, make it well-suited for a variety of tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.2
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 HP 15" Laptop are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is better for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, more RAM, and higher quality GPU, which are essential for demanding software, along with a higher resolution and color-accurate screen that benefits design work.
Software Development
7.3
6.7
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
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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.
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
250.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the HP 15" Laptop for software development, and content creation.
When considering general use such as browsing or document editing, both the Dell Inspiron 14 and the HP 15" have adequate resolution and brightness, but neither may provide the most vivid or crisp visuals expected from higher-end displays. For engineering and design tasks, these laptops display a fair range of colors, yet they don't fully cover professional color gamuts like DCI-P3 or Adobe RGB, making them less suitable for color-critical work. As for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates can lead to less fluid on-screen motion, which may be noticeable when playing fast-paced games or doing real-time 3D modeling.
Battery
7.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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
6.0
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$801
$375
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the HP 15" Laptop costs $375.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
5.9
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
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, offers better performance for gaming and 3D applications than the HP 15" Laptop with its Intel UHD Graphics, but both are limited by standard screen refresh rates and lack dedicated gaming GPUs. The Dell has a higher-quality CPU, which is beneficial for demanding tasks; however, both laptops have screens using IPS technology for good color and viewing angles, which are somewhat important for visual experiences in gaming and 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.3
6.9
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to be good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 7420 to have very good portability, while the HP 15" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the HP 15" Laptop compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | HP 15" Laptop |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $375 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i3-1215U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 128 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 6 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 | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 6/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6/10 | |
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."
HP 15" Laptop
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | August 2022
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the HP 15" Laptop
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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