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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and HP Envy 17 are similarly priced, have equal storage and RAM, and touch-enabled IPS displays. The Inspiron is more portable due to its smaller 14-inch screen and lighter weight, suitable for frequent travel and students. It also has a higher-resolution display which is sharper, better for tasks requiring clarity like photo editing. The HP Envy 17, with a larger 17.3-inch screen and heavier build, provides a bigger workspace, which could benefit creative professionals or multitaskers. Both use integrated Intel graphics, though the Envy's processor is newer, potentially offering improved performance for demanding applications like video editing or engineering software. 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 HP Envy 17
- Good for engineering and design
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.8
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
When considering general use, the HP Envy 17 provides a higher resolution and brighter display, offering clearer and more vibrant visuals compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, which has a decent display but not as pronounced in terms of brightness and clarity. For engineering and design, the HP's superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts make it a better fit for professionals requiring precise color representation. However, neither of these laptops is ideal for gaming or 3D tasks due to their lower refresh rates, with both being more attuned to productivity and multimedia consumption than high frame-rate gaming experiences.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the HP Envy 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$801
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
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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
329.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
6.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
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
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the HP Envy 17 are fair options for gaming and 3D tasks due to having integrated GPUs, which are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, and standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which are adequate for casual gaming but not optimal for high-end gaming where higher refresh rates are preferred. Both models offer good screen quality with their own respective CPU strengths, but lack the cutting-edge performance and fluid visuals typical in specialized gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Envy 17 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the HP Envy 17 both come with capable Intel CPUs and ample RAM, important for complex engineering software and multitasking involved in design work. While the Inspiron offers higher portability with its smaller screen and lighter weight, the Envy boasts a larger screen with superior quality for fine details, though it is less portable, making the Dell preferable for on-the-go users and HP for those prioritizing display real estate and screen clarity.
Content Creation
7.3
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 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
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 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.
Battery
7.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.2
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and HP Envy 17 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 HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | HP Envy 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 15.7'' x 10.2'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 5.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 15.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
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 | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 3 | |
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."
HP Envy 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | April 2023
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the HP Envy 17
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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