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Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and the HP Spectre x360 14, consider that the Inspiron typically offers good value for essential tasks and may be cost-effective, while the Spectre x360 tends to have a more premium build quality, often higher performance, and a versatile convertible design which can be useful for presentations or media consumption. If you require longer battery life and a laptop that can handle more demanding software, the Spectre is usually a better fit, but if affordability is your priority and you engage in general use, the Inspiron may suffice. Keep in mind, with the Spectre you're also paying for its premium design and brand. There's always a balance between cost and features; the right choice depends on your specific needs and willingness to invest in those extra features. 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 HP Spectre x360 14.
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.7
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
260.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers a balance of performance and portability for everyday tasks, but the HP Spectre x360 14 stands out with a higher-quality screen and longer battery life, making it more suitable for extended use and media consumption. While both feature capable CPUs and sufficient RAM for general activities, the Spectre also benefits from its convertibility and premium build, which add to its portability and versatility despite being slightly heavier, enhancing the overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its decent GPU, can manage gaming and 3D tasks without top-tier performance, and its standard screen refresh rate won't appeal to serious gamers, but it offers a good compromise for casual use. The HP Spectre x360 14, while also featuring a capable GPU and similar screen refresh rate limitations, brings added value with its higher screen quality and a better CPU for a smoother overall experience in both general tasks and lighter gaming or 3D work.
Engineering and Design
6.9
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14 typically offers a more powerful CPU and GPU combination essential for demanding engineering and design applications, along with high-quality RAM and a superior screen, facilitating better multitasking and more detailed visuals. While the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 also supports engineering tasks, it might lag slightly in performance and screen quality but could offer a balance with decent portability and less operating noise for everyday productivity.
Content Creation
7.3
8.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
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
8.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
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
8.6
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 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's modest resolution and brightness provide adequate clarity and visibility for everyday tasks and engineering applications but fall short in delivering the high refresh rates needed for smooth gaming and 3D work. HP Spectre x360's superior resolution and brightness enhance the visual experience for both general use and detail-intensive engineering work, but like the Dell, its lower refresh rate limits its ability to render fast-paced gaming visuals effectively. Additionally, the Spectre's wider color gamut allows for more accurate color representation in design tasks, which is not as crucial for general use or gaming.
Battery
7.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.5
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 14 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 HP Spectre x360 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 7420 | HP Spectre x360 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$801 | $1,630 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.66'' | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.61 lbs | 3.45 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.36" | 12.35" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.96" | 8.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 68 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 260 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 2160p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
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 Spectre x360 14
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the HP Spectre x360 14
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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