If you prioritize battery life and a lighter device for better portability, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is your choice, but if you're looking for potentially better performance for 3D tasks and engineering software, the Lenovo Flex 5 14 with its AMD processor could be the better option. Both laptops offer similar display quality and are suitable for general use, but keep in mind the Lenovo may have a slight edge in build quality. When considering price, the Dell tends to be slightly less expensive. Consider the trade-offs between performance for specialized tasks and everyday portability and battery life when making your decision. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 14
Good for engineering and design
Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for software development.
When considering laptops like the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 for general use, their fair screen quality can be attributed to decent resolution and brightness, which are adequate for everyday tasks like browsing and office work, but they may not have the top-tier panels that provide the most vibrant colors and sharpest images. For engineering and design purposes, these laptops offer fair screen quality since they can display a respectable range of colors, but they fall short of the higher standards required by professionals for the most accurate color work due to limited coverage of professional color gamuts. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops' poor screen quality is due to average refresh rates that don't match the smoothness desired by gamers or the precision needed in high-frame-rate 3D rendering, though their resolution and panel type are sufficient for casual use.
Battery
7.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has 11.5 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.
Cost
$801
$950
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 costs $950.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its efficient CPU and ample RAM, handles everyday tasks with ease, while the screen quality and strong battery life make it ideal for users who prioritize longevity and visual clarity. The Lenovo Flex 5 14, on the other hand, offers similar processor and memory capabilities, but its added versatility as a 2-in-1 with a touch screen enhances its portability, and it also offers good battery life, appealing to those needing flexibility on the move.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 with its Intel i7 Iris Xe graphics and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 with Ryzen 7 Vega 8 graphics are both equipped with integrated GPUs that are on the lower end for gaming and 3D tasks; neither machine has a specialized high-end gaming GPU or a high screen refresh rate, which are very important for these activities. The Dell and Lenovo's similar screen quality and competent CPUs make them passable for casual gaming, but for dedicated gaming or 3D work, laptops with powerful dedicated GPUs and higher refresh rates are recommended.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 14 to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, is tailored for applications requiring strong CPU and integrated graphics performance, along with a high-quality IPS display for clarity in design tasks, while the Lenovo Flex 5 14 stands out with its AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Vega 8 graphics, offering a balance between processing and graphics capability, coupled with its superior contrast ratio and color coverage that benefits detailed engineering and design work. Both laptops offer similar RAM which is crucial for multitasking in engineering software, and their 14-inch touchscreens with durable IPS panels provide versatility for design, making them suitable for on-the-go use despite slight variations in portability and keyboard quality.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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
7.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 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 Lenovo Flex 5 14 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 highlight of the latest IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is clearly its AMD CPU. The octa-core Ryzen 7 5700U is insanely fast even when compared to the best Tiger Lake Ultrabooks in the market or even Core H CPUs in many gaming laptops. It's a lot of raw processing power for what is supposed to be a budget 14-inch convertible. If your daily workloads can benefit from extra multi-thread CPU performance, then look no further than the inexpensive AMD-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. For regular on-the-road browsing or video streaming, however, a slimmer and lighter 10th gen Core Yoga, Spectre, or XPS would be a more balanced option."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the Lenovo Flex 5 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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