If you want a more affordable option with decent performance for general use and a better battery life, the LG Ultra 13 is suitable and very portable. For better performance in engineering tasks and more storage, consider the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, but it's heavier and typically costs more. Neither is ideal for intensive gaming, but for tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, the Dell has a slight edge. If display quality for work in color-sensitive applications is paramount, the LG's screen covers a wider color gamut. Both have a 16 GB RAM, backlit keyboards, and lack Ethernet ports, but the Dell has a touchscreen and more USB-C ports. 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 LG Ultra 13
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
260.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The LG Ultra 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with fair screen attributes like resolution, panel type, and brightness, fulfills the basic needs for general use and engineering but falls short in gaming due to a lower refresh rate. The LG Ultra 13, with better overall screen quality, including higher brightness and resolution, offers a more vibrant and sharp display for general and engineering tasks, thanks in part to its wider color gamut coverage. However, both laptops are not ideal for gaming and 3D work, as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals in such demanding applications.
Battery
7.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 13 has 10 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$801
$529
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a price of $801 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with its powerful Intel i7 processor, ample RAM, and high-resolution, bright IPS screen, is highly capable of handling everyday tasks and light photo editing, though it is relatively heavier, which impacts portability. On the other hand, the LG Ultra 13 has a well-regarded AMD Ryzen 7 processor and is also equipped with sufficient RAM, but its standout features are its lighter weight and long battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize portability and being able to work for extended periods without charging.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.1/10
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
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is equipped with an Intel i7-1255U Iris Xe GPU and a 60Hz screen refresh rate, while the LG Ultra 13 has an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U Vega 7 GPU and also a 60Hz refresh rate; both laptops have GPUs and refresh rates that are suitable for casual gaming and basic 3D work but may not handle more demanding games and 3D applications very well.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
6.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its high-performance CPU, capable integrated GPU, and a screen with higher resolution, offering better detail and workspace which are very important for such tasks.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 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
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 and LG Ultra 13 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 LG Ultra 13 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 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 or the LG Ultra 13
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 LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, 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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