The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a great choice for intensive tasks such as engineering or 3D rendering thanks to its more powerful processor and double the RAM, and it has a higher-resolution display, but it comes with a higher price tag and slightly lower battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" offers a larger screen with touch capability and longer battery life at a more affordable price, but with less power and half the storage capacity, making it more suitable for general use rather than heavy computational tasks. 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 Plus
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Very good battery life
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
6.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" in engineering and design tasks primarily due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and superior integrated graphics, alongside a higher-resolution display that offers better screen quality. While the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is slightly more portable and has a touchscreen, its lesser RAM and CPU capability, along with lower display resolution, limit its effectiveness for more demanding engineering and design use.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a higher resolution and brighter display than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", enhancing readability and visual comfort. When it comes to engineering and design tasks, the Dell has superior color accuracy and a wider color gamut, vital for precise visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smooth visuals required for fast-paced action and detailed animations.
Battery
6.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
$1,200
$690
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,200 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a higher-resolution screen and more RAM, making it suitable for demanding tasks and multitasking, but with shorter battery life; it's also more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller screen size compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", which balances a larger screen and longer battery life with lower screen resolution and less RAM, catering well to general use that favors viewing comfort and less frequent charging over peak performance.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
6.2/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus provides a more satisfying gaming and 3D experience with better screen quality, including higher resolution, and a stronger GPU than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15". However, both have the same screen refresh rate, which is very important for gaming and 3D but may not be optimal for the highest-end fast-paced games where higher refresh rates can be more desirable.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 Plus to have very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" compare to other laptops
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
126,495
Recommendations made
27,408
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.