The Acer Aspire 1 is significantly less expensive and rated better for portability, ideal for basic tasks like web browsing, office applications, and media consumption, as it's lightweight with silent operation but has lower performance due to its basic processor, less RAM, and storage. The display isn’t as vibrant or sharp, which may not be ideal for tasks that require accurate color representation. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a higher price but offers better performance for more resource-intensive tasks such as photo editing, with its powerful processor, more RAM, and storage. It also boasts a higher-quality, brighter display with touch capability, longer battery life, and a better build quality, making it suitable for engineering and creative work. However, it is slightly less portable than the Acer. 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 Acer Aspire 1
The Acer Aspire 1 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 7420.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
5.7/10
6.4/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1's performance in gaming and 3D applications is hindered by its basic Intel Celeron N4500 UHD Graphics, which is less capable than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420's Intel Iris Xe that comes with a higher-end Intel i7 CPU. Moreover, the Acer's TN panel offers lower quality and screen refresh rates only suitable for basic tasks, whereas the Dell's IPS display provides better color fidelity and viewing angles, enhancing the overall gaming and 3D experience despite both having similar screen refresh rates.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is less suitable for engineering and design due to its basic Intel Celeron processor, limited 4GB of RAM, and less sophisticated UHD Graphics which can struggle with demanding software used in these fields, whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is better equipped with a higher-end Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and Iris Xe graphics capable of handling more intensive tasks and displays with better screen quality.
Content Creation
5.9/10
7.3/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
6.1/10
7.3/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
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
5.2/10
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1's screen may not be sharp or bright enough for comfortable viewing, making it less ideal for users who prioritize display quality in everyday tasks, as well as in detail-oriented work like engineering or design where clarity is essential. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers somewhat better visibility and color representation, meeting the needs of general use and some professional applications, although it may lack the wide color gamuts required for high-precision color work. For gaming and 3D, both laptops may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can hinder the smooth visuals critical for immersive and responsive gaming experiences.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
7.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$215
$801
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
"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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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
59,895
Recommendations made
12,978
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.