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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is slightly lighter and more compact, which may be better for portability, and it features a discrete Nvidia graphics card that is better suited for tasks requiring more graphics processing power, such as light gaming or graphic design. The screen has a higher resolution, although it lacks a touchscreen. On the other hand, the HP Envy x360 15" has a larger screen with touch capability, making it ideal for users who benefit from hands-on interaction, like digital artists or those who like to take notes directly on the screen. It also comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen processor with integrated graphics, which is well-suited for general use and can handle moderate engineering tasks. Both laptops have similar battery life and are capable of handling everyday tasks and engineering applications, but the deciding factors are likely to be the need for a touchscreen and portability versus slightly better graphic performance and higher screen resolution. 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 5420
- Very good portability
Advantages of the HP Envy x360 15"
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.2
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
279.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a better screen than the HP Envy x360 15" for general use, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize everyday tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, or working with documents, the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" offer fair screen quality with adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for general use. For engineering and design work where precise colors matter, both laptops provide fair screen quality, but color accuracy may not meet professional standards due to limited color gamuts. Gamers and creators working with 3D applications may find the screens lacking due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid visuals during fast-paced scenes or while working on motion-sensitive projects.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has very good portability, while the HP Envy x360 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.7
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
279.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
271.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The HP Envy x360 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 offers a balance of performance and portability with a strong CPU and RAM combination, making it ideal for everyday tasks, along with a screen that's clear and bright, while also being easy to carry around. The HP Envy x360 15" also delivers solid performance with good CPU and RAM, has a high-quality, larger touchscreen for more immersive viewing, and its convertible design suits diverse needs, although it is a bit bulkier which might affect portability and battery life slightly more than the Dell.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.4
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and HP Envy x360 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the HP Envy x360 15" both have graphics processing units (GPUs) and screen refresh rates that can handle gaming and 3D applications at a basic level, but they aren't top-tier for these tasks, which makes them merely fair options. The Inspiron's and the Envy's processors and screen quality are suitable for general use, but for more demanding gaming and 3D work, laptops with higher-spec GPUs and faster refresh rates would be preferable.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.2
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy x360 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is equipped with a high-resolution IPS screen and Nvidia MX570 GPU that makes it suitable for engineering and design graphics, whereas the HP Envy x360 15" integrates the versatility of a convertible design, with a touch screen and AMD Vega 8 graphics suitable for similar tasks, providing flexibility in how you interact with your projects. Both laptops offer solid CPU and RAM configurations for demanding software, but the Dell prioritizes a higher resolution and dedicated GPU, which can be beneficial for detailed design work, while the HP offers the convenience of a tablet with a competent integrated GPU, which can be advantageous for hands-on design and presentations.
Content Creation
7.5
7.6
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy x360 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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
7.4
7.5
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy x360 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP Envy x360 15" 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.
Build Quality
7.0
7.2
The HP Envy x360 15" and Dell Inspiron 14 5420 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$971
$998
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 5420 has a price of $971 and the HP Envy x360 15" costs $998.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 and the HP Envy x360 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 14 5420 | HP Envy x360 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$971 | $998 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.4'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9'' x 0.72'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.43 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | MX570 | Vega 8 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 54 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2240 x 1400 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 279 nits | 271 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | White | White | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 14 5420
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Dig into reviews and images
Smarthouse
Nick Ross | March 2023
"If laptops were food, then the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 is arguably a Big Mac. There are cheaper and more expensive options, but this arguably represents the baseline of quality and value in the world of mobile computing… something that’s underlined by the attractive $1,279 price tag."
HP Envy x360 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Matt Elliott | January 2023
"Despite its good looks, stellar webcam and comfortable keyboard, the Envy x360 15 is hard to recommend because of its dim, 16:9 display. If the display isn't an issue for you, just be sure to wait for a good sale price. Otherwise, a more modern two-in-one with a 16:10 display such as the Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 or Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 provides a larger workspace without adding much to the size and weight of the system."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 5420 or the HP Envy x360 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 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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