The Inspiron weights about 200 to 300 grams more than the competition among 14-inch laptops, coming in slightly less than 1.6 kg. The matte silver-gray metal case has a simple, streamlined appearance. A notable feature: When the device is opened, a rubber strip on the bottom of the lid acts as a stand and as scratch prevention. The laptop is free of manufacturing defects, however the whole base unit needs to be more sturdy. After removing the bottom cover, you can reach the battery (which is screwed, not glued), as well as the remaining components.
Two USB-A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1) and one USB-C port are available on the Inspiron (USB 3.2 Gen 2; Power Delivery, DisplayPort). There are two video outputs available: one HDMI and one DP. The SD memory card reader is a sluggish model (reference card: AV PRO SD 128 GB V60). Good: A mechanical shutter is present on the webcam (2.1 MP, maximum 1,920×1,080 pixels).
Devices for entering data – The Inspiron has a lighted keyboard.
The backlit chiclet keyboard’s slightly roughened keys feature a short travel distance and a distinct pressure point. The keys’ pleasing resistance is a plus. While typing, the keyboard flexes a little. With a function key, the illumination (two brightness levels) is managed. Overall, Dell provides a keyboard that is appropriate for daily usage.
The mouse is replaced by a multitouch-capable ClickPad that is approximately 11.5 x 8 cm in size. Thanks to its smooth surface, fingers may easily glide across it. Moreover, it reacts to inputs from the corners. The pad has a limited range of motion, and the pressure point could be a little more accurate.
Display
The matte 14-inch display’s brightness (278.7 cd/m2) and contrast (859:1) fall short of expectations for a mobility 800-Euro ($811) laptop; more is required in this situation. We regard values above 300 cd/m2 or 1,000:1 to be favorable. PWM flickering was not found, at least.
The display’s color variation right out of the box is just about acceptable, however the objective is missing. The audience doesn’t really notice this. The color spaces AdobeRGB (41%), sRGB (57%) and DCI-P3 (39%) cannot be accurately reproduced by the monitor. In other words, the panel wasn’t made for situations when color fidelity was necessary.
With the Inspiron, Dell provides an optional 2.2K panel with 2,240×1,400 pixels and 100% sRGB coverage. At the time of testing, we were unable to locate an Inspiron model with the necessary configuration.
In the 5425, Dell chooses the Zen 3 for performance.
Dell has a 14-inch laptop in its portfolio, the Inspiron 14 5425, that has more than adequate processing power for Internet and office-related tasks.
Test circumstances
Performance profiles are available in the My Dell app that have an impact on how the laptop performs and develops heat. The experiment was conducted using the “Optimized” profile. The results of our further profile checks are shown in the comparison tables. The performance variations between the profiles are not very significant.
Processor
The Ryzen 5 5625U APU (BarceloCPU )’s comprises of a hexa-core processor with a 2.3 GHz base clock speed. With Turbo, a boost of up to 4.35 GHz is conceivable. There is support for simultaneous multithreading (two threads per core).
The Cinebench R15 benchmark processes the multi-thread test at 3.3 to 3.5 GHz and the single-thread test at 3.5 to 4.35 GHz. Under battery power, the CPU operates at 3.2 to 3.3 GHz (multithread) and 2.5 to 3.5 GHz (single-thread), respectively.
System functionality
There were no problems with the quick and seamless system. Processing power is sufficient for low-resolution games as well as office and Internet activities. This is supported by strong PCMark outcomes. Transfer rates for DDR4-3200 memory are typical for RAM.
Storage
Dell use a 512 GB SK Hynix PCIe 3 SSD (M.2-2230; M.2 2280 variants also fit) as its primary storage device. Although the transfer rates are acceptable, this SSD is not among the best.
Video card
The Vega 7 is currently AMD’s Vega iGPU lineup’s second-most potent variant. Our The Witcher 3 test demonstrates that it can operate at maximum clock rates (1,800 MHz) for an extended period of time. If the hardware requirements are reasonable – at low resolutions and settings – the graphics core can display numerous games fluidly.
Energy and emissions – The Dell laptop has a long-lasting battery.
The fan frequently stops spinning and silence predominates in settings of daily use (office, internet). The sound pressure level increases at a rather rapid rate during the stress test, reaching a maximum of 43.3 dB(A). The Inspiron falls short of the Probook 445 G8’s superb performance. Using the performance profile “Silent” will lessen the formation of noise.
Temperature Under normal use, the case temperatures stay within the green zone (office, Internet). Under load, the laptop only very slightly warms up (stress test). There is no reason to worry about the CPU temperatures.
Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour as part of the stress test, which begins with the CPU and GPU operating at 3.7 GHz and 1,200 to 1,300 MHz, respectively. The CPU speed rate drops to 2.4 GHz as the test goes on, while the RAM clock rate drops to 700–750 MHz (GPU). An extreme circumstance is represented by the stress test. This test allows us to determine whether the system maintains stability under heavy load.
Usage of energy
Regarding energy usage, the laptop displays no anomalies. The rates are typical for the hardware that is currently in place. Later on in the load tests (stress, The Witcher 3), power consumption decreases slightly. The nominal output of the power adapter is 65 watts.
Conclusion
The Inspiron transforms into a portable companion thanks to its thin chassis, respectable weight (1.6 kg), and real-world battery life of approximately 13 hours. It’s good that the battery can be charged both with a standard USB-C power converter and with Dell’s proprietary power adapter (min. 45 watts).
