Dell Inspiron 14 5402 review
Dell Inspiron 14 5402 — from 2020, 1.4 kg, performance 45.
Technical specifications
| Type | Laptop |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Screen | 14" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 1115G4 , Intel Core i5 1135G7 , Intel Core i7 1165G7 |
| Max. RAM | 32 GB |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
| Battery | 40 Wh |
Performance scores
Dell Inspiron 14 5402 (2020): light, cheap, and better at games than it has any right to be
The Dell Inspiron 14 5402 is a $339, 2020 machine with a Core i3 1115G4 and 32GB of memory in a 1.4kg chassis — 22 percent below the class median weight. Its mobility index of 71 clears the class median by 42 percent, and its gaming index of 64 is mid-tier, a reading several newer and pricier machines in this batch fail to match. The graphics score of 14.08, roughly half the class median, is the named weakness.
Where it holds up
The everyday package over-delivers for the price: office at 60.41 mid-tier, portability at 71.3 high-tier, engineering CAD at 39 mid-tier, and value at 78.55 high-tier — tied with the Inspiron 15 3501 as the joint-best value reading in this batch's $339 club. The 32GB of memory doubles the typical 2020 shipment, and the 1.4kg frame makes it the lightest of the budget 2020 Dells here.
Where it falls short
The graphics column is the honest invoice: 14.08 against a class median of 27.24, with 3D modeling at 21 and photo design at 27 both low-band — integrated graphics of this generation were built for the desktop, not the canvas. Performance at 45.41 is mid-tier, the 1115G4's dual-core-class design shows under load, and the 10.39 percent depreciation pace applies to a platform whose software runway shortens each year.
Price and depreciation
No baseline price exists in the ledger, so the projection runs rate-only at a modeled 10.39 percent per year. On $339 that is roughly $35 of expected first-year loss — the batch's floor in absolute terms. At this stage of the curve, depreciation is a rounding error; the capability ceiling is the entire decision.
Alternatives to consider
The Inspiron 14 5415 (2021) at $399 is the AMD step-up: photo at 82 versus 27, value at 70.55, and a rounded no-low-band sheet for $60 more — the stronger creative buy. The Inspiron 15 5502 at the same $339 offers 64GB of memory and photo at 67 in exchange for the heavier 15-inch frame. The Inspiron 14 7400 at the same price ties the value reading at 81.7 with a 1.25kg chassis and photo at 81 — the premium-budget twist of the same formula.
Bottom line
Fairly priced for the class. The 5402 is a light, memory-rich budget traveler with a high-tier value reading and a mid-tier gaming axis that out-punches its years, paying for it with office-class graphics and two low-band creative axes. For a carry-first budget buyer, it is one of the two best $339 picks in this batch.
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⭐ What stands out
-
graphics performance is lower than typical general laptop class (+48.3%) (office tier).
below class average -
mobility is higher than typical general laptop class (+42%) (high tier).
top 25% of its category -
weight is lower than typical general laptop class (+22.2%) (light tier).
budget segment of category
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration handles modern AAA games at high settings, video editing, and heavy multitasking.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 54) ↔ price (median 247.9).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 50) ↔ overall performance (median 43.1).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 50) ↔ battery life (median 2.3).
Inspiron 14 5402: verdict
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