Dell Latitude 5420 vs Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M)
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is the better laptop on paper: it lasts longer on a charge, has an OLED screen and is sold new. Pick the Dell Latitude 5420 only if it matters to you that it has Ethernet.
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Key differences
- Battery life Acer Aspire 14 AI wins
The Acer Aspire 14 AI should last longer on a charge: it has a 65 Wh battery against 42 Wh.
- OLED screen Acer Aspire 14 AI wins
The Acer Aspire 14 AI has an OLED screen, with true blacks and richer colour than the Dell Latitude 5420's LCD.
- Condition Depends on you
The Dell Latitude 5420 is sold renewed (used and refurbished); the Acer Aspire 14 AI is sold new.
- Age Acer Aspire 14 AI wins
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is the newer model (2025 against 2021).
- Ports Depends on you
Only the Dell Latitude 5420 has Ethernet, while only the Acer Aspire 14 AI has USB-A.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Dell Latitude 5420 if…
- You plug things in: it has Ethernet (for wired internet).
- You might want more memory later: you can add it yourself.
- You multitask a lot: its Intel Core i5-1135G7 stays smooth with lots of apps and tabs open.
Choose the Acer Aspire 14 AI if…
- You work away from a plug: it should last longer on a charge (its maker claims up to 18.5 hours).
- You watch a lot of films and video, or edit photos: its OLED screen has true blacks and rich colour.
- You want a brand-new laptop with a fresh battery: it is sold new.
- You want a more recent design: it came out in 2025.
- You plug things in: it has USB-A (for older USB accessories).
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Acer Aspire 14 AI leads on battery and weight and the screen; elsewhere the two are closely matched. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Each laptop has its strengths on performance.
The Dell Latitude 5420 can be upgraded, while the Acer Aspire 14 AI has faster memory.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Core i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | AMD Radeon 840M |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 50 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | DDR4-3200 | LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Maximum memory | 64 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Upgradeable (slots) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe M.2 (2230 or 2280) | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 |
| Storage slots | 1 | — |
Screen
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is ahead on the screen.
It has an OLED screen, and the Dell Latitude 5420 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 14" | 14" |
| Resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 |
| Panel | LCD | OLED |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | No | — |
| HDR | None | — |
| Finish | Matte | Glossy |
| Touchscreen | — | No |
Battery and size
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is ahead on battery and weight.
It lasts longer on a charge, is a little lighter and is slimmer, and the Dell Latitude 5420 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | — | Up to 18.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 42 Wh | 65 Wh |
| Charger | — | 65 W |
| Charges via | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.37 kg | 1.25 kg |
| Dimensions | 321.35 x 212 x 19.3-20.9 mm | 312 x 225.9 x 15.9 mm |
| Materials | PC+ABS | aluminium body |
| Colour | Silver | Pure Silver |
| Colours available | — | Pure Silver |
Ports and wireless
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is ahead on ports and wireless.
The Dell Latitude 5420 has Ethernet, while the Acer Aspire 14 AI has USB-A and has Wi-Fi 6E.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (PowerShare), 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C, DisplayPort Alt Mode, USB4, Power Delivery charging), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x universal 3.5 mm audio, 1x RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet, 1x microSD, 1x wedge-shaped lock slot | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB4 40Gbps (DisplayPort, charging), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5 mm audio, 1x microSD |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 | USB4 40Gbps |
| External displays (max) | 3 | — |
| Card reader | microSD | microSD |
| Ethernet | 1 GbE RJ-45 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Mobile data | — | None |
Features
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is ahead on extras.
It has Copilot+ AI features, and the Dell Latitude 5420 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | — | 1080p |
| Webcam privacy | — | physical shutter |
| Backlit keyboard | — | Yes |
| Keyboard | Extended single-point keyboard, UK layout 80 keys, 18.05 mm key pitch | white backlight, AcerSense key |
| Number pad | No | No |
| Touchpad | Clickpad, 115 x 67 mm, >=300 dpi | touchpad |
| Speakers | 2x stereo speakers, 2 W average / 2.5 W peak | 2 speakers |
| Microphones | dual-array | built-in microphone |
| Pen | No | — |
| Security | TPM 2.0 (discrete), wedge-shaped lock slot | Kensington lock, Microsoft Pluton, camera shutter |
Software and model
The Acer Aspire 14 AI is ahead on software and updates.
The Dell Latitude 5420 is sold renewed (used and refurbished); the Acer Aspire 14 AI is sold new. It is sold new and is newer, and the Dell Latitude 5420 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Dell Latitude 5420 | Acer Aspire 14 AI (A14-61M) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | — | NX.JNZEK.001 |
| Released | 2021 | 2025 |