Latest news with #Inspiron
Gizmodo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Amazon Didn't Sell All Dell Laptops on Prime Day, Now It's Offering 71% Off a 1TB i5 Model
Prime Day is over, and Amazon was unusually restrained this year when it came to laptop deals. During the event, there wasn't a single discount above 25% on any of the major laptop brands which was disappointing to many people. What's incredible is that as of this (Monday) morning, deep discounts have reappeared seemingly out of nowhere, and some Dell, Lenovo, and HP models are now 70% off or more. One of our favorite deals is on the Dell Inspiron 15.6″ FHD touchscreen (13th Gen Intel 10-Core i5, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, WiFi 6) laptop, which is discounted to an all-time low of $699: That's an enormous 71% off its normal price of $2,399, with savings of $1,700 on a very powerful laptop. See at Amazon The Dell Inspiron 15 is built to handle demanding workloads: It is equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1334U processor featuring 10 cores and 12 threads that outperform some i7 chips in benchmarks. The processor offers smooth multitasking, fast app loading and the ability to breeze through productivity workflows. With 32GB of DDR4 RAM, you'll be able to keep dozens of browser tabs open, run heavy software and switch between tasks without lag. The 1TB PCIe SSD offers lightning-fast boot times and ample space for files and large applications. The 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen is perfect for both work and play: It features sharp imagery, vivid colors and a responsive touch interface that ensures navigation and interaction are smooth and intuitive. The anti-glare LED backlighting ensures comfortable viewing in various lighting conditions while the thin borders create a more immersive experience. The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics offer seamless visuals for streaming for instance. With WiFi 6, you get faster wireless speeds and greater reliability, which is important for video calls, streaming, and downloading large files. Bluetooth support makes it easy to pair wireless peripherals, and the laptop includes a solid array of ports: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 2.0, HDMI, headset jack, and SD card reader. The Inspiron 15 is equipped with Windows 11 Pro S which gives you a new and user-friendly operating system that is ideal for either business or home office use. With over $1,700 in savings, this offer won't last long, so don't wait if you want to take advantage of one of the best laptop deals Amazon has ever offered. See at Amazon
CNET
26-06-2025
- CNET
Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 Review: The Mini-LED Display Shines but There's Little Else to Get Excited About
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 7.3 / 10 SCORE Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 $1,450 at Dell Pros Bright, striking mini-LED display Strong productivity performance Sturdy chassis Cons Poor battery life Subpar speakers Mushy keyboard Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 7.3/10 CNET Score $1,450 at Dell At the beginning of 2025, Dell introduced a sweeping rebrand to its laptop product stack in an attempt to simplify its offerings. One of the results of the rebrand was the midrange Dell Inspiron 16 Plus getting renamed simply as the Dell 16 Plus, positioned beneath the high-end Premium models but above Dell's entry-level "base" machines. In the case of the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 convertible, the rebrand isn't purely superficial. It comes with some changes to the Inspiron design, many of which are improvements, although there are a handful of steps in the wrong direction. The addition of a full-size number pad is an excellent use of the real estate afforded in a 16-inch laptop, for example, but it means the speakers have been inverted to fire downward, negatively affecting sound quality. On the plus side, the weight and thickness are reduced, but the Dell 16 Plus is still heavy for its size. And while it includes a vibrant mini-LED display, you pay a penalty in battery life for it. The overall result is a machine that feels in many ways like a reboot, with some clever design choices alongside several that need at least another generation of refinement. Given its price and some of its limitations, it doesn't measure up to similar midrange options like the Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9, our top pick for the best two-in-one laptop. The higher-end HP Spectre x360 16 remains our favorite big-screen two-in-one and is regularly on sale. Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) Price as reviewed $1,549 Display size/resolution 16-inch 2,560x1,600 90Hz mini-LED touchscreen CPU Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Memory 32GB LPDDR5X Graphics Intel Arc 140V Storage 1TB SSD Ports Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, combo audio Networking WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system Windows 11 Home Weight 4.4 lbs (2 kg) What's in a name? Gone are the days of the XPS, Inspiron, Latitude and other familiar Dell PC names. The company's new lineup is divided into its consumer-oriented Dell brand, Dell Pro for professionals and Dell Pro Max, which offers high-end, workstation-style machines. Inside each brand are the aforementioned base, Plus and Premium tiers, putting the Dell 16 Plus in the middle tier of the home consumer Dell brand, with this model priced at $1,450 (although it's frequently available for $1,250). The Dell 16 Plus comes in a handful of configurations, most of which are fairly modular. The review unit I tested was built around Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake chip, although three other options are available, with a Core Ultra 5 at the low end and a Core Ultra 9 as the priciest option. The choice to include a Lunar Lake chip in a 16-inch convertible rather than a higher-performance Arrow Lake model may seem a little strange until you consider the struggling battery life. Even with the more energy-efficient Lunar Lake option, the Dell 16 Plus performed woefully in our battery rundown test, which may have contributed to Dell's choice to select Lunar Lake silicon. Our machine came with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD, although lower-cost configurations with half of each are available. There are also two display options, the excellent 2,560x1,600 mini-LED provided in my model or a 1,920x1,200 IPS. While I didn't get the chance to test an IPS model, that display tech at that resolution on a 16-inch display sounds like a recipe for fuzzy, grainy text, images and graphics. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 starts at £999 in the UK and AU$1,498 in Australia. Alan Bradley/CNET Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 performance The Dell 16 Plus performed well in productivity testing, particularly on single-core benchmarks. CPU benchmarks in Geekbench 6 followed the trends I've seen from other Lunar Lake models: stronger single-core performance than multi-core performance because of the lack of Hyper-Threading. On my anecdotal tests, it felt snappy enough for basic Windows tasks, including multitasking with a variety of open apps and windows being juggled. That said, it's not a laptop built for graphics processing, like high-end gaming, 3D modeling or video editing. While the integrated Arc 140V graphics made a solid showing for a machine that lacks a discrete GPU, don't expect reasonable frame rates in demanding triple-A games. I ran benchmarks in Assassin's Creed: Shadows and Black Myth: Wukong, and even on low settings, the Dell 16 Plus struggled to hit 25 frames per second, often dipping significantly lower. If you're looking to play some less demanding strategy titles or just want to load up Fortnite and don't need it to look obscenely sharp, the Dell 16 Plus is a fine, casual option. Just don't expect a visual showcase befitting that large, pretty 16-inch mini-LED panel. The real disappointment is the battery life. The Dell 16 Plus lasted just less than 9 hours on our battery rundown test. While not abysmal, it fell well short of other laptops in this class, unsurprising given the combination of the relatively small 64-watt-hour battery and high-res, mini-LED display. Given how dramatically heavier use would shrink that run time, you're not likely to get a full day's use out of the Dell 16 Plus without having to top it off at some point. A mixed bag of features and design The overall aesthetic of the Dell 16 Plus is about as understated and unobtrusive as it gets. It comes in Ice Blue, which is nearly indistinguishable from silver, and Midnight Blue, which may as well be black. Outside of the centered Dell logo on the lid, the laptop is almost entirely free of visual flourishes. Alan Bradley/CNET For a 16-inch two-in-one convertible, it's fairly heavy, coming in at 4.5 pounds. Hardly a brick but it's heavier than other 16-inch two-in-ones, including the 4.3-pound HP Spectre x360 16 and the 4.4-pound Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9. Still, it's lighter than last year's 4.9-pound Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 and the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which weighs 4.7 pounds. Despite the weight, it's fairly slim, at a nearly uniform 0.7 inches, although that too is very slightly thicker than much of the competition. The keyboard is a perfect example of the mixed execution that defines so much of the Dell 16 Plus. On one hand, it makes good use of the space of a 16-inch model by providing a full-size number pad, a very welcome feature for many. On the other hand, it feels in some ways like a throwback to the bad old days of chiclet keyboards. Feedback is minimal with mushy keys and very little travel. The spacebar is the worst offender and frequently failed to register my inputs when typing at full speed. Alan Bradley/CNET Unfortunately, widening out the keyboard compared to its Inspiron predecessors meant moving the speakers to be down-firing. The resulting sound is a bit hollow and muffled, as though audio was being broadcast from inside a cardboard box. While the volume range is strong, at higher volumes, that boxed-in phenomenon becomes even more pronounced, especially when streaming movies or TV. The massive lower section where the trackpad is positioned also hinders the overall feel. It feels as though you're reaching across a significant gulf to type, and the trackpad itself is also something of a disappointment. It lacks haptics, and the surface feels a bit grainy to the touch. Alan Bradley/CNET The mini-LED display shines and is a welcome surprise on this midrange Plus model and not exclusive to Dell's Premium tier. While it lacks the perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratio of OLED, as well as some of the high-level color accuracy and saturation, it's nonetheless a lovely touch panel and a big improvement over traditional LED/IPS alternatives. It's very responsive and really shines in tablet mode, with the keyboard folded beneath it, leading me to wish the keyboard were fully detachable. Unlike OLED, the mini-LED display is backlit, contributing to one of its main strengths: brightness. Clocking in at 467 nits in my testing, it's a great choice for outdoor or bright indoor workspaces. The built-in full-HD webcam is serviceable although it struggled slightly in brighter lighting. The Dell 16 Plus features only the biometric basics. The power button has a fingerprint sensor but the webcam does not have an IR sensor for facial recognition. Alan Bradley/CNET The port selection is somewhat limited but also covers the basics. There's a single Thunderbolt 4 port (down from two on the previous Inspiron), a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, HDMI 2.1 and an audio jack. No SD card reader or Kensington Security Slot is available on any of the Dell 16 Plus configurations. Is the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 worth buying? If you consider Dell's rebrand a fresh starting point, there's plenty of room to be optimistic about the current direction its mid-tier two-in-ones, including the Dell 16 Plus, are taking. However, optimism about potential future iterations doesn't mean the current generation is a good value proposition. While there are a number of things to recommend the Dell 16 Plus, its hindrances, like the subpar battery life, unfortunate keyboard design and underwhelming speakers, mean it slips below the level of some of its competition. In a crowded field, the Dell 16 Plus fails to stand out, and it's not priced in a way that would justify looking the other way, where many of its faults are concerned. Hide our expert take Photo Gallery 1/1 How we test computers Photo Gallery 1/1 The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computerlike devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of objective and subjective judgments. The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include Primate Labs Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found on our How We Test Computers page. Hide our expert take Geekbench 6 CPU (multi-core) Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 15867 Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 12388 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 11080 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 10993 HP Envy x360 16 10941 Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 9507 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 8939 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Geekbench 6 CPU (single-core) Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 2760 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 2716 Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 2697 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 2587 HP Envy x360 16 2510 Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 2378 Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 2258 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (multi-core) Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 883 Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 815 HP Envy x360 16 748 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 533 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 491 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 426 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (single-core) Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 124 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 122 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 121 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 108 Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 103 HP Envy x360 16 100 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance PCMark 10 Pro Edition Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 7263 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 6855 Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 6829 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 6805 HP Envy x360 16 6671 Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 6618 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 6067 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance 3DMark Time Spy Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 8237 Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 4559 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 4190 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 4179 HP Envy x360 16 2828 Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 2573 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 1770 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Online streaming battery drain test Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 15:34 Acer Swift 16 AI (SF16-51T) 12:20 Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640 11:11 HP Envy x360 16 11:11 Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 10:57 Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 (DB06250) 8:58 Acer Swift Go 16 (SFG16-73) 7:41 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
Engadget
23-06-2025
- Engadget
Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 review: Technically proficient but lacking soul
In previous years, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 probably would have been called an Inspiron. However, after the company revamped its naming scheme earlier this year, all of its consumer PCs now share its name, with a few extra identifiers that call out size, design and status (aka how fancy it is). While I still think Dell's choice to ditch the iconic XPS tag is a mistake, streamlining its portfolio makes a lot of sense, especially for people simply looking to buy a new laptop. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is one of the company's first consumer laptops to feature its updated naming scheme and refreshed styling. And to little surprise, this machine is a solidly competent midrange laptop for everyday productivity with a bit of extra flexibility thanks to its convertible design. But despite all these changes, it feels like something is missing. Dell's revamped 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a competent laptop with an adaptable design and a great optional mini LED screen, but it lacks personality. $750 at Dell Like it did with its model names, Dell has reworked the design of its laptop family. The 16 Plus 2-in-1 features a solid build consisting of smooth aluminum panels on top and bottom with a matte finish and rounded edges. Its 360-degree hinges are small and subtle while still providing plenty of support for tent and tablet modes. But in some ways, it feels like Dell may have gone a bit too minimalist, as the laptop's only distinguishing characteristic is the classic Dell logo in the center of its lid. Port selection is good, but not outstanding, with two USB-C sockets (one supports Thunderbolt 4 while the other handles DisplayPort 1.4), one USB-A, a HDMI 2.1 slot and a 3.5mm audio jack. However, considering its size, I would have liked to see one more USB-C connector, particularly on the right side of the system. Only being able to charge using the ports on the left can be a bit awkward depending on your setup. The lack of a microSD card reader isn't ideal for content creators either. Sam Rutherford for Engadget The keyboard feels great and includes a full number pad for those who need one. Unfortunately, I don't love the 16 Plus' touchpad. Even though it's rather large, it felt surprisingly unresponsive. At first, nearly a quarter of the time I tried to right-click, I simply got nothing. Granted, I was able to adapt, but no matter what I did, clicking never felt quite right. Dell's speakers are also somewhat disappointing as they are hidden behind two small slits on the bottom of the system. This results in audio that sounds flat, hollow and distant, even when the volume is turned up. Given the choice, I would trade the physical number pad for up- or forward-firing speakers positioned on either side of the keyboard, though I admit that might not be a popular choice for anyone who has to do a lot of data entry. Sam Rutherford for Engadget The 16-inch touch display on our review unit is a bright spot as it features Dell's optional 2,560 x 1,600 mini LED screen. Not only can it produce up to 600 nits of brightness, it also has a slightly faster 90Hz refresh rate than the default 300-nit 1,920 x 1,200 FHD+ panel. And after using it for several weeks, this display is definitely one upgrade worth paying for. Colors are richer and more saturated while also providing better brightness, contrast and black levels than a basic LCD panel. Packing either an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V or Ultra 7 258V chip, along with up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, the 16 Plus has more than enough speed for everyday computing tasks. Because these laptops can reach either 40 or 47 TOPS, depending on the processor, they support all of Microsoft's Copilot+ AI features. That said, it doesn't support discrete graphics, so this machine isn't a great choice for anyone who regularly needs to do things like serious video editing, gaming or 3D modeling. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Thanks to its 64WHr battery, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 offers above average longevity. On PCMark10's Modern Office rundown test, it lasted eight hours and 12 minutes. That's significantly better than rivals like HP's Spectre x360 16 (slightly over five hours), but still a far cry from smaller and less powerful models like the ASUS Zenbook A14 (18:16). I also appreciate that Dell's included 65-watt charger is relatively compact. The 16 Plus supports charging over USB-C (with either of its ports), so you can also use a third-party brick if you prefer. The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is a perfectly competent hybrid laptop. Its hinge allows the system to transform into various modes to better adapt to your needs. Its chassis is well built even though it's not particularly eye-catching. Performance is solid and battery life is slightly better than average for its class, while Dell's optional mini LED display provides a great viewing experience. And starting at just $750 (or around $1,400 for the fully loaded model review here), this system feels very reasonably priced. Sam Rutherford for Engadget My main issue is that between its revamped name and new streamlined design, the Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 suffers from a complete lack of personality. It's a totally serviceable machine, but it doesn't have a single trait or feature that endears itself to its user. Same goes for its name. At least with Apple, you know you're getting a MacBook or an iPad. With this thing, Dell is the name of the company, but now it's also the name of the laptop too? Or is it just called the 16 Plus 2-in-1? Either way, it's awkward. Now I fully admit that not everyone feels this way about their gadgets, because at the end of the day, a PC is just a tool. But as someone who likes to feel connected to the devices I buy, Dell's PC revamp has produced something that's hard to love.
Tom's Guide
08-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Our favorite AI laptops are on sale this weekend — 9 amazing laptop deals for home or back to school
A good AI laptop can handle demanding AI tasks without breaking a sweat. These laptops pack a powerful neural processing unit (NPU) that's built specifically for machine learning. So whether you're moving subjects around in your photos or using a digital assistant to summarize a lecture/meeting, there are plenty of benefits to owning an AI laptop. For a limited time, Best Buy has Copilot+ laptops on sale from $599. I like this sale because it includes many systems in our best AI laptop guide. For example, you can get the HP OmniBook X Flip for $1,099. That's $350 off and one of the best deals I've seen for this epic machine. Below I've rounded up my favorite AI laptop deals in Best Buy's sale. For more deals, make sure to check out our guide to the best back to school laptop sales and Best Buy coupon codes. Dell's Inspiron line is one of the first laptops to join the AI PC revolution. The new Inspiron 14 features a 14-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon X Plus CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It's great for basic AI tasks that aren't too graphics heavy. The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge is designed with several AI-centric features. Slim and sleek from every angle, it sports a 15.6-inch 1080p LCD, Snapdragon X Plus CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. In our Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge review, we called it one of our favorite Snapdragon X laptops. If you're looking for fast performance, long-lasting battery life and excellent visuals for a fair price — the Swift 14 AI is a smart pick. This configuration packs a 14-inch 2.5K touchscreen display with 120Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD. The Lenovo Yoga 7i converts between laptop and tablet mode, with a 16-inch 2K display that can reach up to 300 nits of brightness. This model comes configured with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. Plus, this is one portable device weighing in at 3.9 lbs. The new MacBook Air is powered by Apple's latest M4 chipset and it's our top value AI laptop. The M4 chipset supports dual external monitors, even when you have the laptop's lid open. Apple has also upgraded the camera from 1080p to 12MP with Center Stage support. It packs a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display (2560 x 1664), Apple's M4 CPU w/ 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD. In our MacBook Air M4 review, we said the Editor's Choice laptop is irresistible thanks to its speedy performance, sharper camera, and lower starting price. The Vivobook S 14 is a solid Copilot+ PC for those on a tight budget. It features a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 OLED 120Hz display, AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU, 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. We're also fans of its svelte design, which should make even the biggest MacBook fans take note. This monster of an ultraportable packs plenty of performance and power efficiency, thanks to that Core Ultra 7 chipset — all inside a slim and sleek aluminum chassis with a gorgeous 16-inch 2K display. Trust me when I say if you're in the market for a Windows laptop, this is an amazing one to buy. You also get 32GB of RAM and a generous 2TB SSD. Our Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot Plus review called this "the best Surface in years." It's powered by a speedy Snapdragon X Elite processor and also packs a gorgeous OLED display, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It's super thin and light and also has great battery life — our unit lasted over 12 hours in our battery life tests. The M4-based MacBook Pro M4 is pretty close to being the perfect laptop. You get fantastic performance from the M4 chip, useful Apple Intelligence features, a better webcam and obscenely long battery life (18:31). In our MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 review, we said it's the best laptop for power users, now with more AI features. The base model features a 14.2-inch 3024 x 1964 Retina display, Apple M4 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
WIRED
08-06-2025
- WIRED
The Dell 14 Plus Tries Its Best to Reset Dell's Laptops
Dell is in the middle of a transition. It has a new logo, and a new simplified approach to branding. The Dell 14 Plus is among the first laptop to launch to test the waters in this new era, which is seeing the end of subbrands like XPS and Inspiron. While the more exciting XPS replacement is still to come, the Dell 14 Plus has arrived to step into the shoes of the old Inspiron Plus laptops. While it's far from the most exciting laptop in the world, it offers a solid balance of quality and value, if only it had more configuration options available to properly classify it as a cheap laptop. Dell On The Shell Photograph: Luke Larsen The Dell 14 Plus isn't what I'd call a pretty laptop. But I don't think it's trying to be. Instead, it's trying to be inoffensive. In the past, that might have meant a plastic, black shell. These days, it means a silver chassis with as few distractions or ornaments as possible. The Dell 14 Plus succeeds at doing that. More importantly, the laptop feels quite sturdy in the hand. The lid has absolutely zero give, likely because of how tightly wound the hinge is. You can't open it with one finger though—in fact, there isn't even a lip on the lid for your finger. That lid is thicker than normal, too, despite the device being just 0.67 inches thick. That's not thin compared to a MacBook Air, no, but it's thin enough to feel modern for a laptop of this price. It also allows for enough room to squeeze in some legacy ports, including USB-A and HDMI. That's in addition to the two USB-C ports and the headphone jack. My only complaint is that both USB-C ports are on the left side, meaning it's the only side you can charge from. One of the things that keeps the Dell 14 Plus from feeling like a more premium laptop is the screen. It has some thick plastic bezels, and it uses a heavy-handed matte finish. While that helps for deflecting glare, it cheapens the look of the display, making it appear dimmer and more saturated. That's too bad too, since the screen itself is a solid one. It's a surprisingly well-calibrated IPS panel with decent color coverage. According to my testing, it tops out at 332 nits of brightness, which won't blow your socks off, but won't detract too much from the experience. I should mention that Dell offers a better display option on its 2-in-1 models. It's a glossy Mini-LED display, though it's not currently available from what I can see. The Dell 14 Plus has a serviceable keyboard and touchpad. Upon receiving the unit, I was concerned about the quality of the touchpad, as its an aspect of mid-tier laptops that tends to get compromised. The touchpad isn't perfect—the surface isn't as smooth as I'd like. But I'm happy to report that this touchpad feels responsive, and the click mechanism isn't overly loud. Limited Options Photograph: Luke Larsen The Dell 14 Plus has just single processor options, the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. This is Intel's modern, efficient CPU that delivers a solid jump in battery life over previous generations. I've tested this chip a number of times already, and the Dell 14 Plus handles it just fine. The Dell 14 Plus even does a job of staying relatively cool and quiet. This isn't the kind of laptop you buy for running heavy applications or games, but for the school, office work, or light content creation, the Dell 14 Plus has plenty of muscle.
