Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Review: A Versatile Laptop for On-the-Go Productivity

Dell's Inspiron lineup of laptops is well known for offering decent performance and features for those looking for a capable productivity laptop. This time, we are looking at the new Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop that can seamlessly transition from a conventional laptop to a tablet, catering to a variety of needs.

It is a versatile device that can be used for sketching, designing, and streaming while on the go. It has a 360-degree hinge that allows it to be converted into four different modes: tablet, laptop, tent, and stand. It also has a touchscreen and an optional active pen that does not require pairing, making it easy for users to interact with the device.

PROS

• Lightweight and portable design
• Great set of speakers
• Affordable entry-level price
• Good keyboard
• Excellent battery life
• Reliable performance
• Good webcam quality

CONS

• Mediocre build quality
• Only one USB-A port
• Dim display
• Touchpad buttons are stiff
• Pricey at the top end

Let's dive into the review to see whether the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 deserves your money.

Tech Specs

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let's take a quick look at the technical specifications of the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1:

• Processor: 13th Generation Intel Core i7-1355U Processor (12MB Cache, up to 5.00 GHz)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home
• Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (for i5/i7)
• Display: 14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) Touch 250nits WVA Display with ComfortView Support
• Memory: On Board 16GB, LPDDR5, 4800MHz
• Storage Options: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
• Ports: HDMI 1.4, (2) Intel Thunderbolt 4.0, (1) USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, SD card reader, (1) Universal Audio Jack
• Input: Backlit full-size, spill-resistant keyboard without numeric keypad
• Optical Drive Options: No Optical Drive
• Multimedia: (2) up-firing speakers, audio processing by Dolby Atmos Cores and Waves MaxxAudio Pro
• Webcam: Integrated Widescreen FHD (1080p) Webcam with Dual Digital Microphone Array
• Connectivity Options: Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 (Gig+)
• Battery: 4-Cell Battery, 54 Whr (Integrated)
• AC Adapter: 65 Watt Type-C AC Adapter
• Dimensions: H/W/D: 0.61" - 0.73" x 12.36" x 8.92" (15.54mm - 18.55mm x 314mm x 226.56mm)
• Weight: 1.58 kg
• Color: Platinum Silver
• Security: Fingerprint Reader with Windows Hello, Webcam privacy shutter
• Software: MyDell, McAfee, Support Assist

Variants & Pricing

The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is available in both AMD and Intel flavors. The AMD version starts at Rs. 82,190, while the Intel version starts at Rs. 79,990. The review unit we received is an Intel version with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor and 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The price of this configuration is Rs. 1,00,095.

Design & Build Quality

The design of the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is functional, if unremarkable. It doesn't aim to stand out in terms of aesthetics, focusing instead on practicality. The laptop is lightweight and portable, but it's notably thicker at the rear, which might not appeal to those looking for ultra-slim laptops.

However, the build quality is a bit of a letdown. The laptop's plastic construction, while lightweight, feels less robust than expected. The lid and keyboard deck exhibit noticeable flex, which could be a concern in the long run. Additionally, the absence of a one-handed opening mechanism is an inconvenience.

On the positive side, the laptop does provide essential ports, including a full-size SD card reader, but it falls short with only one USB-A port.

Display

Display is one of the weakest aspects of this laptop. To get into detail, I watched YouTube extensively on this machine, and whenever there were scenes with bright colors, the display just couldn't replicate those, resulting in an average viewing experience with flat colors. Though this isn't an OLED display that can deliver true blacks, better contrast, and a wider color range, the WVA display here just doesn't deliver enough oomph considering its price tag.

Dell claims that the laptop's display can reach a peak brightness of 250 nits. When used indoors, the display is perfectly acceptable, but if you take it outdoors, you'll find that the brightness is insufficient for comfortable viewing. In fact, I consistently kept the brightness at maximum, even indoors, as anything less than 100% made the display appear dull and lifeless.

On a more positive note, the 16:10 aspect ratio is a standout feature, particularly for my workflow. I primarily use applications such as Docs and Sheets, and the extra vertical screen space allows me to view more content, which is a definite advantage.

Performance

As stated earlier, our review unit was equipped with the 13th Generation Intel Core i7-1355U Processor, which has 10 cores and 12 threads with a base frequency of 1.70 GHz. In real-world usage, the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 delivers solid productivity performance and can easily handle typical workloads thanks to its 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

Although you can get a slight performance boost by switching to performance mode, I personally didn't find it necessary to do so. However, it's worth noting that this laptop is not suitable for creative tasks or gaming due to its integrated Iris Xe graphics.

Now, let's dive into the benchmarks. In the Geekbench 6 benchmark, I compared the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with the HP Envy x360, another 2-in-1 laptop featuring a 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U chipset. While it may not be entirely fair to compare a 7 series chip with a 5 series chip, let's see how the i7 stacks up against the i5.

As depicted in the graph above, the i7 outperforms the i5 significantly in GPU performance. However, when it comes to CPU performance, the i5 holds its ground admirably and even managed to score a few points higher than the i7 in the multi-score test.

The i7 processor scored 6570 points in the Cinebench Multi Core test and 1268 points in the Single Core test. Coming to disk speeds, the read and write speeds of the 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD are very good, as shown in the CrystalDiskMark benchmark below.

Returning to real-world tests, you'll find no complaints about the performance of the Dell Inspiron. Therefore, if you're in the market for a laptop for streaming, or web browsing, or if you're a student seeking a decent laptop for your academic needs, this machine will serve you well.

Stylus

Dell offers an optional stylus called the Dell Active Pen - Pandora for the Inspiron 14. In our review, we found that this stylus works seamlessly with the laptop, providing a responsive experience without noticeable latency. It's worth noting that you don't need to go through a pairing process, ensuring that you're always ready to use it. We also tested the stylus in tablet mode, and the overall experience was quite satisfactory. You can use the stylus for tasks such as signing documents, navigating software while in tablet mode, or taking notes.

However, there's one notable drawback: the lack of a designated storage solution for the stylus on the laptop. Unlike many 2-in-1 laptops with stylus support that provide a stylus holder or a magnetic surface for attachment, the Inspiron 14 falls short in this regard. It would be beneficial if Dell addresses this issue in the next iteration of the laptop.

Keyboard & Trackpad

I really liked the keyboard here. It's an island-style keyboard with backlighting, featuring full-size keys and notably large keys for Shift, Tab, Caps Lock, and other control keys. The directional arrow keys have a slightly different layout, with full-size left and right arrows and half-height up and down arrows.

Adapting to this keyboard may take a bit of time, but once you get used to it, you'll appreciate the extended key travel and full-sized keys. However, it's worth mentioning that there is some flex in the middle of the keyboard if you press down firmly, which highlights this laptop's mediocre build quality.

In a laptop of this size, you won't find a numeric keypad, but the spacious number row compensates for the absence of one, so you won't miss it much.

The power button is located in the top-right corner of the keyboard and doubles as a fingerprint reader, which allows for quick access to the laptop.

When it comes to the trackpad, it's adequately sized and boasts a smooth, comfortable surface. However, the buttons require more pressure than expected to register a click, which can be a bit cumbersome during use.

Webcam

The laptop features a 1080p webcam, which delivers satisfactory video quality for videoconferencing needs. While it lacks an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition, the fingerprint reader integrated into the power button offers a speedy and dependable alternative, as mentioned earlier.

Audio

The laptop boasts two upward-firing speakers flanking the keyboard, and they offer sound quality that can be considered quite good, with respectable loudness levels. These speakers fall on the upper end of the spectrum when compared to other Windows laptop speakers.

They perform admirably for watching various types of content. However, if I were to be critical, I'd note that while the highs and mids are decent, there's a noticeable absence of bass.

Naturally, if you seek a superior audio experience, you'll be better served by using headphones or earphones.

Battery

This laptop truly stands out when it comes to battery life. Even when operating at full brightness continuously, the laptop impressively delivers a remarkable 12 hours of battery life, and then some. This means you can confidently go through an entire day's work without the need to carry your charger around. What's more, the 54Whr battery charges swiftly, thanks to Dell's ExpressCharge technology. It can go from 0 to 100% in under 2 hours, and in less than 1.5 hours when the device is powered off.

This exceptional battery performance adds another layer of appeal to the Dell Inspiron, making it an excellent choice for those on the go.

Software

The Inspiron 14 comes equipped with Windows 11 Home, and as for preinstalled applications, you'll find the standard Microsoft apps. Additionally, Dell includes its MyDell app, which allows you to calibrate your display and fine-tune the audio equalizer to suit your preferences. It's worth noting that McAfee comes pre-installed on the laptop, whether you're a fan of it or not.

Should You Get the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1?

The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is a portable productivity laptop that excels in many areas. Its compact and versatile design, fast performance, and long battery life make it a great choice. However, there is one trade-off: its screen quality may not be good enough for people who need a high-quality display for tasks such as watching videos or editing photos.

Furthermore, this laptop faces stiff competition in its category, with several other appealing options to consider before making a decision. For instance, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED offers a lower price point and a superior OLED display. HP's Envy x360 is also worth noting, featuring an IMAX-Enhanced HDR OLED display.

While having a wide range of choices may seem overwhelming, conducting thorough research ensures you'll ultimately find the product that best suits your needs.