Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with Snapdragon X Plus Review: Built for Basics, But What About More?

I was pretty excited when Qualcomm unveiled the X Elite and X Plus ARM processors for Windows, promising a fresh challenge to Intel and AMD. After testing the X Elite in the Vivobook S15 OLED and being impressed by its performance, I was eager to see how the scaled-down X Plus would perform.
Now, with the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus featuring this chip, I've had the chance to explore what Dell brings to the table. Its solid design, insane battery life, and some intriguing features make it appealing, but is it enough to stand out? Let's take a closer look at what Dell has in store.

PROS

• Excellent battery life, lasting up to 12 hours.
• Sleek and sturdy aluminum build
• Responsive keyboard with decent travel
• Fast storage speeds for quick file transfers and boot times
• Future-proofed with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support
• Great everyday performance
• There is a fingerprint sensor

CONS

• Display brightness is insufficient for outdoor use
• Limited to a 60Hz refresh rate
• Lacks an HDMI port
• Heavier than expected
• Trackpad could have been better

Design and Build Quality: Sturdy but Lacking Flexibility

Dell has crafted a solid machine with the Inspiron 14 Plus, but there are a few design aspects that might leave users wanting more. The Ice Blue aluminum chassis gives it a premium look, but at 1.44 kg, the laptop feels heavier than it should for a 14-inch device. While it's not too cumbersome, the weight becomes noticeable when carrying it around, especially for those who prioritize portability.

One of my key gripes is with the limited hinge movement. Unlike other laptops in this category, the Inspiron 14 Plus doesn't tilt back far enough, which made using it on my lap a bit awkward. For those who often work in less traditional setups, like balancing it on their lap or in tight spaces, this limited flexibility can be inconvenient. Additionally, the laptop fails the one-handed opening test, which is a small but annoying detail for those who like quick and easy access.

On the connectivity front, the laptop offers a reasonable selection of ports. You get two USB4 Type-C ports (supporting DisplayPort, Power Delivery, and up to 40Gbps transfer speeds), one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. However, it lacks an HDMI port, which could be a hassle for users like myself who regularly connect their laptop to external monitors. Relying on USB-C adapters feels like an unnecessary extra step, especially since HDMI is a common standard in many work environments.

On the bright side, the Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support future-proof the device in terms of wireless connectivity, offering fast and stable connections for modern networks and peripherals.

Display: Great Indoors, Disappointing Outdoors

The 14-inch QHD+ (2560x1600) screen is sharp and vibrant, especially with its 100% sRGB color gamut, which ensures accurate color reproduction. This makes it a solid choice for tasks like photo editing or watching high-resolution media. The 16:10 aspect ratio also adds more vertical space, which I found helpful when multitasking or working on documents.

However, there are a few things about the display that didn't quite hit the mark for me. The 400 nits of peak brightness, while decent indoors, falls short when used outside or in bright environments. I struggled with visibility in direct sunlight, which was a bit disappointing, especially when I needed to use it on the go.

Another gripe I have is with the refresh rate. 60Hz feels limiting, especially for those accustomed to faster refresh rates, and it's noticeable when navigating through web pages or working with visual content. While the touchscreen functionality is responsive and handy for quick tasks, the refresh rate somewhat dampens the experience.

Performance: Snapdragon X Plus Handles Basics, But Not Much Else

The Snapdragon X Plus processor in the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus delivers a smooth experience for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption. It handles these with ease-apps open quickly, and multitasking feels fluid. However, when I pushed it with more demanding activities, such as editing large photos or playing games, the limitations of the hardware became evident.

CrystalDiskMark: Solid Storage Performance

In CrystalDiskMark tests, the SSD showed strong performance with 5111 MB/s read and 3980 MB/s write speeds. This means fast boot times and quick file transfers, which make day-to-day use a breeze. However, while the storage speeds are a highlight, they don't necessarily translate into high-end performance when it comes to handling more intensive tasks.

NeroScore: Plugged vs. Unplugged

The NeroScore benchmark revealed a noticeable drop in performance when the laptop runs on battery. When plugged in, it scored 2606, but this dropped to 2421 when unplugged. While the drop isn't dramatic for routine tasks like web browsing or office work, it does affect more demanding applications. This isn't uncommon in ARM-based laptops, which prioritize power efficiency over raw performance. However, if you rely on heavy multitasking or resource-intensive software while on battery, you may find the performance dip a bit restrictive.

Geekbench: Snapdragon X Plus vs. Snapdragon X Elite

In Geekbench 6.3, the Snapdragon X Plus scored 2215 in single-core performance and 13,173 in multi-core. These scores reflect the processor's capability for handling everyday tasks, but when compared to the Snapdragon X Elite, which scored 2376 in single-core and 13,950 in multi-core, the gap becomes clear.

The Snapdragon X Elite features 12 cores and a dual-core boost, allowing it to handle more intensive workloads like video editing and heavy multitasking with greater efficiency. In contrast, the Snapdragon X Plus, with its 10 cores and no dual-core boost, struggles when pushed beyond regular computing tasks. This means that while you might not notice much difference in basic usage, the X Elite will outperform the X Plus when you need extra power.

Gaming: Pushing the Snapdragon X Plus to Its Limits

To push the Snapdragon X Plus even further, I tested Wuthering Waves, a game known for its visually intensive graphics and fast-paced gameplay. While this laptop is clearly not designed for gaming, I was curious to see how the Snapdragon X Plus would fare. On low settings, the game averaged 17 FPS, with frame rates dropping below 10 FPS during more action-heavy sequences, leading to a very choppy experience.

This result was expected because the Snapdragon X Plus prioritizes efficiency for everyday tasks rather than handling high-end graphical workloads. The Adreno GPU integrated into the chip isn't powerful enough to support smooth gameplay in resource-hungry games. In situations like this, a device equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite might perform a bit better, but even then, these ARM-based processors are not built for gaming.

The Right Fit for the Right Task

If your workload involves tasks like gaming, video editing, or any other graphically intensive activities, the Snapdragon X Elite or an x86 setup would be more suitable. However, if your daily routine consists of browsing, media consumption, and general productivity tasks, the Snapdragon X Plus holds up well.

AI Features: Useful, but Dependent on Your Workflow

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, being a Copilot+ PC, integrates AI-driven tools powered by the Snapdragon NPU, which can enhance productivity in specific scenarios. Features like Windows Studio Effects are great for video calls, offering automatic framing, background blur, and noise isolation. The presence detection system is another handy feature that dims or wakes the screen based on whether you're near the laptop, helping save battery and adding convenience.

The dedicated Copilot key quickly brings up Microsoft's AI assistant, which can assist with tasks like summarizing documents, automating workflows, or helping with creative projects. However, in my day-to-day use, I found myself not relying on this feature too much. It's useful for those who work heavily with Microsoft 365 or creative apps, but might not be essential for everyone.

While these AI features are impressive, their usefulness largely depends on your workflow. For regular tasks, you might not find them crucial, but for content creators, professionals in meetings, or heavy users of productivity tools, these AI enhancements can save time and improve efficiency.

Keyboard and Trackpad: Comfortable but Unremarkable

The keyboard on the Inspiron 14 Plus is comfortable to type on. It has decent travel, the keys are quiet, and long typing sessions didn't wear me out. However, the keyboard backlight is weak, and unless you're viewing it from a specific angle, it's easy to miss the light entirely. On the plus side, there is a fingerprint sensor, which works well.

The trackpad is adequately sized and responsive, but nothing about it stands out. It works fine for regular use, but it's not on par with the haptic trackpads you'll find in competing devices.

Webcam: Secure and Privacy-Focused

The FHD IR webcam on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus brings more than just decent video quality. With Qualcomm's Always-On Sensing technology, it aids secure logins through Windows Hello, while Presence Detection enhances privacy by blocking onlookers from viewing your content when you're not around.

There's also a physical camera shutter for added security, allowing you to manually block the camera when it's not in use. These features make the webcam not just functional but also focused on maintaining your privacy.

Battery Life: A Major Strength

The battery life is one area where the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus shines. With the Snapdragon X Plus SoC running the show, this laptop easily lasted me an entire day without needing to plug in. In my testing, it ran close to 13 hours on a full charge, even with multiple apps open and a steady stream of video content. For someone who values battery life, this machine is a reliable companion.

Charging is fast too-getting from 45% to 78% in just 25 minutes with the 65W Type-C charger. If you're someone who spends a lot of time away from outlets, you'll appreciate this aspect of the Inspiron 14 Plus.

Price

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is available in two storage options: the 512GB model is priced at ₹1,05,489.88, while the 1TB model is priced at ₹1,09,489.87.

Should You Buy the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus?

The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus gets the job done for everyday tasks, but it doesn't really stand out. The Snapdragon X Plus processor handles basic activities like browsing and light productivity just fine, and the battery life is a definite plus if you need something that can last all day. However, there are areas where it falls short-like the display and the ports.

If you're looking for a simple, reliable laptop for things like web browsing, watching videos, and general productivity, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus works well enough. But if you need something with a more impressive display and better connectivity, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 is worth considering. It comes with a 120Hz OLED display offering 600 nits of brightness and includes more versatile port options like an HDMI 2.1 port, making it a stronger choice for those who need a bit more. And if you're after extra power, the X Elite laptops are another option, though they come with a higher price tag.