Dell’s Inspiron series aims to provide budget-conscious consumers with a solid computing experience. The Inspiron 14 2-in-1, while boasting decent performance and impressive battery life, falls short in key areas like build quality and display. In a competitive market, even its attractive entry-level price struggles to justify its shortcomings.
Specifications and Configurations
| Feature | Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 2023 |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.36 x 8.92 x 0.61-0.73 inches |
| Weight | 3.48 pounds |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U / AMD Ryzen 7 7730U |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon Graphics |
| RAM | 8GB/16GB LPDDR4 |
| Display | 14.0-inch 16:10 FHD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm audio jack, 1 x full-size SD card reader |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Webcam | 1080p |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 54/64 watt-hour |
| Price | $650+ |
The base model with an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD starts at an enticing $650. However, upgrading to the Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD pushes the price to $950, making it less competitive against rivals like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED, which offers a superior display at a similar price. Dell also offers an Intel version with a Core i5-1355U starting at $550, potentially offering comparable performance but with reduced battery life and the addition of Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Budget Design and Build
alt
The Inspiron 14 2-in-1’s all-plastic construction feels dated, especially at the higher price points. While the build quality isn’t terrible, with minimal flex in the lid and keyboard deck, it lacks the rigidity of aluminum-clad competitors like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED. The hinge, though stiff, securely holds the display in all four modes (clamshell, media, tent, and tablet).
alt
The laptop’s larger bezels and 0.73-inch thickness contribute to a less portable design compared to slimmer alternatives like the Acer Swift Go 14. At 3.48 pounds, it’s also heavier than many 14-inch laptops. The minimalist aesthetics, available in Platinum Silver and Lavender Blue, are common in modern laptops.
alt
The keyboard offers decent key spacing and size, but the keys feel somewhat loose, lacking tactile feedback. The touchpad is spacious and smooth, but its stiff buttons require excessive pressure to click. The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 offers a good selection of ports, including a full-size SD card reader, but lacks Thunderbolt 4 due to its AMD chipset. Wireless connectivity is up-to-date with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. A 1080p webcam provides good video quality, and a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button offers secure login.
alt
alt
Performance and Battery Life
alt
The Ryzen 5 7530U delivers competent performance for everyday productivity tasks. While comparable to the Intel Core i7-1355U in multi-core performance, it lags behind in single-core processing. The integrated Radeon graphics are unsuitable for demanding creative work or gaming.
alt
Switching to performance mode slightly boosts performance but results in noticeable fan noise. The thermal management seems inefficient, with fans frequently running even during idle periods. Quiet mode reduces fan noise but at the expense of performance.
| Benchmark | Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (Ryzen 5 7530U) |
|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (single/multi) | Bal: 1,471 / 6,134; Perf: 1,474 / 6,427 |
| Handbrake (seconds) | Bal: 151; Perf: 131 |
| Cinebench R23 (single/multi) | Bal: 1,436 / 6,402; Perf: 1,451 / 7,680 |
| PCMark 10 Complete | 5,689 |
The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 excels in battery life, exceeding average results despite its smaller battery capacity compared to competitors like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED. With its 54Wh battery (and a 64Wh option available), the laptop provides all-day battery life, eliminating the need to carry a charger.
| Test | Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 (Ryzen 5 7530U) |
|---|---|
| Web browsing | 12 hours, 7 minutes |
| Video playback | 14 hours, 19 minutes |
| PCMark 10 Applications | 13 hours, 41 minutes |
Subpar Display Quality
alt
The Inspiron 14 2-in-1’s 14.0-inch FHD+ IPS display is a major disappointment. Its limited color gamut coverage (64% sRGB and 48% AdobeRGB) and poor color accuracy (Delta-E of 4.53) fall far short of modern standards. The display’s dim brightness (263 nits) further exacerbates the issue. Only its contrast ratio (1130:1) is above average. While such a display might have been acceptable in the past for budget laptops, competitors like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED now offer vastly superior displays at similar price points.
alt
The upward-firing speakers provide adequate audio for casual use, but their low volume and lack of bass make them unsuitable for multimedia consumption.
Conclusion
The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 offers decent performance and excellent battery life at its entry-level price. However, its dated design, all-plastic build, and subpar display make it difficult to recommend, especially when compared to similarly priced alternatives like the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED. While acceptable at $650, the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 struggles to justify its higher configurations’ price tags.
