The ASUS Zenbook 14X offers an OLED screen with higher contrast and color saturation, making it excellent for photo and video work, alongside more display ports for multi-monitor setups, and it's lighter and more portable. However, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus provides twice the storage space, a better-performing main processor for tasks like 3D rendering, engineering software, and machine learning, plus a slightly longer battery life. Both have the same amount of RAM, but if intensive processing power is crucial for you and you handle lots of data, the Dell may be worth considering despite its extra weight. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14X
Very good overall display quality
Good speakers
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.3/10
7.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
339.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, where clarity and ease of viewing is key, the ASUS has superior resolution and brightness, making for crisp text and vivid images. In tasks like engineering and design, the ASUS stands out again with a wider color gamut, providing a more accurate color representation which is crucial for such work. However, for gaming and 3D modeling, where a high refresh rate ensures smoother motion display, both laptops fall short as neither prioritizes the rapid screen refreshes that these activities benefit from.
Cost
$777
$873
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has a price of $777 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus costs $873.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X appeals for general use with its OLED screen producing vibrant colors and higher pixel density for sharper images, complemented by a lightweight design enhancing portability, though the battery lasts shorter than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus which offers more storage, a robust CPU that can handle intensive tasks smoothly, and a slightly longer battery life, making it also suitable for general use with a focus on performance and endurance over portability. Both laptops have quality keyboards and manage heat well, but the Zenbook's potential for screen color accuracy might be more attractive for users interested in visual work, whereas the Inspiron excels in longer usage off the charger and storage capacity.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
90Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has an Nvidia MX550 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz which is beneficial for smooth gaming and 3D applications, but the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has the Intel i7-12700H's Iris Xe graphics, which, despite a lower refresh rate of 60Hz, seems to perform better overall for gaming and 3D tasks. While the Zenbook's OLED panel offers excellent color and contrast for visual work, the Inspiron's stronger integrated graphics might provide a more consistent performance advantage for gaming and 3D purposes.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
7.8/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and ASUS Zenbook 14X are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 14X has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14X and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook 14X and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus compare to other laptops
"With the Zenbook 14X, Asus has a 14-incher in its range that is - mostly - a joy to use. First, there is the colorful OLED panel with 3K resolution that displays the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. The Zenbook is also at the forefront in terms of workmanship, input devices and connections with 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports and a generous keyboard layout. A pleasure to use, the Zenbook 14X is a solid, very well-built subnotebook that sits well on the table. A runtime of five hours, however, is below average for a high-end subnotebook nowadays. The OLED screensaver causes increased power consumption when in idle mode."
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 14X or the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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