The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is priced higher, offering a more powerful Intel i7 processor, significantly more storage, and quadruple the RAM of the Gateway 14.1". It's better suited for intensive tasks such as engineering or 3D rendering due to its higher performance capabilities. It also boasts a more color-accurate screen which is beneficial for tasks requiring color precision. On the other hand, the Gateway 14.1" is much more affordable with a basic Intel Celeron processor and less RAM, suitable for general use like web browsing or document editing. It's slightly lighter than the Dell, indicating somewhat better portability. However, the Dell still maintains a decent balance between portability and performance. If budget is a constraint and your tasks are not demanding, the Gateway could suffice, but for a more robust and future-proof experience, especially for professional or creative work, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is the better option. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
5.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its powerful Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and superior screen quality, provides a robust and responsive experience for general use, whereas the Gateway 14.1", with a less capable Intel Celeron processor and only 4GB of RAM, coupled with an inferior screen, falls short in delivering a similarly smooth and vivid user experience. Additionally, the Inspiron's higher battery life and portability score suggest better on-the-go usability, in contrast to the Gateway's poorer keyboard quality and heat management which can affect comfort and performance during extended use.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
5.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
5.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
7.9/10
5.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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
7.7/10
5.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.1in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus provides a higher resolution and brightness, making for a crisp and vibrant display, whereas the Gateway 14.1" offers lower resolution and brightness, which is adequate but not as sharp or vivid. For engineering and design, the Dell's screen covers more color gamuts, allowing for more accurate color representation critical for detailed work, while the Gateway has more limited color range, sufficing for less color-sensitive tasks. However, for gaming and 3D work, both laptops have lower refresh rates, but the Dell's better resolution and panel type may still offer a slightly clearer image despite not being ideal for high-speed gaming visuals.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
5.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$808
$99
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
"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."
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Gateway 14.1"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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