If you need a laptop for general use and prioritize portability and battery life, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is a better choice due to its lighter weight and longer battery duration. It also has a higher resolution screen but is less suitable for gaming. On the other hand, if you require more power for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Gigabyte A7 with its dedicated graphics card and larger screen may be of greater value, despite it being heavier and having a shorter battery life. Both have similar processors and memory for engineering and general tasks, but the Dell is more portable while the Gigabyte excels in high-performance activities. 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
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A7
Good for gaming and AI
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Gigabyte A7 are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a high-resolution screen and a powerful Intel i7 processor within a sleek and more portable frame, making it ideal for everyday tasks, whereas the Gigabyte A7 features a larger screen and dedicated Nvidia graphics, which provides robust performance for more demanding applications but with less portability due to its size and weight. Despite the Dell's better battery life and portability, those who prioritize gaming or intensive multimedia tasks may prefer the Gigabyte, although they should be prepared for shorter battery longevity and additional weight.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
7.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is designed with an integrated Intel GPU which is adequate for light gaming and 3D work, whereas the Gigabyte A7 packs a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D applications. Although the Dell model may offer a sharper screen due to its higher resolution, the Gigabyte's combination of superior graphic power and smoother visuals due to its refresh rate makes it the preferred choice for intensive gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Gigabyte A7 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
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
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Gigabyte A7 are both good for software development, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
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
7.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Gigabyte A7 for software development, and content creation, while the Gigabyte A7 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Gigabyte A7 provide clear and vibrant displays with resolutions that are sharp enough for daily activities and brightness levels that make them easy to view in various lighting conditions. Regarding engineering and design work, both laptops offer displays with color accuracy and wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals can rely on them for precise color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are the norm, both models lack high refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion and a suboptimal visual experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,162
$940
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,162 and the Gigabyte A7 costs $940.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Gigabyte A7 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its high-resolution display and Intel CPU, is well-suited for detailed design work, while the larger screen and powerful Nvidia GPU of the Gigabyte A7 make it ideal for demanding engineering simulations and graphics-intensive tasks.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Gigabyte A7 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Gigabyte A7 compare to other laptops
"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."
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Gigabyte A7
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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