The HP Envy 17 has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the HP Envy 17 for engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the HP Envy 17 offer clear, vibrant displays due to their high resolution and brightness, making documents, videos, and web browsing visually pleasing. Engineering and design professionals value color accuracy for their work, and both laptops provide ample coverage of professional color gamuts, ensuring that designs and models appear true to life. However, gamers and 3D designers prioritize smooth motion and rapid on-screen changes, which is where both laptops fall short, as their modest refresh rates can't deliver the fluid experience required for high-speed gaming or fast-paced 3D simulations.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the HP Envy 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$808
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and HP Envy 17 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is equipped with a high-powered CPU, sizeable RAM, and high-quality IPS display, making it a strong candidate for general use, yet its smaller screen and lower battery life affect portability and longevity on a single charge in comparison to the HP Envy 17, which compensates with a larger screen for better multimedia experiences and longer battery life, but is less portable due to its size and weight. Both laptops feature solid build qualities, efficient heat management, and decent keyboards, but users may find the Dell more suited for portability while the HP stands out for comfortable at-home use.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
6.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 and HP Envy 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is better suited for gaming and 3D applications than the HP Envy 17 because it has a higher screen resolution and a superior GPU, which are both very important for these tasks. While both have the same refresh rate, the CPU and screen quality, which are also important, are quite comparable; however, the higher resolution of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus gives it an edge for detailed graphics work.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
7.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and HP Envy 17 are both good for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus with its powerful processor, abundant RAM, high-resolution screen and capable integrated GPU is well-suited for engineering and design work, though its smaller size and lower weight improve portability at the expense of a slightly smaller screen.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and HP Envy 17 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
7.7/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and HP Envy 17 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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.2/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and HP Envy 17 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 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the HP Envy 17 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 our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the HP Envy 17
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.