The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers higher performance for activities like engineering and 3D tasks due to more powerful specifications, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15". On the other hand, the IdeaPad has a larger screen, is lighter, and provides longer battery life which makes it more portable and better for general use. Both are similarly priced and neither is particularly suited for intensive gaming. If portability and longer unplugged usage are your priority, Lenovo is the better choice; otherwise, Dell's performance advantage is significant for demanding software tasks. 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 engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
Very good battery life
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
300.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a more powerful CPU and graphics, more RAM and higher storage, which translates to better performance for general use applications; it also features a higher resolution screen for clearer image detail but has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a slightly less powerful CPU and less RAM, which can still handle general use well, and benefits from a larger screen and longer-lasting battery, making it more suitable for users prioritizing long usage away from power outlets and preferring a larger display.
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
6.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
9.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is better suited for gaming and 3D applications than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" because it has a more powerful GPU, which is very important for these tasks. Although both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the superior screen quality and higher resolution of the Dell also contribute to a more immersive gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
6.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is equipped with a more powerful CPU and dedicated GPU, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, plus it boasts higher quality screen features like greater resolution, pixel density, and color accuracy, which are crucial for detail-oriented work. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has less processing power and relies on integrated graphics, granting it a fair performance for engineering uses, although it compensates with slightly better portability and longer battery life which can be valuable for users on the go.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a higher resolution and brighter display, making it more suitable for daily activities like browsing and watching videos, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" provides a satisfactory but less vibrant experience. The Dell's superior screen quality benefits engineering and design professionals who require accurate color representation, covering a broader range of the color spectrum essential for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Dell falls short with a lower refresh rate, which is less ideal for the fast-moving visuals that these activities demand, a limitation that the Lenovo also shares.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,200
$741
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,200 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" costs $741.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 Plus to have very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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