For intensive engineering, 3D rendering, or gaming, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i stands out with its higher-performing processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics card. Despite being more expensive, it offers better overall performance in these demanding tasks. The trade-off is that it's heavier and slightly less portable than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, as well as having a slightly shorter battery life. The Dell, on the other hand, is more affordable, lighter, and offers better portability, making it a sensible choice for general use and business tasks. Both have high-quality displays and comparable storage and memory. 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
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.6/10
8.0/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very good for gaming and 3D because it has a high-performance Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which is superior for graphics-intensive tasks, and a high refresh rate screen at 165Hz, providing smoother visuals during fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its powerful Intel i7 processor, apt for compute tasks, and integrated graphics, is good for engineering and design, especially if portability and system quietness matter, with its lighter weight and lower operating noise; however, its screen brightness and quality lag behind the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i ups the ante with a more advanced Intel i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics, delivering very good performance for engineering and design use cases, but is heavier, which might affect portability, yet it compensates with a superior screen experience.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
8.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
343.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a screen that fits everyday tasks well due to its resolution and brightness, but it lacks the high refresh rate crucial for smooth gameplay in 3D gaming. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i boasts a superior display that caters to everyday usage with better brightness and sharpness, while still providing decent color coverage for engineering and design work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications because they don't offer the high refresh rates that are key for that visually intensive environment.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$808
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i costs $1,630.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its capable processor and memory, high-quality IPS screen, and relatively lightweight design, offers a well-rounded package conducive to general use, along with adequate battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, although slightly less portable due to its larger and heavier build, compensates with a superior screen refresh rate and dedicated graphics, permitting smoother visuals, which could be particularly appealing for users with a penchant for gaming in addition to general use.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Legion Slim 5i to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
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
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
6.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has 7 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
7.4/10
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 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 Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 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 Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
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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