For cost-conscious buyers, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a generally lower price point, but if the budget allows, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 provides enhanced durability and often better customer service, which might be valuable for users who need reliability and support. The ThinkPad T14 typically has a more robust build quality, making it a good fit for frequent travelers or professionals. On the other hand, if your work requires carrying the laptop around often, the lighter Inspiron might be more comfortable, but consider that it might not withstand rough use as well as the ThinkPad. 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 overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.5/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a good balance of performance and battery life in a portable design, which is ideal for everyday computing needs, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 steps up with a superior CPU and RAM that enhances multitasking and productivity, paired with a high-quality screen and keyboard, making it an excellent choice for more demanding general use scenarios. However, the ThinkPad T14 comes with increased portability and battery advantages that support longer and more flexible usage away from power sources, whereas the Inspiron might appeal to those who prioritize a lower price point and can compromise slightly on higher-end performance.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
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
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offer clear, high-resolution displays with sufficient brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. For engineering and design work, both laptops provide color accuracy with wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals can trust the colors they see on their screens for detailed and color-sensitive tasks. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to a lower refresh rate, which means less fluid motion and responsiveness, a drawback when compared to laptops with high refresh rate screens designed specifically for these purposes.
Battery
6.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,162
$1,241
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,162 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have GPUs that provide adequate capability for moderate gaming and 3D tasks, making them fair options in this regard, though they might not handle the most demanding graphics at high settings. While these laptops have decent screen refresh rates for smooth visuals, their overall performance is also influenced by their CPUs and screen quality, which are satisfactory for general use, but dedicated gaming or high-end workstations would offer superior experiences in these areas.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, making it a strong contender for resource-intensive tasks, with a screen that renders crisp visuals, necessary for detailed engineering work. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also equipped with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, emphasizes durability and a superior keyboard, advantageous for extended engineering projects, but trades off slightly in GPU power which is crucial for specific design applications.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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