When choosing between the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the Dell usually offers a lower price, which can be attractive if your budget is tight. However, the ThinkPad X13 typically provides better portability due to its lighter weight and more compact design, which can be a significant advantage if you travel frequently or prefer a laptop that's easy to carry around. The ThinkPad also often has a reputation for robust build quality and a highly responsive keyboard, desirable for heavy typing or business use. On the other hand, the Inspiron might offer slightly better performance for its price, making it a better option for more demanding tasks if you're willing to sacrifice some portability and premium build features. 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 X13
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
8.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a balance of performance and portability with its ample RAM and quality CPU, but its screen and battery life don't match the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which shines with superior battery longevity and display clarity. Additionally, the ThinkPad stands out for its highly regarded keyboard and durability, making it an excellent choice for extensive typing and on-the-go use despite a possibly higher cost.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
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 X13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 provide crisp, clear visuals with their high-resolution displays and sufficient brightness, which are crucial for activities like browsing, watching videos, and document editing. In engineering and design, the same displays excel by covering a broad spectrum of colors, enabling precise work with graphics where accurate color representation is paramount. However, for gaming and 3D applications, these laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can cause motion blur and hamper the smooth visual experience that is vital for fast-paced gaming and creating fluid 3D animations.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus both have very good portability, though the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
$808
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $808 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have capable GPUs that handle gaming and 3D applications decently but aren't as powerful as dedicated gaming laptops, leading to an acceptable but not top-tier gaming experience. While both laptops offer good screen quality for general use, their refresh rates are not as high as specialized gaming laptops, meaning the visuals may not be as smooth.
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 X13 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a higher-end CPU and GPU, which translates to smoother performance for demanding engineering software and a sharper screen for precise design work; however, it may be heavier and produce more noise under load. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while still providing adequate power for engineering tasks, boasts better portability and a superior keyboard for comfortable typing, though its speakers and screen might be less impressive than the Dell's.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.2/10
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 X13 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
8.1/10
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 to be 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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