If price is a major factor for you, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers solid performance at a more budget-conscious price, though it won't match the high-end efficiency of the ThinkPad Z16. For extensive engineering tasks or workflows requiring exceptional screen quality, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 boasts superior display properties with its larger and higher-resolution OLED touchscreen, and enhanced color accuracy, making it a premium choice but at a higher cost. If you need a machine that's highly portable, the Dell's lighter weight might appeal more, but if maximum performance is key, the Lenovo's advanced processor and larger RAM capacity give it an edge, especially for demanding 3D, machine learning, or engineering software. The ThinkPad Z16 also provides a better keyboard and additional ports, and a slight edge in battery life, though the Inspiron is not far behind in these aspects. 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 ThinkPad Z16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.6/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
326.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus in general use because it offers superior CPU and RAM capabilities, a higher-quality screen, and longer battery life, making it very good for such tasks. Whereas the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus provides decent performance, ample storage, and good portability, which makes it good for general use, it falls slightly behind the ThinkPad Z16 in the most crucial general use metrics.
Engineering and Design
7.8/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 stands out for engineering and design use due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU, higher RAM capacity, superior AMD RX GPU, and an OLED screen with better resolution, brightness, and colors. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, while still suitable for these tasks, is hampered by a less powerful Intel CPU, lower RAM, an integrated GPU, and an IPS screen with lower resolution and brightness, though it is lighter and thus more portable.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is 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
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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
8.5/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2240 x 1400
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
326.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a clear and bright display that makes everyday tasks pleasant, but its resolution might not be as high as the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's which offers sharper details due to its higher resolution. Engineering and design professionals will find the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16's superior color accuracy and range beneficial for their precision work, as it covers a wider color spectrum than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus. However, both laptops may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications since they lack high refresh rates that can provide smoother visuals and more responsive gaming experiences.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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
$1,200
$1,120
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has a price of $1,200 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 costs $1,120.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its high-performance Intel Iris Xe GPU and a display that provides good color coverage and brightness. In comparison, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 stands out with its even more powerful AMD RX 6500M GPU, higher screen pixel density, and OLED panel, which significantly enhance visual quality and contrast for gaming and 3D tasks.
Battery
6.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 14 Plus to have very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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 ThinkPad Z16 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."
"Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z16 tries has some success in its effort to tweak the ThinkPad formula. The laptop is attractive, yet still tame, and material quality is on par with the best Windows competition. I also like the smooth, responsive haptic touchpad and the wide range of modern connectivity. Yet the Z16 doesn’t fix ThinkPad’s typical weakness: value. Starting around $1,550, and more typically near $1,700, the Z16 finds itself facing alternatives that have better performance or an improved display for the same price, or less."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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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