The Dell XPS 13 Plus, while far pricier, offers significantly superior performance and features for intensive tasks such as engineering, 3D applications or gaming due to its more powerful processor and better integrated graphics. It also excels in display quality, with an OLED screen for vibrant colors and deeper blacks, and has a larger amount of storage and memory, which leads to faster multitasking and smoother operation. Conversely, the Packard Bell Cloudbook is much more affordable and should handle basic tasks like web browsing and document editing without issue, but its lower-end processor and minimal memory make it less suitable for demanding applications. Both laptops have similar physical dimensions and weight, thus portability is comparable, but the Cloudbook may offer slightly better battery life for everyday tasks due to its less power-hungry components. Choose the Dell XPS 13 Plus for high-end needs and the Packard Bell Cloudbook for casual use while prioritizing budget. 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 XPS 13 Plus
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
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14"
The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 13 Plus.
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
5.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
374.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for general use, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus excels in general use due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, abundant RAM, high-resolution OLED screen, and long battery life, which offer smooth performance, multitasking capabilities, vivid display quality, and portability with extended usage away from power sources.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
5.5/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus offers superior gaming and 3D experiences with its more robust processor and high-end integrated graphics, as well as a high-resolution OLED screen that delivers vibrant color and contrast, enhancing visual quality. Conversely, the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is less suited due to its basic processor and lower-end graphics, coupled with a standard IPS screen that offers lower resolution and color quality, impeding performance and immersion in graphically intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
5.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for engineering and design, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU making it well-suited for engineering and design tasks, along with a premium OLED screen that offers sharp, vibrant colors and high resolution which is crucial for detailed work. Conversely, the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has a basic CPU, limited RAM, and lower-end GPU that struggle with demanding software and a screen that doesn't match the color accuracy or sharpness needed for professional design work.
Content Creation
8.3/10
5.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for content creation, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
8.3/10
5.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for software development, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
8.4/10
5.8/10
13.4in
SIZE
14.1in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
374.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus excels in screen quality for general use due to its high-resolution display that offers crisp and vibrant images, and its brightness makes it easy to use in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design, it shines with a wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color representation essential for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, it falls short because it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion and responsiveness in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 hours of battery life. The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 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
Excellent
Very Good
13.4in
SIZE
14.1in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has excellent portability, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
5.1/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has very good build quality, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,849
$350
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a price of $1,849 and the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" costs $350.
"The XPS 13 Plus is powerful, but has its drawbacks. Dell did not only update the processor generation, but also decided to offer two completely different models from now on. The XPS 13 Plus gets the faster Intel Alder Lake-P chips, and the Core i7-1260P in our review unit offers good performance figures. However, the device once again shows the problems of the current Intel CPUs, because the high performance requires a lot of power. This affects the battery runtime as well as temperatures, so the new model (even with the Optimized power profile) is louder than the older model."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 13 Plus or the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14"
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.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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