Dell 14 Plus Review: A Fresh Start or Same Old?

Dell is in nan mediate of a transition. It has a caller logo, and a caller simplified attack to branding. The Dell 14 Plus is among nan first laptop to motorboat to trial nan waters successful this caller era, which is seeing nan extremity of subbrands for illustration XPS and Inspiron. While nan much breathtaking XPS replacement is still to come, nan Dell 14 Plus has arrived to measurement into nan shoes of nan aged Inspiron Plus laptops.

While it’s acold from nan most breathtaking laptop successful nan world, it offers a coagulated equilibrium of value and value, if only it had much configuration options disposable to decently categorize it arsenic a cheap laptop.

Dell On The Shell

The Dell 14 Plus isn’t what I’d telephone a beautiful laptop. But I don’t deliberation it’s trying to be. Instead, it’s trying to beryllium inoffensive. In nan past, that mightiness person meant a plastic, achromatic shell. These days, it intends a metallic chassis pinch arsenic fewer distractions aliases ornaments arsenic possible. The Dell 14 Plus succeeds astatine doing that.

More importantly, nan laptop feels rather sturdy successful nan hand. The lid has perfectly zero give, apt because of really tightly coiled nan hinge is. You can’t unfastened it pinch 1 digit though—in fact, location isn’t moreover a articulator connected nan lid for your finger. That lid is thicker than normal, too, contempt nan instrumentality being conscionable 0.67 inches thick. That’s not bladed compared to a MacBook Air, no, but it’s bladed capable to consciousness modern for a laptop of this price. It besides allows for capable room to compression successful immoderate bequest ports, including USB-A and HDMI. That’s successful summation to nan 2 USB-C ports and nan headphone jack. My only title is that some USB-C ports are connected nan near side, meaning it’s nan only broadside you tin complaint from.

One of nan things that keeps nan Dell 14 Plus from emotion for illustration a much premium laptop is nan screen. It has immoderate heavy integrative bezels, and it uses a heavy-handed matte finish. While that helps for deflecting glare, it cheapens nan look of nan display, making it look dimmer and much saturated. That’s excessively bad too, since nan surface itself is simply a coagulated one. It’s a amazingly well-calibrated IPS sheet pinch decent colour coverage. According to my testing, it tops retired astatine 332 nits of brightness, which won’t rustle your socks off, but won’t detract excessively overmuch from nan experience.

I should mention that Dell offers a amended show action connected its 2-in-1 models. It’s a glossy Mini-LED display, though it’s not presently disposable from what I tin see.

The Dell 14 Plus has a serviceable keyboard and touchpad. Upon receiving nan unit, I was concerned astir nan value of nan touchpad, arsenic its an facet of mid-tier laptops that tends to get compromised. The touchpad isn't perfect—the aboveground isn't arsenic soft arsenic I'd like. But I'm happy to study that this touchpad feels responsive, and nan click system isn't overly loud.

Limited Options

The Dell 14 Plus has conscionable azygous processor options, nan Intel Core Ultra 7 256V. This is Intel’s modern, businesslike CPU that delivers a coagulated jump successful artillery life complete erstwhile generations. I’ve tested this spot a number of times already, and nan Dell 14 Plus handles it conscionable fine. The Dell 14 Plus moreover does a occupation of staying comparatively cool and quiet. This isn't nan benignant of laptop you bargain for moving dense applications aliases games, but for nan school, agency work, aliases ray contented creation, nan Dell 14 Plus has plentifulness of muscle.