Hybrid-design laptops are simple to use: I can instantly transform my laptop to a tablet and sketch out an idea, then place it on a table for a quick video. The trick to minimizing compromises is the key with hybrids. It is a decent balance, with the latest Dell Inspiron14 2-in-1 model 7420 starting at $849.99 or $1,049.99. The unit has a small 14 inch display, and weighs in at just 3.5 pounds.
It is also easy to use as a tablet. It boasts a 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1255U processor and Intel Iris Xe graphic cards, which deliver blazing performance in a small package. It has a dim display and limited color coverage. This makes it less than top-of-its class for its price.
Ironically, there are also the Inspiron 14’s cousin, the 16 inch Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1, which we are currently testing. It starts at $1,049.99 and has a brighter display as well as a faster Intel Core i7-1260P processor. If 16 inches seems too big for you, the Lenovo Yoga 7i14 Gen 7 is a similar priced model. We just gave it an Editors' Choice award for mainstream convertibles.
Related Reading: Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Gen 1 Review
Display: The Basics and Design of 'Alder Lake’
Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Intel Core i7-1255U processor includes both E-cores (8 of them) as well as multi-threaded Performance Cores (2 of them), a similar arrangement to the BIG.little architecture found in many ARM processors. The Performance cores reach a peak speed of 4.7GHz, and they support thread-doubling (e-cores do not).
This adds up to 10 cores total and supports up to 12 concurrent threads. This Inspiron can run on a small four-cell 54-watt-hour-battery. Inspiron 16 2-in-1's more powerful Intel Core i7-1260P processor draws more power and is paired to a 6-cell, 87-watt hour battery.
The Inspiron 14's keyboard provides ample space between keys, and a larger touchpad than average for a laptop with a 14-inch display. The 16:10 touch screen offers a 1,920-by-1,200-pixel resolution. Unfortunately, that's the only display option, and a brighter screen would be welcome. (More on that in our screen testing.)
The panel's side bezels are thin, helping the screen appear larger than it is; the top and bottom bezels are thicker. The enclosure measures 0.62 (front height) to 0.7 (rear height) by 12.4 by 9 inches. The starting weight is a moderate 3.5 pounds. That's certainly not too much to port around campus, considering that 3.5 pounds is the weight of an average textbook.
Dell's $849.99 base model is built on a Core i5 chip (the Core i5-1235U) and backed by 8GB of DDR4 memory. Our review unit employs a Core i7-1255U processor with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB solid-state drive, with Windows 11 Home, plus support for Intel Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity.
Redesigned aluminum chassis looks great and is strong. The chassis can be fully opened to look like a tablet or used in classic laptop orientation. There is very little movement in the hinges. A fingerprint reader can be used on the keyboard. The 1,920x-1,080-pixel webcam, which is capable of 30fps capture, can also be blocked with a non-obtrusive security slider. Standard warranty includes one year of service on hardware. Remote diagnosis can add up to that. At the time of purchase, you can extend or decrease your warranty.
The Inspiron 14's left side holds an HDMI 1.4 port that supports 1,920-by-1,080 video-out and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports capable of delivering up to 90 watts each. Plus, with Dell's optional 90-watt power supply, the system supports ExpressCharge, allowing the laptop to get back to an 80% charge level in an hour. On the right side is one USB 3.2 Type-A port, one headset port (headphone and microphone combo), and an SD-card slot. There are a pair of down-firing speakers augmented by Waves MaxxAudio Pro.
Despite this very credible set of features, the display limits an otherwise excellent system. Screen brightness came in at around 277 nits at 100% brightness, the lowest of our comparison units. Plus, our Datacolor Spyder tests showed the Inspiron 14's panel covering only 64% of the sRGB gamut and 48% of the Adobe RGB gamut, also the lowest in our comparison group. (More on this later.)
The colors appear somewhat dull to the naked eye. Both brightness and saturation need to be improved. It would be difficult to work in bright environments. The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 looks best when the brightness is set to 85% to 100 percent in a dimly lit area. The Inspiron 16 2-in-1 can achieve similar results in the same space by setting the brightness to between 50% and 60%.
In reality, the Inspiron 16 2-in-1 can adjust a photo to be the same size, compensating for its 16-inch screen's larger size. A scene with trees in the sun appeared brighter on the 16-inch unit. This is likely because it displays 96% of the sRGB gamut, compared to 64% on the Inspiron 14.
The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 is a good choice if you work indoors. A 2-in-1 is flexible, but students need to be able to adjust to new environments. You'll want a larger display if your work takes you to a campus tree. The price of Inspirons were identical at the time of this review. It might be worthwhile to compare the prices for both Inspirons. Prices of Inspiron configurations can vary from week to week, depending on sales.
Given that the Inspiron 16 2-in-1 display appears quite satisfactory (again, subjectively), I'm baffled why Dell didn't choose comparable specs for the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 display. If the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 were significantly cheaper, I could understand it. But the 16 2-in-1 (which was $1,249.99 in our original review configuration) was selling for $1,049.99 as I wrote this. Clearly, the Inspiron 16 boasts better specs, including the more powerful Intel i7-1260P P-class processor, a beefier battery, and a 333-nit display.
Related Reading: Acer Predator Triton 300 SE (2022) Review
Take a look at our Webcams and Audio Capabilities
This webcam has a 1080p resolution (Full HD). It is ideal for video calling and general chats. The camera is covered by a discreet slider. The audio quality is excellent, thanks to the Waves MaxxAudio Pro Tuning and an ambient noise reduction function. Both stereo speakers (downfiring) and dual-array microphones are included in the unit.
Although the built-in speakers sound good, there is some distortion when the volume gets too high. However, the audio quality is better when accompanied by a pair of decent headphones. I would limit my use to the speaker only in an emergency. For frequent conference callers, Dell offers an optional Dell Mobile Adapter Speakerphone (Opens in a New Window).
Mylar is used to provide a soft feel around the touchpad and surrounding palm rests. The touchpad is sensitive to light touch, however. Keyboard travel is also shallow, so you need to use a lighter touch in order not repeat letters. After getting used to the keyboard, however, both cursor and typing became very easy.
To test the webcam, we paired up with an older laptop using the earlier 720p standard. That display, when viewed in a window next to the Inspiron 14's, was notably soft. That said, the Inspiron 14's more limited color and brightness detracted from a Zoom session.
The audio quality for Zoom and Skype sessions is good. Neither the other person connected nor I had any difficulties hearing the music. The person who was on the Zoom call had no problems hearing the Creedence Clearwater Revival song on a nearby laptop. The noise-reduction function is a great feature.
Inspiron 14 supports Intel Wi-Fi 6 2x2 Gig+ and Intel Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz). Your router can access either the 5GHz or 2.4GHz channels by using the designation '6. The 6E indicates the router can access the 6GHz channel. This higher frequency can transmit more data. All devices must be able to support 6E in order to reap the benefits.
The Bluetooth 5.2 version in the Inspiron 14 is the latest. As of version 5.0, Bluetooth supports wireless headphones, game controllers, and smart home devices within 800 feet. Bluetooth 5.2 adds such tweaks as LE Power Control (LEPC), or the ability to allow the transmitter to adjust its transmission power by itself or as requested by a peer device.
Dell Warranty Options
The standard warranty was mentioned earlier. There are optional options for the Inspiron 14 2-in-1. Dell Premium Support (49 USD for one-year, $199 for four), uses so-called SupportAssist technology. This detects hardware and software problems and sends you an email alert when they happen. After remote diagnosis, you have 24/7 access to an expert and on-site support.
Dell Premium Support Plus (109 USD for one-year, or $379 for 4 years) provides 24/7 access to technicians and repair staff who can come to your location. The Plus package also includes Accidental Damage Service. This service covers repairs or replacements of your system for any accidents that are not covered under the limited hardware warranty.
Inspiron 14 2-in-1 does not have bloatware. Microsoft Windows 11 Home is the operating system that comes with the Inspiron 14 2-in-1. However, Edge and Bing are not mentioned in the installation. Dell System Software (DSS) is included with the Inspiron 14. This utility provides updates and patches that are essential for your Dell computer's proper operation.
The Inspiron14 2-in-1 is being tested: Perky for the U-Series
Our five tested systems (including the Inspiron 14) use either the Core Intel 12th Generation Core i7-1255U, or Core Intel 12th Generation Core i7-1260P Intel 12th Generation processor. All other chips are 11th Generation. Let's take a closer look at the comparisons.
The 12th Generation CPUs performed the best on most of the tests with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 CPU and Core i7-1260P CPU being at the top. The Inspiron 14, however, was defeated in graphics testing by the Intel 11th Generation processors.
Only one test saw the HP Spectre x36014 trailing the Inspiron 14. 3DMark's Time Spy showed that the HP Spectre x36014 was slower than the Inspiron 14. With its P-class Core i7-1260P processor, the Lenovo Yoga came in first place on all tests, and second to the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 for three gaming test. The Asus ExpertBook B7 flip, with its handful of high-clocked cores, was the best in PCMark 10’s Storage and Productivity testing.
The Intel 12th Generation processors performed well in multi-threaded tasks such as Cinebench R23, Geekbench 5.4.1 Pro and Geekbench R23, where Inspirons and Yoga outperformed all other CPUs. These extra cores were a big help.
Productivity tests
PCMark 10, the main benchmark, simulates a range of content-creation and productivity workflows in real life to assess overall performance on office-centric tasks like word processing, spreadsheeting and web browsing. PCMark 10's Full System Drive is also used to evaluate the storage's load and throughput.
To rate the suitability of a computer for processing-intensive tasks, three benchmarks examine its CPU. They use all cores and threads. Maxon's Cinebench R23 renders complex scenes using Cinema 4D, and Primate Labs Geekbench Pro simulates popular applications such as PDF rendering, speech recognition, machine learning, and more. To convert 12 minutes of video from 4K resolution to 1080p, we use HandBrake 1.4 (lower speeds are better). Puget Systems' PugetBench For Photoshop is also used by us. This uses Adobe's image editor to evaluate a computer's ability to create multimedia content.
With the help of Intel's 12th Generation processor the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 can compete with more expensive laptops, and in the case Asus B7 Flip, a price that is twice as high. Although the Inspiron 14 is not a content-creation machine, it excels at being a lightweight, portable and affordable laptop. The 4,000 points on PCMark 10, which indicate high productivity in common applications like Microsoft Office, are exceeded by the Inspiron 14.
Graphics Testing
Two DirectX 12 simulations are used to test the graphics of Windows PCs. Night Raid is a more simple one, and it's suitable for computers with integrated graphics, while Time Spy, which requires more effort, is suitable for those with gaming rigs that have discrete GPUs.
Two tests were also performed using the cross-platform GPU benchmark GFXBench 5. This test focuses on both low-level tasks like texturing as well as high-level image rendering. To accommodate various display resolutions, the Aztec Ruins 1440p and Car Chase 1080p tests were rendered offscreen. They exercise graphics, compute shaders with OpenGL programming and hardware tessellation, respectively. More frames per second (fps) is better.
The Intel Iris Xe embedded graphics are present in all the units, as well as 16GB RAM. This makes the processor a bit more expensive. The Inspiron 14's modestly-priced graphics performance is still impressive considering the U-series processor.
Testing of the Battery and Display
The battery life of laptops is tested by playing locally saved 720p video files (the Blender movie Tears of SteelOpens in new window)). Display brightness was set at 50%, and the audio volume at 100%. Before testing, we make sure that the battery has been fully charged.
We also use a Datacolor SpyderX Elite monitor calibration sensor and its Windows software to measure a laptop screen's color saturation—what percentage of the sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts or palettes the display can show—and its 50% and peak brightness in nits (candelas per square meter).
Battery rundown is a good thing for the Inspiron 14, with it coming within the error margins of the HP Spectre and Microsoft Surface Pro. The Inspiron 14's battery rundown time of 12:33 hours was just the beginning. Two units exceeded the 14-hour battery testing time limit were the Asus Flip, and the Lenovo Yoga.
As noted, display results were quite different. The Inspiron 14 lagged well behind the others on percentage-of-gamut-coverage scores. This is a noticeable difference that you can also see. The peak brightness rating also lags behind the rest of the group by quite a bit. The Inspiron is a much more attractive laptop if it has a display that can reach more than 300 nits maximum and more than 90% of the sRGB gamut.
Verdict: A Convertible Worth Considering
The Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop is solidly constructed, delivers respectable performance and comes at a reasonable price. There are no questions about its display. This unit might be Editors Choice if Dell offered an alternative display. Dell.com sales (there are many, prices change all the time), could help make this unit more affordable. Even without these, however, the Inspiron 14 deserves your attention, particularly if it's used indoors.