The laptops I’ve tested so far that feature the energy-efficient Snapdragon X processor share a common trait. While the platform has the potential to seriously compete with the MacBook Air in the ultralight 13-inch category, the designs are not quite there yet. Only one manufacturer, Samsung, has released a truly ultralight device with this hardware so far.
Dell hasn’t reached this level either; the XPS 13 is still Intel-based, and at the time of writing, it’s using the first generation of Intel Core Ultra, which lacks the right AI capabilities. Instead, it’s an Inspiron model that is among the first to feature the Snapdragon X processor. The Inspiron 14 Plus is a simply designed yet well-built laptop, almost ultralight, but not quite. Weighing 1.4 kg and measuring 1.56 cm thick when folded, there are many competitors that are slightly lighter.
However, Dell has crafted its laptop with comfortably rounded edges and a grip-friendly design, making it easier to hold and carry compared to many other options, even if it weighs a few grams more. The build is sturdy, well-executed, and attractive. There’s a bit of plastic right around the screen, but the rest is all in gray aluminum.
But Dell, what were you thinking?
The laptop features a wide keyboard with the right key response and decent key travel, and a simple but well-made touchpad, ensuring trouble-free handling. Additionally, the laptop combines a nicely anti-glare matte display with touch functionality, something that’s rare. Despite upward-facing speaker grills on either side of the keyboard, it is wider than most 14-inch laptops.
The keyboard doesn’t have any special buttons unless you count the Copilot button, which most new Windows laptops now include. The power button in the corner doubles as a fingerprint reader. It has more resistance than the other buttons, so the risk of accidentally pressing it is low.
There’s just one thing… Dell sells this laptop in Sweden, with Swedish Windows, but it’s only available with an English keyboard, lacking Å, Ä, and Ö. At first, I thought it was just my test unit since they usually come from Ireland. But it turns out this applies to all Snapdragon configurations for Swedish customers, as confirmed on Dell’s product pages. To get a Nordic keyboard, you’ll need to get Inspiron 14 Plus models with Intel processors (7440 instead of 7441), but these still use Core Ultra, which lacks AI performance and consumes more power.
Fast but not the fastest
The processor here is the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, the same found in devices like the Acer Swift 14 AI, but it doesn’t perform quite as well in multi-threaded operations. This might be related to cooling, as when I push the CPU for an extended period, the underside gets warm long before the fans kick in, and even then, only a modest amount of air is circulated. The noise level remains pleasantly low, but it seems to come at the cost of multi-core performance.
Single-core performance and graphics seem as fast as other Snapdragon X laptops, meaning it handles everyday tasks like browsing, office work, light media editing, video conferencing, and multitasking with ease. However, it only has 16 GB of RAM, whereas many other laptops I’ve tested come with 32 GB. A large, fast SSD and space for a microSD card means you’ll have ample storage for a while.
You can connect via WiFi 7, but there’s a shortage of physical ports. It only has one USB-A and two USB-C ports. The USB-C ports support USB 4 speeds and DisplayPort, but it could get cramped if you want to connect many accessories, plus a charger. A docking station might be a good idea.
High-resolution and bright display
The laptop has a sharp 1600p IPS display that’s perfect for browsing and office work, with consistent colors and flicker-free visuals. However, the viewing angles are narrow, and some contrast shifts occur immediately if you’re not sitting exactly right, both vertically and horizontally. The colors match the sRGB palette 100% and with high precision, as long as the brightness is high. When I lower the brightness, the color temperature becomes slightly cooler, though not enough to appear obviously discolored.
Brightness is pleasingly high, up to 450 cd/m2, and the contrast remains impressively strong for an IPS display. If the specs didn’t explicitly state that it’s IPS, I would’ve guessed it was a PLS screen. But I suppose I’ll trust Dell knows what type of screen they’ve used. However, it’s only 60 Hz, so you won’t get the extra smoothness in scrolling that a 120 Hz screen provides.
Despite having a relatively small 54 Wh battery, the laptop still offers good battery life. It can consume a lot of power with the screen at maximum brightness, resulting in a runtime of just a couple of hours. But if you’re not overworking the processor and reduce the brightness, the battery lasts nearly an entire day. This is surprising, as even at its lowest brightness setting, the screen is still fairly bright.
You also get a built-in presence sensor, which turns off the screen when you’re not at the computer. This can help extend battery life.
Great sound quality
The four built-in speakers—2×2 watt tweeters and 2×2 watt woofers—produce surprisingly full and deep sound with bass that you can feel as much as hear. The treble isn’t as impressive, but overall, the sound is loud and good. However, I couldn’t find any sound settings in the system to, for instance, adjust the equalizer.
The laptop is free from bloatware, with only two extra programs: My Dell, which gives you fan mode options and three display color modes, and McAfee’s security program, which comes with a free year of service, which is a plus. With no other extra software, Windows’ own Copilot Plus handles the AI functions, but it’s up to software developers to add more features over time.
Specifications
- Product name: Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 (cn75102)
- Tested: September 2024
- Manufacturer: Dell
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100, 10 Oryon cores, 3.42 GHz
- Graphics: Adreno X1-85 1250 MHz
- NPU: Hexagon, 45 TOPS
- Memory: 16 GB LPDDR5x
- Storage: 1 TB SSD, space for microSD
- Display: 14-inch matte IPS, 2560×1600 resolution, 60 Hz, multitouch
- Webcam: 1080p with IR
- Ports: 2× USB-C 4, USB-A 3 Gen 1, headset jack
- Wireless: WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Operating system: Windows 11 Home
- Extras: Backlit keyboard, facial recognition, fingerprint reader
- Noise level: 0–35 dBA
- Battery: 54 Wh, 2h 10 min (under high load, max brightness) to 22 hours (low load, low brightness)
- Dimensions: 31.4 x 22.4 x 1.56 cm
- Weight: 1.4 kg
