Once I first reviewed the Dell 14 Plus (6/10, WIRED Overview), my predominant criticism was over the value. On the time, the one configuration out there had a terabyte of storage and value $1,099. That harm its enchantment to me, particularly since it might be a extra enticing sub-$1,000 laptop computer if Dell have been promoting a 512-GB choice.
However what if that 1-TB mannequin was considerably discounted? Effectively, that adjustments all the things. The 14 Plus is simply $700 proper now, instantly from Dell, down $400 from its retail worth. It dipped right down to $850 briefly throughout Amazon Prime Day final week earlier than capturing proper again up.
What you get for $700 is a stacked laptop computer with 1 TB of storage and 16 GB of RAM. It additionally has a 2,560 x 1,600-pixel decision show, a lot sharp for the 14-inch dimension. For those who favor a bigger display screen to work on, Dell presents the identical laptop computer in a 16-inch dimension on the similar worth and specs.
The Dell 14 Plus Deal
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{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
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{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
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{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
Evaluate this deal to my present suggestion for the finest low cost laptop computer, the Asus Vivobook 14 (Snapdragon), which is promoting for $750. The Dell 14 Plus blows that laptop computer away at its $700 sale worth. Battery life is simply as lengthy, however the show is healthier, and the touchpad is extra responsive. These are two areas the place laptop computer producers are inclined to compromise to carry the value down, and the Dell 14 Plus makes use of high-quality components in each.
The Intel Core Extremely 7 256V is the important thing to the laptop computer’s success. It is a very environment friendly CPU. It additionally provides the very best built-in graphics I’ve examined on a laptop computer. Do not anticipate AAA gaming at max settings, however for lighter stuff, the Core Extremely 7 256V might shock you. It held up surprisingly nicely at a current informal LAN get together, with Counter-Strike 2, Heroes of the Storm, Starcraft, and some different light-weight titles.
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
For those who’re shopping for a laptop computer proper now, there’s just one different laptop computer that might make me query shopping for the Dell 14 Plus. That is the M1 MacBook Air. It bought a worth reduce final week at Walmart, dropping the value to $599, and that sale continues to be going robust. That is $100 cheaper than the Dell and nets you a correct MacBook, with its unmatched construct high quality, touchpad, and audio system. It is a pitiful quantity of RAM and storage, sure, however for the fitting individual, that MacBook continues to be most likely the best way to go.
It’s also possible to discover higher-quality Home windows laptops on the market, such because the Floor Laptop computer, which has a quicker screen-refresh charge and a haptic suggestions trackpad. However you may be paying additional for it and getting much less storage. At its sale worth, the Dell 14 Plus is sort of unimaginable to beat.
