Dell Inspiron 14 5000
What’s the story?
The Inspiron is a familiar sight in consumer computing, and with good reason: Dell always turns out reliable, well-built and affordable machines.
The 5000 series especially punches above its weight. The £549 14in model we’re reviewing here is slim and has a smart drop-hinge for a better typing angle.
Is it any good?
Skinny screen bezels aid the Inspiron’s appearance, and it’s got USB-C, HDMI and microsd slots. The Ryzen 5 4500U CPU can handle the basics plus light photo-editing and esports gaming. The battery lasts around nine hours, and the display has a contrast ratio that sits beyond 1000:1 with acceptable colours.
There are some negatives. The display could be brighter and punchier, there’s no Thunderbolt and no Windows Hello support (which is quickly becoming a standard addition at this price). Despite that, it’s a quick and effective laptop, and Dell has another strength: the sheer breadth of the Inspiron 5000 range.
Our 14in model is a hybrid with plenty of chip choice. Go smaller with a 13in, go larger with 15in, or explore further hybrid options – you really are spoilt for choice, and it’s likely extra Amd-chipped variants will arrive in a few months. For everyday use, the Inspiron is impressively quick, sturdy and slim at a low price.
Price from £549 / stuff.tv/inspiron14
● 14in 1920x1080 IPS
● Up to 2GHZ 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 or 2.8GHZ 4-core Intel i7, up to 8GB RAM
● 321x216x17.9mm, 1.4kg