Dell's 14 Plus 2-in-1 Laptops: More Interesting and Affordable with AMD Ryzen AI
Dell's 14 Plus 2-in-1 laptops just got a whole lot more interesting. They are perhaps even more affordable now. If you've been eyeing a useful 2-in-1 with some high-level AI smarts, but the price tags have been making you hesitant, you might be pleased to learn that Dell is now producing these fantastic laptops with AMD's latest Ryzen AI 300 series processors.
AMD Ryzen AI: Power, Savings, and Performance
We all know Dell makes great laptops. Their 14 Plus 2-in-1 is legendary for its versatility. It functions as a laptop one day, and a tablet the next, thanks to that clever 360-degree hinge. What's most exciting now is what's under the hood. Dell is unveiling the new AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 and Ryzen AI 7 350 processors. These are not your regular laptop processors. They are built for the era of AI, with a boost in overall performance as well as in dedicated AI work.
Consider this: up to 8 processing cores and 16 threads of processing power, along with specialized AI brawn with up to 50 NPU TOPs. That's a significant amount of AI capability. Whether you're a student, a working professional on the move, or simply someone who enjoys a little light gaming and wants to be future-proofed for AI use, this might be your ideal device.
Versatility and Portability Combined
Let's not overlook what makes the 14 Plus 2-in-1 so wonderful initially. You have that lovely 14-inch touchscreen display. It is perfect for getting work accomplished, watching TV shows, or doodling concepts in tablet mode. It's clean and clear with a 1920x1200 display. While 300 nits of brightness is sufficient for indoor tasks, remember it's not the brightest screen for very bright outdoor work under the sun.
Portability is key. Weighing in at just 1.59 kg, it's light enough to toss into your bag. You can take it with you all day long without it weighing you down. Despite being thin, Dell hasn't skimped on performance. You're getting Zen 5 architecture inside. This translates into responsive daily performance and more. For graphics, there's either AMD Radeon 840M or the slightly more capable Radeon 860M. These are sufficient for casual gaming and use with graphics-intensive programs.
Specifications and Configurations
Dell is offering the 14 Plus 2-in-1 AMD in a few different configurations. It's primarily about storage choices:
- Storage: Choose 512GB, 1TB, or a massive 2TB SSD. Fast NVMe storage is standard now, and Dell delivers.
- Memory: You get a standard 16GB of LPDDR5X memory running at a high 7500 MT/s. 16GB is enough for most users. Bear in mind it is not upgradable to 32GB or beyond. So, if you are multi-tasking heavily or have extremely demanding programs, be aware of this limitation.
Battery Life, Connectivity, Power, and Ports
Battery life is a strong point here. Dell quotes as much as 19 hours runtime. That's seriously impressive. It places it among some of the most efficient laptops on the market. For connectivity, you've got a decent mix of ports on each side of the laptop. There are both Type-A and Type-C USB ports for your devices, an HDMI 1.4 port for external monitors, and new WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless.
The Price Advantage: AMD vs. Intel
This is where the price benefit becomes apparent for shoppers. Although Intel versions of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 start around $1050, the new AMD versions start at a more price-friendly $850. The lowest AMD version includes a Ryzen AI 5 340 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That's a considerable saving.
Dell has maintained the design and many features consistent between the Intel and AMD models. You’ll find the same 64 Wh battery, 65W USB-C charger, 1080p webcam with privacy shutter, backlit keyboard, and user-upgradeable SSD storage in both. However, there are a few key differences that explain the price difference:
- Thunderbolt 4 vs. USB-C: The Intel model has a Thunderbolt 4 port (40 Gbps data transfer speeds). The AMD model features USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports (up to 10 Gbps). Thunderbolt is faster and more powerful, but USB-C will suffice for most people.
- Memory Speed: Intel models have slightly faster LPDDR5x-8533 RAM, compared to LPDDR5x-7500 in AMD models. In real-world use, the memory speed difference will be imperceptible for most tasks.
- Wireless Card: Intel models have an Intel BE201 WiFi card, while AMD models have a MediaTek MT7925. Both have the latest WiFi 7 standard, so you're still getting the latest wireless speeds.
The Verdict: A Smart Choice for Value and AI
If you want a 2-in-1 laptop with good performance, flexibility, and most importantly, value for money, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 with AMD Ryzen AI processors is definitely worth serious consideration. You get good performance, solid AI performance, excellent battery life, and that handy 2-in-1 form factor. All this comes at a lower upfront cost than the Intel versions. For students, regular users, and those exploring AI uses, this laptop appears to be a highly intelligent decision.
