News

    Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 with Core i3 chip down to $399 from $550 at Best Buy

    Kevin TofelBy Updated:4 Comments2 Mins Read

    While the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 isn’t what I’d call a super high-end 2-in-1, it’s definitely above the typical mid-range category thanks to the 8th-generation Core i3 U-series processor. And right now it’s priced like a below mid-range Chromebook: You can save $150 and get this laptop for $399 at Best Buy.

    Android Police spotted this deal, which is a solid one if you’re on a budget but don’t want to skimp too much on performance. Here’s a rundown of the specs:

    • Intel Core i3-8130U processor
    • Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics
    • 4 GB of memory
    • 128 GB of eMMC storage and microSD card slot
    • 14.0-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) TrueLife LED Backlight Touch IPS Display with EMR Pen Support (pen included)
    • 720p webcam
    • Two USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, microphone/headphone jack
    • 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
    • 56 WHr battery and 45 Watt charger
    • Weight of 3.99 pounds

    Back in April, the Dell Inspiron Chromebook was on sale for $499, which I think is more appropriate than the regular price of $549, currently through Dell directly.

    With the U-series chipset, this Chromebook can run longer under a heavy processor load before it has to throttle back on speed to reduce heat. Of course, the U-series chips also use a fan to help mitigate overheating and slowdowns, so if you prefer a fanless device, this isn’t for you.

    If you don’t mind that, however, $399 gets you a strong performing Chromebook with 1080p display and pen support, capable of fast browsing, multiple Android apps and even some Linux software if you decide to enable that option.

    Share.

    After spending 15 years in IT at Fortune 100 companies, Kevin turned a hobby into a career and began covering mobile technology in 2003. He writes daily on the industry and has co-hosted the weekly MobileTechRoundup podcast since 2006. His writing has appeared in print (The New York Times, PC Magazine and PC World) and he has been featured on NBC News in Philadelphia.

    4 Comments

    1. Adam Parish on

      I think the Dell Chromebooks look great. I’ve always considered Dell as an option if Pixel goes away.

    2. mike on

      I looked at that one and the HP x2. The Dell is rather heavy 4lbs to lug around was too much for me. So I went with the HP. And it has enough to drive VScode.

    3. Angel on

      I love this computer but my screen resolution is less than stated above. It’s screen resolution is 1396×785. Is this FHD?

      I know the HP X2 has a better resolution but this Dell Inspiron is leagues better in screen res and the overall look and feel compared to my previous laptops. I went with the Dell Inspiron for the space, decent RAM, and that indestructible feel. The HP X2 keyboard flap is would not work well with me, I preferred a laptop over a tablet. I take it everywhere with me, I love the weight it has. I wish there was a USB on the right side for my mouse because I am a righty. So I loop my wire around (don’t use bluetooth mouse yet) or I use a USB-C adapter. I very rarely use it in tablet mode, but I have used it in tent mode while illustrating. (Can’t use a mouse in tent-mode or tablet mode so no Blender. I hate that, I’m surprised no one has mentioned this as a con before. Is this the same across Chromebook convertibles? Maybe a bluetooth mouse will solve the issue.)

      The battery literally lasts all day. Surprising, really. I’ve put it to the test. But memory intensive apps can drain your battery. Look out for Google Play apps not optimized for Chromebook, Like Slack. You can just download Slack for Linux, but then no notifications at the moment.

      I just bought this Dell Inspiron 14 Chromebook on May 31, 2019. I use Inkscape and Blender often on it. The heat dissipation is not the best and can cause the Chromebook to get very hot quickly. So I usually do my modeling on the Chromebook and render on my old Lenovo with the same RAM and CPU (no dedicated graphics) as the Chromebook. It’s just that the Lenovo is loud, fans run on start-up, and is not very mobile.

      And, yes, I listen to music on Youtube while modeling in Blender simultaneously. May even browse tutorials while listening to music and modeling in Blender.

      Waiting to see if Google’s GPU flag will come to the stable channel so I can try it out on this Chromebook. If it helps with the heat and time it takes to render a simple image then I will be forever grateful to the team.

      Major Issue:

      I have noticed since the day I began using the Dell Inspiron Chromebook that the screen stutters. I mean, it has a vibration here and there. Sometimes horizontal black out. It looks like the Chromebook has a hard time running its own screen. I guess if it was 1920×1080 the screen likely wouldn’t function much. I doubt it could handle an external monitor. The lack of an HDMI port delays my testing on this.

      I don’t think the issue is with the screen itself. Usually these horizontal stutters, black bars, etc., go across the entire screen. But I have seen this happen on just the part of a screen where a video is playing or even on a single web page when two are side-by-side; the stuttering showing on the page being scrolled and not the static page.

      I haven’t brought the Chromebook back to BestBuy even with my protection plan because I have a feeling that a software update could fix this.

      • Jim on

        Thanks for all the info.

        I am about to purchase my first Chromebook.
        I am currently using an iPad with no keyboard.
        Do you know if a virtual keyboard appears on the Chromebook screen if you are using a stylus or mouse and you have selected a cell in Google sheets? Maybe, it depends on the brand you are using.

        I notice some screens have a definite wobble when touched. I thought using a mouse/stylus along with a virtual keyboard to enter text/numbers would avoid the wobble.

        Regards.