Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The14 - inch laptophas become progressively popular thanks to its slightly larger screen size and yet still portable chassis . Unsurprisingly , there have been in inflow of great 14 - inch laptops as manufacturers attempt to leapfrog each other in performance and value .
TheDell XPS 14andLenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9are two such laptop computer . While they ’re different in physique broker and configuration options , they both are great machines . But which one is ripe for you ?
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
Lenovo ’s pricing and configurations are always open to change , but as of when this comparison is being written , the base Yoga 9i Gen 9 costs $ 1,329 with a Core Ultra 7 155H , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , an a 14.0 - inch 2.8 K OLED showing . The only higher - end configuration presently uncommitted ups the store to 1 TB and opt for a 4K+ OLED display . All modeling come with integrated Intel Arc graphics .
The XPS 14 comes in more configurations , starting at $ 1,699 for a Core Ultra 7 155H , 16 GB of RAM , a 512 GB SSD , Intel Arc , and a 14.5 - inch FHD+ IPS display . Upgrading to 64 GB of RAM , a 4 TB SSD , an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU , and a 14.5 - column inch 3.2 kilobyte OLED panel be $ 3,699 .
So , the XPS 14 starts at a higher price and becomes very expensive , very rapidly .
Design
While they ’re both 14 - inch laptops , the XPS 14 and Yoga 9i Gen 9 are very different machines . The XPS 14 is a traditional clamshell while the Yoga 9i Gen 9 is a 360 - point convertible 2 - in-1 , and though the XPS 14 has a big showing , it ’s almost the same size in width and profoundness thanks to insanely thin showing bezel . But it ’s also a lot heavier and thicker .
With the Yoga 9i Gen 9 , you not only have a more portable laptop but also one that propose more flexibleness with the ability to morph from a grapple into media , collapsible shelter , and pad modes . It also supports an fighting pen for draw off and writing on the display . Both laptops are solidly construct with all - atomic number 13 chassis .
esthetically , these are both gorgeous laptops . The XPS 14 has a more angulate chassis with a materialistic figure on the exterior . spread it up and it ’s thoroughly modern with a hide tactual touchpad beneath an all - glass laurel wreath rest , a zero - lattice keyboard , and a row of LED touch function keystone . The Yoga 9i Gen 9 has suave , rounded edges and a more traditional island keyboard and mechanically skillful touchpad .
The Dell can be had in either Platinum or Graphite colors while the Lenovo is usable in Cosmic Blue and Luna Grey . Both are dandy - looking laptops , but you wo n’t be choosing on spirit alone .
Both laptop have salutary keyboard , with merry , precise switch . The XPS 14 ’s keyboard takes more getting used to with the minimum primal spacing , but beyond an initial learning breaking ball , it ’s as good as the Yoga 9i Gen 9 ’s version . The XPS 14 ’s haptic touchpad also has a learning curved shape but offers the ability to get through anywhere compare to the mechanically skillful touchpad on the Yoga 9i Gen 9 . Both of the Lenovo 2 - in-1 ’s display option support touch and a pen , while just the higher - end OLED display pick supports speck ( only ) with the XPS 14 .
While both machines have the same routine of USB - C ports , the XPS 14 has one more Thunderbolt 4 port while the Yoga 9i Gen 9 also offers a USB - A port for bequest backup . The XPS 14 has a microSD card reader , which the Yoga deficiency , and both keep going the same Wi - Fi level that ’s just one step behind the bleeding - boundary Wi - Fi 7 .
Lenovo build a higher - answer 5MP webcam into a inverse notch that also offer an well-fixed way to open up the lid , and both tender infrared photographic camera for Windows 11 Hello facial realization . The XPS 14 also has a fingermark reader work up into the power button for those who prefer that method of logging in . Each laptop has user - presence - sensing engineering science that can lumber the laptop off and put it to sleep when the drug user walks aside and then heat it up and log back in when the substance abuser returns .
Thanks to the Intel Meteor Lake chipset in each , there ’s a Neural Processing Unit ( NPU ) for on - twist AI , which today is mostly limited to some processing done by Microsoft ’s Studio Effects videoconferencing software .
Performance
Both laptops are establish around the same 28 - watt Intel 14th - gen Core Ultra 7 155H chipset with 16 cores ( six Performance , eight Efficient , and two Low Power Efficient ) and 22 threads . It ’s a popular chipset that promises fast productiveness performance and can also do well in creative apps and gaming when paired with a distinct GPU .
The Yoga 9i Gen 9 only has integrate Intel Arc graphics , which fall somewhere between the sometime Intel Iris Xe graphics and the entry - floor Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU . The XPS 14 can be configure with the RTX 4050 , which makes it a potentially truehearted laptop computer .
We tested the XPS 14 with the somewhat faster Core Ultra 7 165H , but even when outfit with the Core Ultra 7 155H , it would provide slimly faster carrying into action in CPU - intensive task than the Yoga 9i Gen 9 thanks to beneficial thermal . And in the Pugetbench Premiere Pro that runs in a live variation of Adobe ’s Premiere Pro picture redaction app and can employ the GPU , it ply a cleared advantage .
Both laptops are fast enough for even demanding productivity users , but the XPS 14 will be firm for creators and gamers .
Display and audio
The XPS 14 declare oneself two exhibit options , a 14.5 - inch 16:10 FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS panel running at up to 120Hz and a 3.2 K ( 3200 x 2000 ) OLED gore at up to 120Hz . The Yoga 9i Gen 9 can be equipped with a 14.0 - column inch 16:10 2.8 K ( 2880 x 1800 ) OLED display run at 120Hz or a 4K+ ( 3840 x 2400 ) OLED display at 60Hz . Only the XPS 14 ’s IP showing is less than ideal in terminus of edge at this sizing , while the Yoga ’s 4K+ option is most probable overkill .
We tested the XPS 14 with its 3.2 K OLED display and the Yoga 9i Gen 9 with its 2.8 K OLED jury . The Yoga ’s display was slenderly brighter and had broad reportage of the AdobeRGB color gamut . Both display have excellent color accuracy and deep line offering up ink-black Negroid . They ’re both not bad options for productiveness , creative , and media consumptions usage .
The XPS 14 has a four - loudspeaker frame-up with two side - firing woofer and two upwards - firing tweeters flank the keyboard . The Yoga 9i Gen 9 has a singular soundbar trapping dual tweeters , and two woofers are fire to each side . In our testing , the Yoga provide louder and decipherable sound with more bass voice , and is among the best strait organization in a 14 - in Windows laptop .
Portability
As mentioned earlier , the Yoga 9i Gen 9 is thinner and lighter than the XPS 14 . It will be a bit easier to bear around .
In terms of battery liveliness , the XPS 14 hold out considerably longer . It made it to 8.25 hours in our web browsing test compare to the Yoga ’s roughly six hours , and around 10 hours in our picture looping test compare to around 8.5 hour . The XPS 14 is therefore more likely to last closer to a full day ’s oeuvre .
The XPS 14 is faster and longer lasting but more expensive
If you involve the flexibility of a 2 - in-1 , then the Yoga 9i Gen 9 is your only choice here . And it ’s substantially less expensive than the XPS 14 .
But Dell ’s clamshell is faster , especially when configured with its distinct GPU , and it gets much good shelling life . If you have the money , then the XPS 14 is the better option for most people .
