Question Help deciding between these Lenovo ThinkPad and Dell Inspiron laptops - any insight appreciated

[calvin2376]

I need to make a decision on a new laptop and could use help deciding. I'm down to the ones listed in the below table (though if you think I should consider a different one let me know). I don't use this for anything particularly intensive or specific (e.g., no gaming, programming, CAD, etc), this is just an all-around laptop. I would say my main criteria is reliability/build quality - I tend to keep laptops a long time (e.g. 8-10 years) so I want this to last a long time. That said, I would appreciate a nice screen (I do use it for some photo/video editing) and would like decent battery life (though it spends most of its time plugged in).


Here is my current thinking on these - I would appreciate anyone's input/thoughts, personal experience, etc.

• Lenovo vs. Dell - I like Lenovo a lot, I have one for my work computer and I love the keyboard. I'm leaning that way, but per the below I am trying to figure out why I wouldn't get the Dell...
• Yoga 9i - I love this and this was going to be my choice (particularly love the design and screen), but I'm concerned about (i) only 16 GB of RAM (I could bump it up but that's $500-600 more) and (ii) lots of reviews say the real-world battery life is very poor.
• X1 Carbon Gen 11 - I know this is a prior gen but the new one is too expensive. Main concern with this one is the lower resolution screen (obviously has an older processor, but again shouldn't make a huge difference in what I use it for).
• ThinkPad T14 - This is obviously more expensive and has the same drawback of lower quality screen, but it's on the list because (i) it seems to be basically a tank that would last a long time (and could be easily repaired if need be) and (ii) it comes with a 3-year warranty.
• Dell Inspiron - The background here is I went to Micro Center to try out the Lenovos and saw the stats on this one and I'm basically trying to figure out what the catch is with this. It generally has the same or better specs than all the others for quite a bit cheaper. What is the catch or drawback with this one? My one concern (other than the fact that I must be missing something) is that it has a lower brightness of 300 nits (which I feel could be an annoyance when using it in a bright room for example).

I hope to buy this in the next day or so, so thanks for all the help!

 

[LordVile]

Sounds like you need a Mac my dude. The 13” air is around 1100 and the 14 pro is 1600. For video and photo editing the 14” Pro will have the best display on your street.

 

[calvin2376]

Sounds like you need a Mac my dude. The 13” air is around 1100 and the 14 pro is 1600. For video and photo editing the 14” Pro will have the best display on your street.

Thanks, sorry no Macs - I'm too enmeshed in Windows and use too many legacy programs, software, etc. to make the change now (and no need to do so). I recognize Macs are excellent laptops and offer a great (and sometimes better) alternative, but I won't be making the switch (and am fine acknowledging that a Windows laptop I purchase may be inferior to Macs in one or more ways).

 

[LordVile]

Thanks, sorry no Macs - I'm too enmeshed in Windows and use too many legacy programs, software, etc. to make the change now (and no need to do so). I recognize Macs are excellent laptops and offer a great (and sometimes better) alternative, but I won't be making the switch (and am fine acknowledging that a Windows laptop I purchase may be inferior to Macs in one or more ways).

I’d have a look at HPs then, Lenovos are genuinely terrible and I’ve used nearly all of their product range and dell are solidly built but unspectacular

 

[calvin2376]

I’d have a look at HPs then, Lenovos are genuinely terrible and I’ve used nearly all of their product range and dell are solidly built but unspectacular

Thanks, and what is it about Lenovos that makes you say they are genuinely terrible? Is it features, build quality, etc? I have used Lenovos as my primary computer for around 9 years now so just curious what the rationale is as I may just have different experience.

Any particular HP you would recommend? I will say I have read much worse things about HP's reliability / build quality than I have about Lenovo's.

 

[geofelt]

I suggest you call Lenovo directly and talk with a sales rep. They know their products and what deals are available.
Most thinkpad units can be bought with different panels. The most satisfying will have higher brightness.
Lenovo is constantly having sales..

 

[CelicaGT]

A few things:

I have never owned a Lenovo so no comment (thought I've heard some good things).

On Dell, consider the Latitude series, NOT Inspiron. Latitudes (And XPS) are the more business/professional oriented lines with very high build quality and better displays etc. I use a Latitude 14" something or other for work (I'm on the road and left it behind) and you could use it for self defence, whilst also being rather thin and light. The entire chassis excluding the top case is magnesium.

More on Dell. That other laptop is supplied and configured by my employer, thusly it has all the OEM bloatware purged from it. I also recently bought a Dell G15 (In my sig) and I had to beat the bloatware down with a big stick. Uninstalling McAffee was actually impossible without registry tomfoolery, and the Intel Display software was constanlty trying to commit seppuku. That's just the tip of the iceberg, ultimately had to reinstall win11 due to crash on shutdown of all things. Using the Windows Media creation tool resulted in Windows update reinstalling THE SAME bloatware during the install (I'm sure there's a way around this). Ultimately I tamed it and it's a decent rig now. I tell you this not to put you off Dell, but to further suggest Latitude. Being a more business oriented model line they have less crapware on them.

On Mac. Don't necessarily discount them. I run a Windows shop here and I keep exactly one Mac. It's not because I really like them and I've drunk the Kool-aid, but because they are one of the best all rounders out there and are very price competitive with the types of machines I'd be shopping for this role anyway. My machine is an M3 13" Air and it does everything from office and schools tasks (built in basic office suite, not trying to sell 365 subs every time you open it) to light/medium gaming (Around RTX 3050 laptop performance) and is a media consumption powerhouse. It also has a fantastic display and I get about two full days of light use on a charge. Connectivity is limited without a dongle (two type C ports with Thunderbolt) and I'm still pretty meh on MacOS but it works fine once you spend some time with it.

Anyway, good luck with your choices and enjoy your new machine, whatever it turns out to be.