Specifications:
- Dimensions: 20.8-22.23 x 292 x 196 mm
- Weight: starts at 1.22 kg
- Processor: Intel Celeron Processor N3050 (2MB cache, up to 2.16GHz)
- Hard Drive Options: 500GB 5400 rpm
- Display: 11.6-inch HD (1366 x 768) anti-glare LED-backlit
- Battery: 32 WHr, built-in 2-cell (non-removable)
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Connectivity: 802.11bgn/Bluetooth 4.0/HDMI/USB 3.0/USB 2.0/microSD reader
What’s Hot:
- Eye-catching form factor
- Travel friendly
- Matte screen
What’s Not:
- Glossy finish fingerprint magnet
- Low on storage and processing capacities
Dell, a brand name etched on many monitors and CPUs in corporations, hopes to make waves in the commercial space with its newest consumer laptops XPS 15 and Inspiron 11 3162. We got hold of Dell’s contender in the entry-level market, Inspiron 11 3162, and here’s how it fared.
Design: (3.5/5)
The Inspiron 11 3162 is housed in a plastic body that features smooth, rounded edges in the front and back. To give you a more graphic description, its smooth-edged form factor harks back to bright-colored and curved clamshell phones of not long ago, which are right up my alley. This design philosophy is a clear indication of this laptops’ target market: the young and proactive sector.
As someone who prefers minimalistic design over showy ones, I appreciate the simplicity of this laptop. Flipping it open, you’ll be greeted with a matte screen that offers some nice viewing angles, an island-style keyboard that’s soft to touch, and an aptly-sized touchpad with some texture on it. Located on the sides are basic ports such as power-in, HDMI, USB 3.0, micro-SD reader, combo audio jack, and a Kensington lock, all of which are necessary features to a productivity machine.
Hardware: (3.5/5)
Apart from colorful design choices and an unassuming, yet stylish façade, this light notebook packs various hardware to keep your productivity going and provide you with entertainment any time of the day. This 11.6-inch laptop can be easily stowed in the bag and whipped out whenever needed. It runs Windows 10, showcases a 1366 x 768-resolution anti-glare LED-backlit panel, Intel Celeron processor, 2 GBs of RAM, and battery that is guaranteed to last you up to 10 hours of work and play on the fly. All these come together for a laptop that can handle varying light to moderate PC tasks and a few other programs running in the background without a hitch.
Additionally, the laptop also has a built-in two tuned speakers, a 0.9-megapixel webcam with 720p HD video support, and Wi-Fi 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
User Experience: (4/5)
Using the laptop for a good amount of time didn’t really bring any surprise. As simple as it looks, this laptop is a modest device perfect for internet browsing and creating documents. Simple tasks such as typing articles and web surfing went smoothly. However, we wouldn’t recommend installing graphic-intensive games on it as its hardware may not be capable of handling such processing demand. Uncomplicated games available in the Windows store or flash games are playable–anything beyond that will just bring frustration.
We also found working with this laptop a pleasant experience. Typing was weirdly addicting, the keys are spread out adequately despite the size of the device, but can a bit small for people with huge fingers. It also has a texture that’s nice to touch. The touch pad, on the other hand, has a semi-abraded surface so your fingers don’t feel like just gliding on smooth plastic. The buttons on the pad is constructed with a short drop to them and is very responsive to clicks.
Value: (4/5)
I had really no troubles using this laptop from Dell. For its PHP 13,990 suggested retail price, you’d get a capable laptop that carries just the right battery life, screen, keyboard, and processor at your disposal. It takes on tasks discreetly and wouldn’t give you the impression of it bursting into flames with even nonstop use.
Bottomline:
The Dell Inspiron 11 3162 is a testimony that you don’t need to spend tons for a capable daily driver.
Published on Gadgets Magazine June 2016 issue.