Dell Inspiron 13 5301 in review: Stylish and compact subnotebook, but...

Dell offers its current Inspiron 13 with a 13.3-inch Full HD display in four different configurations. Our review sample is the mid-range model with the Intel Core i5-1135G7. Besides the version that we tested with a 256 GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, it's also available with a 512 GB SSD for an additional charge. Alternatively, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 with 256 GB of storage and the Intel Core i7-1165G7 with a 512 GB SSD are available.
All models are equipped with 8 GB of LPDDR4x RAM. Dell refrains from using a dedicated GPU and relies on the Iris Xe Graphics with 80 EUs from Intel's 11th generation. In this review, we'll take a look at whether the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 can be convincing in casual everyday use as well as under full load; we'll also see how it fares in comparison with other 13.3-inch devices, some of which are more expensive, such as the Dell XPS 13 9305 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
83.8 % v7 (old) | 07 / 2021 | Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.1 kg | 16 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
87.7 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.2 kg | 16 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
85.3 % v7 (old) | 05 / 2021 | HP Envy 13-ba1475ng i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450 | 1.3 kg | 17 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
86 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2021 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.3 kg | 14.9 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
84.3 % v7 (old) | 03 / 2021 | Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW i7-1165G7, GeForce MX350 | 1.3 kg | 17 mm | 14.50" | 2560x1600 |
Case: Subnotebook made of aluminum and plastic
Dell provides the Inspire 13 5301 with a high-quality aluminum case. Only the display bezel and the rear strip around the hinge are made of white and gray plastic, respectively, which is likely not to everyone's taste. Overall, however, the device looks quite elegant. There's nothing to criticize in terms of build quality.
When the device is opened, the rounded rear lifts the base a few millimeters in order to give the air vents space underneath the device to do their job. The hinges are adjusted with quite a bit of firmness, but they creaked slightly in our test device. They provide a good grip for the display, and it only wobbles slightly, but they prevent a one-handed opening of the device, which only weighs a good 1 kg.
Out of the five models compared here, the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is the lightest device of all at around 1.15 kg. When it comes to their dimensions, the 13.3-inchers hardly differ except for a few millimeters. Our review sample is not the smallest or the thinnest, but it keeps up well in the field.
Connectivity: USB-C with DisplayPort and HDMI
As is typical, the ports are distributed across the left and right sides, where they are located in the rear area and are positioned with enough space between them. The configuration is solid for the device class, but there's no Thunderbolt port. Three USB ports are available, one of which is a 2nd generation USB 3.2 Type-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery.
SD card reader
We can only describe the microSD card reader as slow. With our 128 GB AV PRO V60 microSD reference memory card, it only achieves speeds of around 25 MB/s and is consequently far behind in the comparison field. This is sufficient if you just want to copy a few photos from a memory card. But larger amounts of data will require considerable patience.
SD Card Reader | |
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng (AV Pro V60) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (18.4 - 142, n=15, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng (AV Pro V60) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (22.5 - 207, n=15, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB) |
Communication
In contrast, things look quite different when it comes to the Wi-Fi connection, even though the new Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is not on board. Nevertheless, the Dell Inspiron 13 performs extremely well with the 802.11ac standard, and it positions itself clearly above the Intel Wireless-AC 9560 module's average. Among the five devices in our comparison field, it's fast enough for a good third place ahead of the Dell Inspiron 14 7400 with Wi-Fi 6.
Webcam
A simple 720p webcam with two digital array microphones is installed in the bezel above the screen, which is about 1 cm thick. It doesn't offer a particularly good quality with a DeltaE value of just over 30, but it's sufficient for the usual applications like video calls.

Security
Apart from the fingerprint reader that is integrated into the power button located on the keyboard's upper right corner, there are no other security features. Even a Kensington slot is missing.
Accessories
Apart from the 45-watt power adapter, Dell doesn't include any accessories. The manufacturer offers various optional accessories like carrying cases, docking stations, and more, most of which fit various Dell devices.
Maintenance
Warranty
Dell provides a one-year Collect and Return service by default. This is less than the usual two years offered by many manufacturers. Optionally, purchasing directly from Dell allows you to opt for various warranty upgrades including up to three years of Premium Support with onsite service, but this will cost you up to 180 Euros (~$214).
Input devices: Dell integrates a fingerprint scanner into the power button
Keyboard
Apart from just under 2 cm wide margins on the left and right, Dell uses the entire width to squeeze an appropriately large keyboard into the 13.3-inch laptop. It's placed very far into the back and near the monitor, which certainly leads to negative consequences (see the "Temperature" section).
The power button with the built-in fingerprint sensor is on the top right, and the four arrow keys as well as the "Page up" and "Page down" keys, which are about the size of three keys, are on the bottom right. Furthermore, the F1 to F12 keys with the usual double assignments for screen brightness, volume, etc., are at the top.
Typing on the keyboard is comfortable considering the small size of the laptop, even if the keys could certainly be a bit larger for users with thicker fingers. The typing noise is nice and quiet. Even the space bar, which is often a rattling noisemaker in many laptops, remains pleasantly restrained.
The keyboard's backlight can be adjusted to two levels, and it makes the keys easy to recognize even in the dark, although it could gladly be a bit more uniform.
Touchpad
The touchpad is centered below the space bar, and due to the lack of a number pad, it's also almost at the center of the device. It's slightly recessed into the case, and it measures 10.5 cm in width and 6.5 cm in depth. Therefore, it's sufficiently large and responsive enough to make quick mouse pointer jumps from one side to the other as well as pixel-accurate inputs.
The two mouse buttons at the bottom are responsive all the way to the center, with no perceptible separation between the two buttons. Noise is also kept very much within limits here. Click noises are quiet and fairly high-quality sounding.
Display: Not particularly good, but matte
The Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is equipped with a 13.3-inch (diagonal of 33.8 cm) display with an LED backlight. It has a resolution of Full HD, i.e. 1920x1080 pixels, in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The display is matte and anti-reflective. Alternate display variants aren't offered by Dell.
The display has quite an even brightness distribution, so no differences are visible to the naked eye. Screen bleeding is also within limits, so the panel displays black content without noticeable brightening at the edges.
|
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 270 cd/m²
Contrast: 1373:1 (Black: 0.22 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.35 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.87
ΔE Greyscale 4.07 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
98% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
63.4% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
98.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.17
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN InfoVision M133NWF4 R0, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD Sharp SHP14AE, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | HP Envy 13-ba1475ng CMN139D, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE InfoVision M133NW4J R0, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW Chi Mei CMN1411, IPS, 2560x1600, 14.5" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | 3% | 3% | 4% | 3% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 66.3 | 66.4 | 68.1 | 65.8 | |
sRGB Coverage | 98.1 | 97.1 -1% | 97.6 -1% | 97.2 -1% | 97.4 -1% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 63.4 | 67.1 6% | 67.5 6% | 69.2 9% | 67.9 7% |
Response Times | -22% | 800% | -17% | 29% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 37 ? | 55 ? -49% | 66 ? -78% | 43 ? -16% | 29 ? 22% |
Response Time Black / White * | 23 ? | 27 ? -17% | 28.8 ? -25% | 27 ? -17% | 15 ? 35% |
PWM Frequency | 1000 ? | 996 ? 0% | 26040 ? 2504% | ||
Screen | 9% | 8% | 28% | -4% | |
Brightness middle | 302 | 486 61% | 423 40% | 369 22% | 360 19% |
Brightness | 289 | 446 54% | 405 40% | 334 16% | 327 13% |
Brightness Distribution | 88 | 77 -12% | 83 -6% | 83 -6% | 83 -6% |
Black Level * | 0.22 | 0.4 -82% | 0.23 -5% | 0.14 36% | 0.45 -105% |
Contrast | 1373 | 1215 -12% | 1839 34% | 2636 92% | 800 -42% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.35 | 2.54 24% | 3.2 4% | 2.02 40% | 2.04 39% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 5.27 | 4.34 18% | 5.8 -10% | 3.05 42% | 4.69 11% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.07 | 2.34 43% | 4.7 -15% | 2.34 43% | 2.84 30% |
Gamma | 2.17 101% | 2.28 96% | 1.99 111% | 2.44 90% | 2.34 94% |
CCT | 7084 92% | 6864 95% | 6362 102% | 6552 99% | 6360 102% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 63 | 62 -2% | 61.9 -2% | 63 0% | 62 -2% |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 98 | 97 -1% | 97.5 -1% | 97 -1% | 97 -1% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.04 | 1 | 1.08 | 0.92 | |
Total Average (Program / Settings) | -3% /
2% | 270% /
166% | 5% /
19% | 9% /
1% |
* ... smaller is better
Light and compact devices like the Dell Inspiron 13 are ideal for on-the-go use. A bright display is important to prevent working outdoors from becoming a torture. Unfortunately, our review sample can't really convince with a brightness of about 290 cd/m² when plugged in and 270 cd/m² when running on battery power.
The Dell Inspiron 13 5301 also lags a bit behind the expectations and its competitors at times when it comes to the rest of the metrics in the test. Among other things, this applies to color reproduction (DeltaE > 3), even when it achieves a solid value with a 63% AdobeRGB coverage. This wouldn't be enough for professional graphics editing. However, the Dell Inspiron 13 wasn't originally designed for this anyway. The measured contrast and black level results are solid, but they can't keep up with the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, for example.
As mentioned, brightness is not particularly high, but the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 can still be used well outdoors. This is mainly due to the matte display. Furthermore, the image can be recognized perfectly even from very oblique viewing angles.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
23 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 13 ms rise | |
↘ 10 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 48 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
37 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 17 ms rise | |
↘ 20 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 50 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.5 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM detected | 1000 Hz | ≤ 100 % brightness setting | |
The display backlight flickers at 1000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 1000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8516 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
Performance: Tiger Lake CPU with room for improvement
The present configuration of the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is equipped with the Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU, the corresponding Intel Iris Xe GPU with 80 EUs, and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. In addition, there's a 256 GB SSD. Performance-wise, this is the mid-range configuration of the current Inspiron 13 generation. If you need even more performance, you can alternatively get the top variant with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 and a 512 GB SSD. For slightly less money, Dell also offers the lowest-priced version with the Intel Core i3-1115G4 and 256 GB of storage.
Processor
The built-in Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU is based on the Tiger Lake architecture and therefore belongs to Intel's latest processor generation. The CPU is positioned below the Intel Core i7-1165G7. Its four cores work at base clock rate of 2.4 GHz and a Turbo clock rate of 4.2 GHz. According to HWiNFO, the CPU has a theoretical PL1 of 15 watts and a PL2 of 51 watts on paper. In our tests, however, it achieved a maximum power consumption of just over 42 watts.
In our comparison field, which is mostly equipped with the same processor, the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 lands at the lower end of the field. In most benchmarks, the device is unable to entirely reach the CPU average of all devices that are equipped with the chip, but it usually positions itself just below it instead. This means that Dell isn't fully exploiting the CPU's potential. Nevertheless, it's a positive thing that the benchmark results were only about 10% lower on battery power.
Cinebench R20: CPU (Single Core) | CPU (Multi Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Single 64Bit | CPU Multi 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 -mmt1 | 7z b 4
Geekbench 5.5: Single-Core | Multi-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (358 - 2165, n=75, last 2 years) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (1062 - 1373, n=53) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (1555 - 21812, n=75, last 2 years) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (2786 - 6136, n=55) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (128 - 826, n=70, last 2 years) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (375 - 527, n=62) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
Average of class Subnotebook (579 - 8541, n=70, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (979 - 2382, n=62) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Subnotebook (72.4 - 322, n=71, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (141.4 - 205, n=61) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Subnotebook (327 - 3345, n=75, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (431 - 941, n=65) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng |
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (499 - 1044, n=60) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (159 - 2271, n=74, last 2 years) |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2643 - 6442, n=68, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3924 - 4921, n=62) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
Average of class Subnotebook (11668 - 77867, n=66, last 2 years) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (14745 - 24873, n=62) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng |
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (726 - 2350, n=67, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (1147 - 1428, n=58) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
Average of class Subnotebook (2557 - 17218, n=67, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3475 - 5472, n=58) |
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
Average of class Subnotebook (0.97 - 25.1, n=69, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (3.57 - 7.6, n=57) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Average of class Subnotebook (38.5 - 220, n=67, last 2 years) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (44.2 - 62.9, n=60) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW |
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7 (0.619 - 0.727, n=59) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (0.403 - 1.456, n=69, last 2 years) |
* ... smaller is better
System performance
In terms of the system performance measured by benchmarks, our review sample often falls slightly short of the expectations raised by the CPU/GPU average. The comparison candidates usually perform better. However, thanks to the powerful new Intel CPU, the device still definitely manages to position itself above the subnotebook average.
In everyday use, the common tasks of a subnotebook, such as browsing the Internet, streaming videos, and running office applications, are certainly possible without issues or restrictions. Only the RAM with its modest size of 8 GB can sometimes be a bottleneck.
PCMark 10 / Score | |
Average of class Subnotebook (4993 - 7788, n=58, last 2 years) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (4026 - 4952, n=53) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
Average of class Subnotebook (9363 - 11331, n=58, last 2 years) | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (8149 - 9917, n=53) | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW |
PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Average of class Subnotebook (5435 - 10623, n=58, last 2 years) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (5040 - 6619, n=53) |
PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
Average of class Subnotebook (5305 - 12442, n=58, last 2 years) | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Average Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs (3548 - 5255, n=53) | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN |
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 5007 points | |
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2 | 6639 points | |
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 3021 points | |
PCMark 10 Score | 4529 points | |
Help |
DPC latencies
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW | |
HP Envy 13-ba1475ng | |
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE | |
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | |
Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD |
* ... smaller is better
Storage
The OM3PDP3-AD NVMe KDI SSD installed in our review sample has a relatively modest capacity of 256 GB, especially since only just under half of this is available out of the box. Users who don't find this to be enough can also get the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 with the same or a better CPU and with 512 GB of SSD storage space.
In terms of performance, the hard drive performs solidly. It can't keep up with the Samsung SSDs in the larger and more expensive Dell Inspiron 14 7400 as well as the Dell XPS 13 9305. The SSD also has to admit defeat to the HP Envy 13-ba1475ng with its Intel storage device, but it positions itself well ahead of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. After a weak start, the read speed increased continuously in the test.
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ | HP Envy 13-ba1475ng Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE Samsung PM991 MZALQ256HAJD | Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR | Global Average -3 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | 5% | -12% | -38% | 36% | 28% | ||
Write 4K | 156.7 | 136.9 -13% | 133.5 -15% | 184.3 18% | 127 -19% | 144 ? -8% | |
Read 4K | 48.45 | 47.34 -2% | 39.66 -18% | 39.9 -18% | 42.72 -12% | 54.9 ? 13% | |
Write Seq | 1205 | 1150 -5% | 907 -25% | 211.3 -82% | 2025 68% | 1778 ? 48% | |
Read Seq | 1583 | 2052 30% | 1481 -6% | 1319 -17% | 2205 39% | 1914 ? 21% | |
Write 4K Q32T1 | 328.4 | 433 32% | 446.2 36% | 220.5 -33% | 465 42% | 398 ? 21% | |
Read 4K Q32T1 | 422.3 | 293 -31% | 335.1 -21% | 255.9 -39% | 376.4 -11% | 469 ? 11% | |
Write Seq Q32T1 | 1255 | 1148 -9% | 975 -22% | 221 -82% | 3020 141% | 2368 ? 89% | |
Read Seq Q32T1 | 2544 | 3427 35% | 1874 -26% | 1202 -53% | 3478 37% | 3359 ? 32% | |
AS SSD | 169% | 77% | -29% | 212% | 26% | ||
Seq Read | 2089 | 2629 26% | 1608 -23% | 1425 -32% | 2891 38% | 2007 ? -4% | |
Seq Write | 685 | 1270 85% | 659 -4% | 114 -83% | 1398 104% | 1356 ? 98% | |
4K Read | 39.32 | 65.2 66% | 51.3 30% | 36.8 -6% | 56.1 43% | 42.5 ? 8% | |
4K Write | 141.8 | 182.5 29% | 151.8 7% | 117.1 -17% | 138.4 -2% | 113.7 ? -20% | |
4K-64 Read | 501 | 1032 106% | 322.1 -36% | 238.5 -52% | 1137 127% | 824 ? 64% | |
4K-64 Write | 157.4 | 1257 699% | 800 408% | 125.7 -20% | 1904 1110% | 951 ? 504% | |
Access Time Read * | 0.112 | 0.07 37% | 0.077 31% | 0.159 -42% | 0.052 54% | 0.614 ? -448% | |
Access Time Write * | 0.067 | 0.023 66% | 0.046 31% | 0.037 45% | 0.022 67% | 0.525 ? -684% | |
Score Read | 749 | 1360 82% | 534 -29% | 418 -44% | 1482 98% | 1119 ? 49% | |
Score Write | 368 | 1567 326% | 1018 177% | 254 -31% | 2183 493% | 1263 ? 243% | |
Score Total | 1441 | 3573 148% | 1797 25% | 834 -42% | 4359 202% | 2925 ? 103% | |
Copy ISO MB/s | 733 | 1430 95% | 961 31% | 1350 ? 84% | |||
Copy Program MB/s | 495.3 | 782 58% | 753 52% | 431 ? -13% | |||
Copy Game MB/s | 185.2 | 1177 536% | 896 384% | 892 ? 382% | |||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 87% /
109% | 33% /
45% | -34% /
-33% | 124% /
138% | 27% /
27% |
* ... smaller is better
Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics card
Dell refrains from using a dedicated GPU in the Inspiron 13 5301. Instead, the manufacturer utilizes the CPU's onboard graphics. As is well known, though, the 11th generation Iris Xe Graphics with 80 EUs (Tiger Lake) offers a considerably higher performance than the old Iris Plus G7 of the Ice Lake generation. The clock rate is between 400 and 1,300 MHz, and the clock rate of the 1 GB graphics memory is 1,600 MHz. In our tests, the GPU was supplied with a maximum of 21 watts, meaning that Dell isn't making full use of the 25-watt TDP limit.
In the 3DMark benchmarks, the review sample usually manages to position itself above the GPU average. However, the same graphics unit performs a little better in the Dell XPS 13 9305 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s.
On battery power, the device achieves a score of 5,182 points in 3DMark 11 and is therefore only very slightly behind the score obtained with the laptop plugged in. Consequently, Dell hardly throttles the GPU on battery power.
3DMark 11 Performance | 5711 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 79338 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 14751 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 3750 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 1367 points | |
Help |
Gaming performance
It should be clear to everyone that the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is not a gaming laptop. This is also confirmed by the corresponding benchmarks, where the device sometimes finishes just below the GPU average and at the bottom of the test field.
In The Witcher 3 and other games like Dota 2 Reborn and X-Plane 11, it only achieves playable frame rates at the lowest graphics settings. This might be enough for a short on-the-go session of a rather older game or a less demanding favorite. But nothing more (as expected)...
The frame rates in The Witcher 3 remain constant over the test period and are slightly above the level reached by the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s.
The Witcher 3 FPS diagram
low | med. | high | ultra | |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 60.6 | 40.2 | 22.9 | 11.5 |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 68.2 | 34 | 32.3 | 40.2 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 28.3 | 17.4 | 10.7 | |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 40.3 | 31.9 | 28.2 |
Emissions: The Inspiron 13 isn't particularly loud even under full load
Noise emissions
In the test, the Inspiron 13 5301 is virtually inaudible in idle usage and under low load (e.g. office work). It's very quiet and therefore also well-suited for libraries and comparably silent environments.
However, when the built-in hardware is put under stress, the fan kicks in audibly. However, it doesn't become too obtrusive with a maximum of 42 dB(A), since the hardware is throttled quite quickly when too much heat is generated. The fan is usually pretty steady when it's running. This is much more pleasant than if it were constantly changing its speed and consequently its volume. We did not notice any other noises, such as coil whine, in our test device.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 26 / 27.5 / 36.4 dB(A) |
Load |
| 41.6 / 41.8 dB(A) |
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30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
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Temperature
Most areas of the device are barely above room temperature in idle usage, only breaking the 30 °C (~86 °F) mark in the top area. Under load, e.g. during gaming, the keyboard area gets very uncomfortably warm, especially at the important WASD keys. The device is at a disadvantage in this regard, because heat is not dissipated at the back, but the vents are located in the area of the hinges and in front of the opened monitor instead. The remaining areas practically don't differ from the idle temperatures.
After the CPU and GPU ran at full performance for a short period of time in our stress test, the clock rates gradually started to fall. The CPU then runs briefly at around 1,500 MHz at 86 °C (~187 °F), while the GPU runs at 900 MHz and 92 °C (~198 °F). Over the long term, the CPU settles at around 1,000 MHz and a temperature of 69 °C (~156 °F), the GPU at 600 MHz and about 70 °C (~158 °F). There were brief moments where the GPU wasn't supplied with any voltage.
This means that Dell slows down the hardware quite a bit in order to get heat development under control. However, we didn't notice any limitations in everyday use during our test, since load levels such as in our stress test aren't likely to be among the usual use cases of the Dell Inspiron 13 5301.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.6 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 39.3 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.3 °C / 85 F, compared to the device average of 30.8 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.4 °C / 81.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.2 °C / 82.8 F (+0.8 °C / 1.5 F).
Speakers
The two speakers are located on the bottom left and right, directing sound downwards as a result. Therefore, sound can be significantly muffled when the device is placed on the lap, which isn't that bad due to the fairly high maximum volume.
Sound is relatively thin and hardly offers any bass. It reproduces mids well, while trebles are overblown. In terms of its class average, the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 falls pretty much in the middle of the subnotebooks that we have tested so far.
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 24.8% lower than median
(-) | bass is not linear (15% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 49% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 35% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 6% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 91% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 4% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 95% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Energy management: Small battery = poor battery life
Energy consumption
The Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is more power-hungry than all comparison models in idle usage. However, it's quite frugal under load and consumes less than most of its competitors. With a maximum power consumption of 39 watts, the 45-watt power adapter has sufficient capacity.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
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Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, , IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM9A1 MZVL2512HCJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | HP Envy 13-ba1475ng i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, Samsung PM991 MZALQ256HAJD, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW i7-1165G7, GeForce MX350, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR, IPS, 2560x1600, 14.5" | Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Average of class Subnotebook | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Power Consumption | 7% | 9% | -7% | -9% | -5% | -12% | |
Idle Minimum * | 4.4 | 3.2 27% | 3.4 23% | 3.5 20% | 3.1 30% | 4.46 ? -1% | 4.31 ? 2% |
Idle Average * | 9.1 | 6.7 26% | 4.9 46% | 6.1 33% | 7.3 20% | 7.38 ? 19% | 7.33 ? 19% |
Idle Maximum * | 11 | 10.5 5% | 5.7 48% | 8.7 21% | 9 18% | 9.24 ? 16% | 9.09 ? 17% |
Load Average * | 37.1 | 28.5 23% | 39.6 -7% | 46 -24% | 47 -27% | 36.6 ? 1% | 44.9 ? -21% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 36.8 | 28.5 23% | 45 -22% | 46 -25% | |||
Load Maximum * | 39 | 64 -64% | 64.4 -65% | 66 -69% | 65.4 -68% | 61.7 ? -58% | 68.7 ? -76% |
* ... smaller is better
The Witcher 3 energy consumption
Battery life
The Dell Inspiron 13 5301's battery runtimes aren't good enough to achieve good rates in our battery tests. In the idle score, this is partly due to the already mentioned high average consumption. However, it's even more decisive that the battery of 40 Wh is much smaller than in the other comparison devices, which are equipped with batteries of over 50 Wh. The HP Envy 13 and the Dell XPS 13, among others, prove that the compact case can't be to blame for this.
As a result, our review sample has to give way to all the other devices in the battery life rating. Nevertheless, one battery charge is certainly enough to browse the web for about 6 hours or to stream a movie. However, it won't make it through a whole workday without needing a power outlet.
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 40 Wh | Dell XPS 13 9305 Core i5 FHD i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 52 Wh | HP Envy 13-ba1475ng i7-1165G7, GeForce MX450, 51 Wh | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s-ITL-20V90003GE i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 55 Wh | Dell Inspiron 14 7400-VY8JW i7-1165G7, GeForce MX350, 52 Wh | Average of class Subnotebook | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Battery Runtime | 83% | 74% | 64% | 22% | 142% | |
Reader / Idle | 704 | 1526 117% | 941 34% | 1882 ? 167% | ||
H.264 | 263 | 592 125% | 963 ? 266% | |||
WiFi v1.3 | 358 | 554 55% | 624 74% | 645 80% | 438 22% | 757 ? 111% |
Load | 99 | 175 77% | 115 16% | 122 ? 23% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict on the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 review
The 0D0XN configuration of the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 makes a good impression in terms of looks and quality. However, it reveals a few disappointments in our test.
For example, the battery isn't particularly large, which prevents good scores in terms of battery runtimes. However, endurance is an important factor for a compact subnotebook like this one when it's expected to be a suitable everyday companion as a work device, for example.
The performance in our benchmarks is solid, but it doesn't always reach the average rates of the Intel Core i5-1135G7 and the Iris Xe Graphics GPU. There are also better devices when it comes to the display, despite the fact that brightness is sufficient for working outdoors thanks to the matte display.
Overall, Dell delivers a solid 13.3-inch subnotebook with the Inspiron 13 5301. It's not brilliant in any discipline, but it's not completely disappointing in any area either, and it offers a solid overall package from a well-known manufacturer for a modest MSRP of 699 Euros (~$824). However, the Dell Inspiron 13 5301 is unable to hold a candle to the Dell XPS 13 9305 in most areas, a device that is about 300 Euros (~$354) more expensive, or to the only slightly more expensive Lenovo ThinkBook 13s - both of which have the same CPU/GPU combination.
Price and availability
Dell Inspiron 13 5301-0D0XN
- 07/12/2021 v7 (old)
Marcus Schwarten