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Dell Inspiron 13 5379 (i5-8250U, UHD 620) Convertible Review

Old on the outside, new on the inside. Dell has updated the Inspiron 13 5379 with an Intel 8th generation Kaby Lake processor. This is the only noteworthy change though. Aesthetically, everything remains the same, including the I/O. In this review we will be clarifying what performance you should expect from the Dell Inspiron 13 5379.

Our test device comes with an Intel Core-i5 8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620, 8GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. The Inspiron 13 5379 has a 1,920 x 1,080 touch enabled display too. Dell varies its pricing not only according to hardware, but also to what version of Windows 10 is chosen. Our test device came with Windows 10 Home pre-installed, but it is worth noting that for an additional charge Windows 10 Pro is available too.

We compare the Inspiron 13 5379 with similarly equipped devices and with its predecessor that comes with an i7-6500U processor. Our comparison devices are the Acer Spin 5 and the Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB, which are also equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U.
We have also included a Yoga 720-13IKB in our comparison as it has a processor that is available for the Inspiron 13 5379 too.

Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573 (Inspiron 13 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4, Single-Channel
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, Capacitive, BOE BOE06A7, IPS, 360° foldable hinge, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, 256 GB 
, 200 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Combined audio connection, Card Reader: SD, Sensors: Gyroscope
Networking
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20.5 x 325 x 225 ( = 0.81 x 12.8 x 8.86 in)
Battery
42 Wh Lithium-Ion, Three cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p, 1MP
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.62 kg ( = 57.14 oz / 3.57 pounds), Power Supply: 275 g ( = 9.7 oz / 0.61 pounds)
Price
977 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Since nothing has changed aesthetically compared to its predecessor, we instead refer you to our review of the Inspiron 13 5368. Our impression of the case in 2016 still stands today. The plastic case lacks rigidity while there is still a large gap between the display and the base when using the device in tablet mode. It is also worth noting that the device is both the heaviest and the thickest convertible among our comparison devices.

Size comparison

325 mm / 12.8 inch 225 mm / 8.86 inch 20.5 mm / 0.807 inch 1.6 kg3.57 lbs324.8 mm / 12.8 inch 224.4 mm / 8.83 inch 20.4 mm / 0.803 inch 1.6 kg3.56 lbs324.4 mm / 12.8 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs310 mm / 12.2 inch 213 mm / 8.39 inch 10 mm / 0.3937 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs300 mm / 11.8 inch 205 mm / 8.07 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.2 kg2.65 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The Inspiron 13 5379 continues the basic and somewhat dated selection of ports reported in our review of its two-year-old predecessor. While USB-C would have been a nice addition, the device does come with a full-sized SD card reader and an HDMI port.

Left side: Power, HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, combined audio connection
Left side: Power, HDMI, 2 x USB 3.0, combined audio connection
Right side: Power button, volume button, SD-card reader, 1 x USB 2.0, cable lock
Right side: Power button, volume button, SD-card reader, 1 x USB 2.0, cable lock

SD card reader

SD card performance has marginally improved compared with the Inspiron 13 5368. While performance is still average, it is at least on par with laptops in its class. SD cards protrude only 1 mm from the case too. During testing our reference card, the Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II, achieved an average data transfer rate of just over 28 MB/s.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
 
75.6 MB/s +164%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.6 MB/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23 MB/s -20%
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
20.4 MB/s -29%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
 
86.1 MB/s +198%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.9 MB/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
25.2 MB/s -13%
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.73 MB/s -14%

Communication

In terms of Wi-Fi performance, the Inspiron 13 5379 is definitively faster than its 2016 counterpart, offering send and receive speeds of almost 635 MBit/s and 600 MBit/s respectively. The Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 Wi-Fi card with 2 x 2 antennas is clearly well implemented here. The device comes with Bluetooth 4.2.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
676 MBit/s +6%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
635 MBit/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
580 MBit/s -9%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
516 MBit/s -19%
iperf3 receive AX12
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
597 MBit/s
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
532 MBit/s -11%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
528 MBit/s -12%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
308 MBit/s -48%

Accessories

Dell offers no accessories specifically for the Inspiron 13 5379. Every device comes with one year's worth of free Dropbox storage limited to 20 GB. Unfortunately, McAfee anti-virus comes pre-installed as a trial version, the lack of which we praised the Inspiron's predecessor for in our 2016 review. No other programs come pre-installed though.

Maintenance

We refer to our review of the Dell Inspiron 13 5368 for an overview of maintenance options with the Inspiron 13 5379.

Maintenance options
Maintenance options

Warranty

Every Inspiron 13 5379 comes with one year's hardware support as standard; this includes collecting and repairing the device. The cover can also be extended to four years at an extra cost.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input devices

Since Dell has left the Inspiron 13 5379's input devices unchanged too, we refer you again to our review of the Inspiron 13 5368.

Keyboard and touch pad
Keyboard and touch pad
Keyboard backlighting
Keyboard backlighting

Display

Subpixel array
Subpixel array
Backlight bleed
Backlight bleed

The Inspiron 13 5379 comes with a glossy IPS touch display with a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. The panel has ten-point multi-touch and palm rejection too. Matte screens are rare in this class, with most competition manufacturers opting for glossy displays. It is worth noting that Dell does not offer alternative displays for the Inspiron 13 5379 either.

The average screen brightness is high enough for clear reading of whatever is on the screen, while reflections can be compensated for, especially when the device is being used indoors. The brightness is very uneven at the bottom of the screen, with significant backlight bleed obvious in dark rooms, although, this would be hardly noticeable in daily use.

292
cd/m²
305
cd/m²
246
cd/m²
275
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
258
cd/m²
261
cd/m²
276
cd/m²
260
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE BOE06A7 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 305 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 271.9 cd/m² Minimum: 13.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 276 cd/m²
Contrast: 856:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.57 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.66 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
61% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
39% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
42.6% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
61.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
41.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.53
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
BOE BOE06A7, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
BOE CQ NV133FHM-N61, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
LC133LF102, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Unknown, , 1920x1200, 12.20
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
AUO B133HAB, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
53%
62%
52%
-6%
Display P3 Coverage
41.2
67.8
65%
69.8
69%
64.4
56%
38.88
-6%
sRGB Coverage
61.7
88.2
43%
94.6
53%
90.8
47%
57.7
-6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
42.6
64.4
51%
69.3
63%
65.4
54%
40.17
-6%
Response Times
23%
143%
13%
4%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
45 ?(24, 21)
48 ?(26, 22)
-7%
49 ?(30, 19)
-9%
35.6 ?(17.2, 18.4)
21%
44 ?(20, 24)
2%
Response Time Black / White *
33 ?(20, 13)
35 ?(19, 16)
-6%
27 ?(15, 12)
18%
28 ?(14.8, 13.2)
15%
31 ?(15, 16)
6%
PWM Frequency
192 ?(90)
350 ?(90)
82%
1000 ?(20)
421%
198.4 ?(99)
3%
Screen
16%
31%
-3%
7%
Brightness middle
274
297
8%
295
8%
348.8
27%
240
-12%
Brightness
272
277
2%
276
1%
339
25%
229
-16%
Brightness Distribution
81
87
7%
88
9%
87
7%
92
14%
Black Level *
0.32
0.33
-3%
0.27
16%
0.4
-25%
0.24
25%
Contrast
856
900
5%
1093
28%
872
2%
1000
17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.57
4.93
11%
2.97
47%
7
-26%
4.75
15%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
13.48
8.39
38%
5.67
58%
16.2
-20%
9.09
33%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.66
4.84
-4%
3.12
33%
10.1
-117%
4.3
8%
Gamma
2.53 87%
2.5 88%
2.45 90%
2.22 99%
2.5 88%
CCT
7010 93%
6894 94%
6676 97%
9065 72%
5893 110%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
39
58
49%
62
59%
58.7
51%
36.79
-6%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
61
88
44%
94
54%
90.9
49%
57.39
-6%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
31% / 24%
79% / 58%
21% / 11%
2% / 4%

* ... smaller is better

Color space coverage sRGB - 61%
Color space coverage sRGB - 61%
Color space coverage AdobeRGB - 39%
Color space coverage AdobeRGB - 39%

Our test device keeps up with the average for its class. Colors look pale and blacks look slightly gray. While the black value and contrast levels are competitive, the Inspiron 13 5379 lags with respect to color reproduction. Dell has only minimally improved this compared with the Inspiron 13 5368. We detected PWM during our tests too, measured at 192 Hz when at 90 percent brightness. Display flicker at this frequency will quickly irritate most eyes.

CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Grayscale
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Saturation
CalMAN - Color fidelity
CalMAN - Color fidelity

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
33 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 20 ms rise
↘ 13 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 87 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
45 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 24 ms rise
↘ 21 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 73 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 192 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 192 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 192 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The Inspiron 13 5379 has good viewing angles. When used in a dark room the screen can be seen from practically any angle without picture or color distortions. The same cannot be said when using the Inspiron outside. The glossy reflection inducing screen inhibits being able to read content clearly. This lack of readability even extends to using the device in the shade. The highly reflective screen makes it difficult to recognize what is on the screen. We would therefore have concerns about effectively using the Inspiron 13 5379 outside on a sunny day. 

Viewing angles
Viewing angles
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Performance

Our test device is equipped with an Intel Kaby Lake 8th generation processor. The Core i5-8250U is supported by integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD. The combination of this hardware means the Inspiron 13 5379 is capable of more demanding tasks and could even be used to play older games to a good standard.

 

Processor

Our test device comes with Intel's quad-core Core i5-8250U. Processing power is limited by the Inspiron’s running temperature. The processor can turbo clock up to 3.5 GHz at 15 W thermal design power (TDP) and has a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz to save energy and reduce heat. The i5-8250U can also use Hyperthreading to process up to eight threads simultaneously.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The Inspiron 13 5379 achieved above average results in a single pass of Cinebench R15. It is just over ten percent ahead of its predecessor in a single pass, with the lead extending to almost fifty percent on multiple passes. Not everything is rosy though as our endurance tests show the limitations of having a 15 W quad-core CPU in a laptop case. Performance falls sharply after a short time before dropping further to an average after about fifteen minutes of testing. This throttling is not an issue exclusive to the Inspiron 13 5379 though as this behavior is consistent across our comparison devices with Core i5-8250U's onboard.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points 0%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
Intel Core i7-6500U
130 Points -10%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i7-8550U
109 Points -24%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel Core i5-8250U
611 Points
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel Core i5-8250U
566 Points -7%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
534 Points -13%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i7-8550U
407 Points -33%
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
Intel Core i7-6500U
312 Points -49%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
144 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
611 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
41.53 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

The Inspiron 13 5379's system performance has not drastically improved over our two-year-old 5368 test devices. It is only fifty points ahead of its predecessor in the PCMark 8 Work benchmark, while the older model even marginally beats its successor in the PCMark 8 Home benchmark. Results do fall within an expected margin though, with the real advantage of 8th generation Kaby Lake chips being their energy efficiency and power per-watt. 

The Inspiron 13 5379 runs smoothly in daily use with no visible lag or overly long load times. The performance of the Core i5-8250U in other systems can be found on our CPU benchmark page.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
3815 Points +6%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3733 Points +4%
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
3699 Points +3%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3592 Points
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3197 Points -11%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
4685 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4621 Points
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
4577 Points -1%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4563 Points -1%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2699 Points -42%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3592 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4621 points
Help

Storage Devices

Dell has installed a slow Micron-1100 SSD in our test device, and as such, comparative performance is correspondingly poor. This performance gap is relative though, as programs still open quickly and the SSD is still faster than traditional HDD's

The relative performance of the Micron-1100 SSD can be found on our HDD / SSD benchmark page.

Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
167%
58%
43%
Read Seq
447.9
1345
200%
462.7
3%
479
7%
Write Seq
304.8
569
87%
439.9
44%
270.1
-11%
Read 512
293.7
1041
254%
325.2
11%
428.3
46%
Write 512
157
547
248%
361.9
131%
267.9
71%
Read 4k
14.03
38.42
174%
27.52
96%
23.77
69%
Write 4k
63.3
127.1
101%
91.6
45%
81.4
29%
Read 4k QD32
165.9
416.4
151%
247.3
49%
333.6
101%
Write 4k QD32
155.1
337.5
118%
292
88%
200.9
30%
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Sequential Read: 447.9 MB/s
Sequential Write: 304.8 MB/s
512K Read: 293.7 MB/s
512K Write: 157 MB/s
4K Read: 14.03 MB/s
4K Write: 63.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 165.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 155.1 MB/s

Graphics card

The Inspiron 13 5379 only comes with one option for graphics, that being Intel's integrated UHD Graphics 620. The available video memory and processing speed rely heavily on the RAM with which the UHD Graphics 620 is equipped; dual-channel RAM reaps huge benefits. Our test device only comes with single-channel though, which means that the GPU will not perform at the peak of its powers. This could be rectified through retrofitting dual-channel RAM.

The Inspiron 13 5379 is well behind the competition in the 3DMark benchmarks. The GPU performance gap that single and dual-channel RAM causes is clear when comparing the device to the Acer Spin 5 or the Lenovo Miix 520. While the gap is not huge, the effect that the choice of RAM has on GPU performance is striking. It is therefore worth bearing in mind that the 5379's GPU performance could be improved with a simple change of RAM. The performance of Intel's UHD Graphics 620 can be compared on our GPU benchmark page.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1765 Points +18%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1617 Points +8%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1607 Points +7%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1497 Points
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
1490 Points 0%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
9252 Points +15%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8654 Points +7%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8631 Points +7%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
8053 Points
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i7-6500U
7945 Points -1%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1112 Points +19%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1049 Points +12%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1030 Points +10%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
934 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
1643 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7244 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
876 points
Help

Gaming Performance

The Inspiron 13 5379 performs as expected when gaming. Old games, such as Bioshock Infinite, will run smoothly at medium quality. Casual games found on the Windows Store also proved no problem for our test device. Our test results further demonstrate the issue of pairing the UHD Graphics 620 with single-channel RAM. Our comparison devices equipped with dual-channel RAM achieve up to fifteen percent better FPS when gaming than the Inspiron 13 5379.

The performance of Intel's UHD Graphics 620 in other games can be compared on our games benchmark page.

BioShock Infinite
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
8.4 fps +11%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
8 fps +5%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
7.6 fps
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7.4 fps -3%
1366x768 High Preset
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
27.5 fps +26%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
25.9 fps +19%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
24.6 fps +13%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
24.1 fps +11%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
21.8 fps
1366x768 Medium Preset
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
32.2 fps +19%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
31.4 fps +16%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
29.9 fps +10%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
29.3 fps +8%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
27.1 fps
1280x720 Very Low Preset
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
59.9 fps +21%
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
59.8 fps +21%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
56.1 fps +14%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
54.3 fps +10%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
49.4 fps
Thief
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
12.6 fps
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
15.1 fps +31%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
11.5 fps
1024x768 Very Low Preset
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
24.3 fps +7%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
22.8 fps
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
11.7 fps
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
11 fps -6%
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
11 fps -6%
1024x768 Lowest Preset
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
21.3 fps +2%
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
20.8 fps
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8
17.3 fps -17%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 49.4 27.1 21.8 7.6
Thief (2014) 22.8 11.5
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 20.8 11.7

Emissions

System Noise

The fan in our test device is silent in normal use. Accordingly, our microphone will only measure ambient sounds. The fan only comes on when needed and turns off as soon as the device has cooled down. The fan also adjusts its running time according to the time needed to cool the device and does not just stay on for a fixed amount of time. While the fan remains quiet at 35 dB(A), its whirring sound could be annoying for some.

Noise Level

Idle
30.1 / 30.1 / 30.1 dB(A)
Load
33 / 35 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.1 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2043.343.741.243.32544.743.839.944.73131.130.931.831.14031.831.931.731.85030.430.72930.46330.232.131.130.28029.228.628.729.210029.929.53029.912525.925.825.525.916028.128.125.428.120024.325.424.424.325025.526.223.225.531523.625.322.423.640023.624.721.523.650022.224.120.222.263021.323.119.921.380021.624.91921.6100021.924.218.521.912502224.117.92216002324.517.223200023.325.71723.3250021.624.416.821.6315018.52216.818.5400017.618.916.717.6500017.51816.617.5630017.417.816.717.4800017.518.316.817.51000017.217.316.717.21250017.117.216.717.11600017.417.216.817.4SPL333530.133N1.92.21.41.9median 21.9median 24.2median 17.9median 21.9Delta3.42.82.33.4hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseDell Inspiron 13-5379-9573

Temperature

Surface temperatures always remain reasonable. When idle, the hottest area of the device measured at just under 35 °C (95 °F), with the same area reaching 60 °C (140 °F) under load. We found the hottest area to be on the rear of the device next to the middle of the display hinge. Happily, the palm rest remain pleasantly cool in both situations.

In our one stress test, the system is subjected to extreme workloads relatively quickly. The system throttles heavily until the fan starts to cool the device. Core temperatures then settle at just under 80 °C (176 °F). It is worth bearing in mind that this is an extreme stress test and not something that would normally occur. The system should not throttle due to heat from daily use.

Max. Load
 39.3 °C
103 F
43.2 °C
110 F
39.4 °C
103 F
 
 36.7 °C
98 F
41.9 °C
107 F
30.1 °C
86 F
 
 25.3 °C
78 F
26.3 °C
79 F
26.9 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 43.2 °C = 110 F
Average: 34.3 °C = 94 F
44.8 °C
113 F
57.8 °C
136 F
45.7 °C
114 F
27.9 °C
82 F
38.2 °C
101 F
38 °C
100 F
26.5 °C
80 F
26 °C
79 F
26.2 °C
79 F
Maximum: 57.8 °C = 136 F
Average: 36.8 °C = 98 F
Power Supply (max.)  52.7 °C = 127 F | Room Temperature 22.7 °C = 73 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.3 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.2 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 57.8 °C / 136 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 29.9 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.7 °C / 83.7 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-0.6 °C / -1.1 F).
Thermal image at idle - top case
Thermal image at idle - top case
Thermal image at ideal - bottom case
Thermal image at ideal - bottom case
Thermal image under load - top case
Thermal image under load - top case
Thermal image under load - bottom case
Thermal image under load - bottom case

Speakers

The Inspiron 13 5379 has a relatively balanced sound, but one which has no bass, and a low maximum volume. Our editorial staff was left with the impression that the sound tended to become tinny when listening to the device for extended periods of time. In daily use, the device could still easily be used for occasional audio playback though.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs204841.2482544.939.944.93134.131.834.14032.731.732.75033.92933.96334.431.134.48034.628.734.610036.23036.212536.525.536.516040.425.440.420044.524.444.525049.223.249.231550.622.450.640048.321.548.350048.120.248.163048.119.948.180053.11953.1100053.418.553.4125061.617.961.6160064.117.264.12000611761250058.316.858.3315057.416.857.4400055.916.755.9500055.416.655.4630061.616.761.6800059.516.859.51000058.816.758.81250051.416.751.41600051.616.851.6SPL71.130.171.1N26.51.426.5median 53.1median 17.9median 53.1Delta6.32.36.335.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Inspiron 13-5379-9573Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (64.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 10.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.3% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 52% of all tested devices in this class were better, 12% similar, 36% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 54% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 39% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, 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
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram comparison - checkboxes are selectable and de-selectable

Power Management

Energy consumption

The Inspiron 13 5379's energy consumption is on par with comparable devices. When idle the maximum power consumption is under 9 W. This rises to just above 42 W under load. While this is close to the maximum wattage of the bundled 45 W power supply, there should be no issues when charging the device when it is operating under load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.22 / 0.32 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.2 / 5.9 / 8.8 Watt
Load midlight 31.2 / 42.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK), IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1200, 12.20
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
6500U, HD Graphics 520, Toshiba THNSNK256GCS8, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
-14%
-5%
-31%
3%
Idle Minimum *
3.2
3.8
-19%
3.9
-22%
5.5
-72%
4.4
-38%
Idle Average *
5.9
8.4
-42%
8.2
-39%
8.3
-41%
6.1
-3%
Idle Maximum *
8.8
9.7
-10%
8.8
-0%
11.5
-31%
6.8
23%
Load Average *
31.2
36
-15%
28.5
9%
38.3
-23%
29
7%
Load Maximum *
42.2
36
15%
30.7
27%
37.7
11%
31.9
24%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

While the Inspiron 13 5379 has markedly improved battery life over its predecessor, it still is only average compared to the competition. The more energy efficient Core i5-8250U helps the 13 5379 last five and a half hours in our Wi-Fi test, an improvement of ninety minutes over the Inspiron 13 5368. On the other hand, the Lenovo Yoga 720 and the Acer Spin 5 last significantly longer than the Inspiron 13 5379.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
15h 18min
WiFi Websurfing
5h 24min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 38min
Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 53.9 Wh
Lenovo Miix 520-12IKB 81CG
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 38 Wh
Dell Inspiron 13 5368
6500U, HD Graphics 520, 42 Wh
Battery Runtime
44%
54%
-16%
-22%
Reader / Idle
918
739
-19%
674
-27%
WiFi v1.3
324
466
44%
500
54%
335
3%
240
-26%
Load
98
66
-33%
86
-12%

Verdict

Pros

+ smooth system performance
+ easy maintenance
+ quiet operation

Cons

- highly reflective display
- PWM causes strong display flicker
- low average colour space
- low brightness
- very thick - difficult to use in tablet mode
The Dell Inspiron 13 5379, courtesy of notebooksbillger.de
The Dell Inspiron 13 5379, courtesy of notebooksbillger.de

The Inspiron 13 5379 is more of a laptop than a tablet. The Inspiron's dimensions add to this impression. Folding the display 360° creates an extremely thick tablet, the use of which is frequently disturbed by the gap between the display and the base. While our review sample looks outdated, everything is up to date internally.

"If you only use tablet mode occasionally, or you would like to use a laptop supplemented by a touch screen, then the Inspiron 13 5379 would be a good choice. Overall, a powerful and maintainable convertible with an Intel 8th generation Kaby Lake processor."

The Inspiron 13 5379 is a capable device that performs all office tasks smoothly. It is also suitable for occasional games too, but only those that are older or from the Windows Store. The ease with which the device can be maintained or repaired ensures good long-term system performance.

Dell Inspiron 13-5379-9573 - 02/12/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
78 / 98 → 80%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
79%
Connectivity
48 / 80 → 60%
Weight
68 / 35-78 → 76%
Battery
84%
Display
79%
Games Performance
0 / 68 → 0%
Application Performance
83 / 87 → 95%
Temperature
87%
Noise
94%
Audio
69 / 91 → 76%
Camera
31 / 85 → 37%
Average
73%
80%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Inspiron 13 5379 (i5-8250U, UHD 620) Convertible Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-02-16 (Update: 2019-03-25)