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Dell Inspiron 17-7786 (i7-8565U, 16 GB, 17-inch Touch, MX 150) Convertible Review

Gigantic convertible meets Whiskey Lake! The large 17-inch Dell convertible has received a CPU upgrade. In addition to the internal update, the case was also completely redesigned. Find out in this review whether these changes make sense and whether the new Whiskey-Lake-U CPU can ensure a higher performance.

Coffee Lake is now followed by Whiskey Lake. This is the technical update under the hood of the huge convertible from Dell. However, the manufacturer has also reworked the design and slightly modified the base. As before, the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 is available in three basic configurations that really only differ in their storage solutions.

The Intel Core i7-8565U, as well as the GeForce MX150 and the 16 GB of DDR4-RAM always remain the same, which unfortunately means that there is no affordable device below 1000 Euros (~$1145; $950 in the US). A configuration based on an Intel Core i5-8265U would surely be appreciated by many users.

Together with the storage solution of a combined SSD and HDD, our test unit costs 1328 Euros (~$1521; $1150 in the US) in Dell's online shop. However, with only 128 GB, the SSD is very small, but on the other hand it supports NVMe. Considering the preinstalled Windows 10 Home version, only 50 GB of storage remains for the user on the fast SSD (note that in the US, another configuration with a 512 GB SSD is available for $1300). At 1228 Euros (~$1406; $950 in the US), the most affordable Dell Inspiron 17 7000 costs exactly 100 Euros (~$114) less and only offers the 1-TB hard drive as the storage solution instead. But those who decide for the more affordable device can easily upgrade the convertible with additional storage later. The same goes for the working memory. All the devices are equipped with one 16-GB module.

Since as a 17-inch convertible, the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 is a rarity, as with its predecessor we decided to test the device against multimedia laptops. We are listing all the candidates in the table below.

Dell Inspiron 17 7773 Dell Inspiron 17 7778 HP Envy 17 Acer Aspire 5 A517 Asus VivoBook Pro 17
CPU Intel Core i7-8550U Intel Core i7-6500U Intel Core i5-8250U Intel Core i7-8550U Intel Core i7-8550U
GPU Nvidia GeForce MX150 Nvidia GeForce 940MX Nvidia GeForce MX150 Nvidia GeForce MX 150 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050
Display 17.3-in 1920x1080 17.3-in 1920x1080 17.3-in 1920x1080 17.3-in 1920x1080 17.3-in 1920x1080
RAM 16 GB 16 GB 8 GB 8 GB 16 GB
Storage 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 512 GB SSD 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD 512 GB SSD
Evaluation 84% 79% 85% 85% 83%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 (Inspiron 17 7000 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8565U 4 x 1.8 - 4.6 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 1532 MHz, Memory: 6000 MHz, GDDR5, Optimus
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-2400, 1 of 2 slots occupied
Display
17.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 127 PPI, 10-finger multi-touch, LG Philips, 173W4F, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Cannon Lake-U PCH-LP Premium
Storage
KBG30ZMS128G, 128 GB 
, M.2 NVMe SSD + Toshiba MQ04ABF100, 1TB HDD, 5400 RPM, 1050 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek Audio
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 USB 3.1 Gen2, 1 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: 3.5 audio combo port, Card Reader: SD, SDHC, SDXC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: gyroscope
Networking
Intel Wireless-AC 9560 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 16.09 x 412.5 x 274 ( = 0.63 x 16.24 x 10.79 in)
Battery
56 Wh, 3500 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: 6-row chiclet (QWERTZ), Keyboard Light: yes, 65-Watt power supply, MacAfee LifeSafe, Maxx Audio Pro,, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.817 kg ( = 99.37 oz / 6.21 pounds), Power Supply: 323 g ( = 11.39 oz / 0.71 pounds)
Price
1328 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - useful changes

Compared to the previous model of the Dell Inspiron 17 7000, the manufacturer now also took a look at the case and reworked it. The surfaces of the case lid and bottom of the base are made of brushed aluminum, while the top of the base is finished in a smooth aluminum surface. However, the materials used still appear of high-quality, although we preferred the slightly darker color of the predecessor. 

In terms of its stability, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 strikes a good figure. The base and also the display lid can only be twisted with a significant use of force. The display lid also profits from the touch display, which also offers additional stability thanks to its glass surface.

The pressure test produces a similar impression. While the good choice of materials offers good stability, due to its size we notice some slight give in the central area when using some force. However, during regular typing, the base does not yield.

The visual changes compared to the predecessor become apparent mainly after opening the case. While the keyboard of the Inspiron 17-7773 was still at the same level as the palm rest, it is now set slightly lower in the base. This offers an advantage particularly in presentation mode, since the device will then sit on the top of the base. Thus the likelihood of damaging the keys becomes lower.

Since this is a convertible, we are not surprised that two 360-degree hinges are used. Both of the hinges hold the display tightly in place. However, due to the weight, they are still unable to prevent some wobble. It is also impossible to open the case with one hand, since there is just too much resistance.

Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Dell Inspiron 17-7786

At 2.8 kg (~6.2 lb), the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 is not very heavy for a 17-inch device. However, if we consider that the device can also be used as a tablet, almost 3 kg is anything but pleasant. For this reason, we rather think of the laptop as a multimedia device with the advantages of a convertible. Comparing it to the other 17-inchers here in our comparison list, all the devices remain close together. But with a thickness of only 16.09 mm (~0.63 in), the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 is even the slimmest device in our test field. The new Dell Inspiron 17 7000 has also become smaller in terms of the width compared to its predecessor.

The 65-Watt power supply adds 323 grams (~0.7 lb) to the weight.

Size Comparison

423.3 mm / 16.7 inch 289.9 mm / 11.4 inch 28.25 mm / 1.112 inch 2.9 kg6.34 lbs416 mm / 16.4 inch 283 mm / 11.1 inch 23.3 mm / 0.917 inch 3 kg6.7 lbs412.5 mm / 16.2 inch 277.5 mm / 10.9 inch 22.6 mm / 0.89 inch 2.9 kg6.33 lbs412.5 mm / 16.2 inch 277.5 mm / 10.9 inch 22.6 mm / 0.89 inch 2.8 kg6.11 lbs411 mm / 16.2 inch 273 mm / 10.7 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 2.3 kg5.17 lbs412.5 mm / 16.2 inch 274 mm / 10.8 inch 16.09 mm / 0.633 inch 2.8 kg6.21 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connections - both sufficient and modern at the same time

The connection equipment of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 is good for a convertible. Basically, the device offers all the important connections that place it on the safe side even in terms of the future. We like that the USB-2.0 connection was removed. Instead, there are now two USB connections that offer USB-3.1 speeds on the right side. On the left side, we can find an additional USB connection with the Type-C format that also allows you to connect external displays via a corresponding adapter. If you do not want to use an adapter, you can also use the HDMI connection that corresponds to the 2.0 standard. All of the connections are spread over the rear area of both sides. 

Left: power, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C with support for DisplayPort and power delivery, headphone/microphone audio combo
Left: power, HDMI 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C with support for DisplayPort and power delivery, headphone/microphone audio combo
Right: SD-card reader, 2x USB 3.1
Right: SD-card reader, 2x USB 3.1
Front: no connections
Front: no connections
Back: fan vents
Back: fan vents

SD-card reader

Unfortunately, Dell did not make any change in the available card reader, which continues to offer only USB-2.0 speeds. Compared to the competitors, this is only sufficient for one of the last places. The Asus VivoBook Pro 17 is also not able to move ahead particularly, since it is also limited by the USB-2.0 standard. The Acer Aspire 5 and the HP Envy 17 are doing better here, both offering a card reader that supports USB 3.0.

We use our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference storage card for this test.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Multimedia
  (17.6 - 205, n=61, last 2 years)
93 MB/s +258%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
74.9 MB/s +188%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
72.2 MB/s +178%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
32 MB/s +23%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.2 MB/s +1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
 
23.2 MB/s -11%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Multimedia
  (16.8 - 266, n=57, last 2 years)
122.4 MB/s +275%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
84 MB/s +158%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
82.9 MB/s +154%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
35.92 MB/s +10%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
32.6 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.5 MB/s -13%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
 
26.25 MB/s -19%

Communication

WLAN module
WLAN module

Dell has equipped the Inspiron 17-7786 with a modern Intel Wireless-AC 9560 module. In addition, the WLAN module supports Bluetooth version 5. Compared to the predecessor, the WLAN transfer rates were significantly improved. While sending, we measured an average data rate of 658 Mb/s, and at 553 Mb/s while receiving, it still was significantly more than in the Inspiron 17-7773 (302 Mb/s).

With its stable performance, our test unit places at the top in the direct comparison, and the Inspiron 17-7786 places significantly above the average in the device class comparison as well.

Unfortunately, the convertible does not offer an Ethernet connection, so there is only the workaround of using an additional adapter. In terms of mobile Internet, users will also have to find an alternative workaround, since an LTE modem is not planned for the Inspiron 17-7786.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Multimedia
  (285 - 1094, n=5, last 2 years)
789 MBit/s +20%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
671 MBit/s +2%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
658 (642min - 669max) MBit/s
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
552 MBit/s -16%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
341 MBit/s -48%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
310 MBit/s -53%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Multimedia
  (625 - 1675, n=5, last 2 years)
1127 MBit/s +104%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
627 MBit/s +13%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
553 (463min - 618max) MBit/s
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
473 MBit/s -14%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
347 MBit/s -37%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
302 MBit/s -45%
03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Dell Inspiron 17-7786; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø553 (463-618)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø658 (642-669)

Security

The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 offers security features in form of a Trusted Platform Module (TPM 2.0). The power button also serves as a fingerprint reader and can be used for Windows login, after it has been set up. MacAfee LifeSafe is already preinstalled as a software solution, and the purchase price includes a 12-month subscription for private users. For a one-time premium of 35 Euros (~$40), you can extend the subscription to 36 months, according to information coming from the Dell shop.

This differentiates the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 slightly from its predecessor, which still included an infrared camera and lacked a fingerprint reader. The manufacturer has also completely removed the option to use a Noble security lock.

Accessories

Dell D6000 Universal Dock (source: Dell)
Dell D6000 Universal Dock (source: Dell)

Dell does not include any accessories in the purchase of the Inspiron 17-7786. In addition to the convertible itself, we only find the corresponding power supply, as well as the quick-start manual and the customary safety instructions. However, you can purchase numerous accessories in the Dell shop later. While the most useful might be the expansion of the connection options using the Dell D6000 docking station (275 Euros, ~$315), the manufacturer also offers the corresponding adapters and bags.

Maintenance

Since our test unit already includes two storage units, the expansion options are limited to only the working memory, where the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 still offers an empty slot, allowing you to expand the RAM up to 32 GB. However, in order to reach the slot, you first have to remove the whole bottom of the case. Unfortunately, the device does not offer a small maintenance cover. To avoid doing any harm while removing the case, you should use suitable prying tools. After the removal, you can reach the built-in components easily, so replacing the storage solution should also not pose any problem.

The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 without the bottom cover
The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 without the bottom cover

Warranty

The purchase price (Dell shop) includes the so-called basic services, which Dell specifies as one-year pickup-and-repair hardware support. The warranty can be extended up to four years, which you can select during the ordering process. If you are not buying the device directly from the manufacturer, you should find out about the warranty offered by the vendor. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.

Input Devices - well-known components

Keyboard

Keyboard of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Keyboard of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Keyboard of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 (illuminated)
Keyboard of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 (illuminated)

Judging by the appearance, Dell has used the same keyboard in the Inspiron 17-7786 as in the predecessor, the 17-7773. Correspondingly, we see the same advantages and disadvantages. While the keys still offer a sufficiently large surface at 15 x 15 mm (~0.6 x 0.6 in), they appear slightly small, due to the dimensions of the device. In addition, the gap between them is not really modest at 4 mm (0.16 in). The keys of the number block turn out even slightly smaller at 13 x 15 mm (~0.5 x 0.6 in). The small stroke is well-suited for the chiclet keyboard, but the pressure point is very slight. The stroke is not as cushioned as in the predecessor, which improves the typing experience overall. The typing noise is pleasantly quiet, even when typing fast. 

Since the keys are now set lower in the base, they are less susceptible to harm in the presentation mode. We also continue to like the easily readable white lettering. In addition, the two-step keyboard illumination helps in bad light conditions.

Touchpad

Touchpad in the Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Touchpad in the Dell Inspiron 17-7786

The ClickPad leaves a very good impression. The edges of the input area are visually emphasized by being milled and polished. At 10.5 x 8 cm (~4.1 x 3.1 in), the input area has the same size as in the Inspiron 17-7773, although there would have been space for a larger ClickPad. The surface is slightly roughened and is sensitive to touch right up to the edges. We did not notice any spots that did not respond accurately in our test unit. The gesture functions can be configured using Windows-10 on-board methods. At the lower edge are the two mouse keys, which have a short stroke and offer a quiet acoustic feedback when they are pressed.

Touchscreen

17-inch touchscreen
17-inch touchscreen

Since the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 is a convertible, the screen also serves as an input device. We did not encounter any problems when using the touch display during the test. The large and smooth surface allows the finger to slide smoothly across and responds to inputs promptly. With slightly moist fingers, the sliding characteristics of the screen are slightly reduced. The touchscreen recognizes up to 10 touch points simultaneously. The large, touch-sensitive display responds to input without any noticeable delays and also handles very fast movements without any problems.

Display - without alternatives and one step back

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid
Clearly visible clouding
Clearly visible clouding

Like with the Dell Inspiron 17-7773 from 2017, Dell also sends the current Inspiron 17 7000 into the competition with only a single display variant. Here, an older LG panel that we already know from the Inspiron 17-7773 is used. The display offers 1920x1080 pixels, which at a diagonal of 17.3 inches corresponds to 127 ppi. There probably will not be a 4K panel even with a new edition of the Inspiron 17 7000.

Our test unit achieved an average brightness of 313 cd/m² in the test. While this is brighter than the Inspiron 17-7773, with a difference of only 23 cd/m², this is hardly noticeable. In terms of the brightness distribution, the LG display achieved an acceptable result at 82%, although there can be some production-related variations as the direct comparison with the Inspiron 17-7773 shows. We did not notice any shading that could be traced back to imperfections in the brightness distribution. On the other hand, there were some visible halos at the edges in a completely black image. In previous generations, Dell had some difficulties with so-called clouding from time to time. However, since this is always a momentary snapshot, it should not necessarily be taken as relevant for the whole range of the production. 

A positive side effect of the LG panel is the lack of PWM to regulate the display brightness. 

301
cd/m²
336
cd/m²
313
cd/m²
309
cd/m²
343
cd/m²
323
cd/m²
282
cd/m²
320
cd/m²
286
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LG Philips, 173W4F tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 343 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 312.6 cd/m² Minimum: 17.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 82 %
Center on Battery: 320 cd/m²
Contrast: 927:1 (Black: 0.37 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.8 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.51 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
81% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
54% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
81.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.19
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
LG Philips, 173W4F, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Chi Mei CMN1738, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
LG Philips LGD 0513 / 173WF4, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
AU Optronics B173HW01 V0, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
LG Display, LP173WF4-SPF5, aSi TFT, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
LP173WF4-SPF5, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Display
10%
5%
5%
3%
6%
Display P3 Coverage
64.8
67.4
4%
67.4
4%
63.9
-1%
66.3
2%
67.9
5%
sRGB Coverage
81.6
91.9
13%
86.3
6%
88
8%
84.2
3%
86.8
6%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
59.7
67.2
13%
63.1
6%
64.3
8%
61.6
3%
63.5
6%
Response Times
-5%
12%
18%
-12%
17%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
38 ?(19, 19)
40 ?(22, 18)
-5%
36 ?(14, 22)
5%
33 ?(15, 18)
13%
41 ?(19, 22)
-8%
30.8 ?(15.6, 15.2)
19%
Response Time Black / White *
27 ?(16, 11)
28 ?(17, 11)
-4%
22 ?(5, 17)
19%
21 ?(11, 10)
22%
31 ?(17, 4)
-15%
23.2 ?(13.2, 10)
14%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(90)
122000 ?(90)
119000 ?(99)
Screen
5%
-13%
3%
16%
0%
Brightness middle
343
323
-6%
327
-5%
352
3%
397
16%
376.2
10%
Brightness
313
290
-7%
314
0%
330
5%
364
16%
355
13%
Brightness Distribution
82
77
-6%
87
6%
88
7%
84
2%
89
9%
Black Level *
0.37
0.21
43%
0.3
19%
0.31
16%
0.29
22%
0.42
-14%
Contrast
927
1538
66%
1090
18%
1135
22%
1369
48%
896
-3%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.8
4.88
-2%
6.75
-41%
4.34
10%
3.88
19%
4.21
12%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
10.35
8.86
14%
11.82
-14%
8.69
16%
8.22
21%
8.31
20%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.51
6.21
-77%
7.91
-125%
5.66
-61%
3.1
12%
5.5
-57%
Gamma
2.19 100%
2.36 93%
2.31 95%
2.29 96%
2.59 85%
2.335 94%
CCT
6188 105%
6620 98%
7642 85%
6326 103%
6570 99%
7056 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
54
60
11%
57
6%
57
6%
55
2%
57
6%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
81
92
14%
86
6%
88
9%
84
4%
87
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.95
Total Average (Program / Settings)
3% / 5%
1% / -6%
9% / 6%
2% / 10%
8% / 4%

* ... smaller is better

Dell Inspiron 17-7786 vs. sRGB (81%)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 vs. sRGB (81%)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 vs. AdobeRGB (54%)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 vs. AdobeRGB (54%)

While the display quality is good, it is often marred by the significant clouding during dark scenes. The DeltaE-2000 deviations that we measured in the state of delivery are very high. In combination with the display brightness, the black value is unable to ensure any top results in the contrast ratio, which at 927:1 places it second to last. Calibration produces improvements of the color-space deviations, and we have linked the corresponding ICC profile. At 81% (sRGB) and 54% (AdobeRGB), the color-space coverage is average, making it merely suitable for amateur image-processing. Professional users should look for a different device.

CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: Grayscale
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: ColorChecker
CalMAN: Saturation
CalMAN: Saturation

The extremely reflective display surface limits outdoor usage significantly. You can clearly see the strong reflections even in the shade. Due to these limitations, we would advise against using the Dell Inspiron 17 outdoors at all.

The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 in the sun
The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 in the sun
The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 in the shade
The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 in the shade

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
27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 11 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 63 % 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
38 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 19 ms rise
↘ 19 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. » 49 % 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 not detected

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 viewing-angle test shows a typical IPS panel, although it demonstrates only minimal problems in the corner pictures. Other displays show significantly worse color distortions here. Overall, the viewing angles in our Dell Inspiron 17-7786 are good, and there are no limitations in everyday operation worth mentioning. 

The viewing angles of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786
The viewing angles of the Dell Inspiron 17-7786

Performance - Whiskey Lake instead of Kaby Lake

For a convertible, the performance of the Dell Inspiron 17 7000 is more than sufficient. The Intel Core i7-8565U, which offers four physical computing cores, makes work really enjoyable. Thanks to NVMe, of course the SSD also provides the necessary performance push. Those who need more storage will be well-served by the 1-TB hard drive. Dell is also not stingy in terms of the working memory, having equipped the convertible with an ample 16 GB. The only small blemish is the limited storage space of the SSD. Sooner or later, an update will probably be necessary here (note that Dell already offers a configuration with 512 GB SSD in the US). Overall, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 offers a good, well-rounded package, and thanks to the dedicated GeForce MX150, the multimedia convertible also offers some gaming performance.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
DPC latencies
HWiNFO
Intel Extreme Utility
Intel Extreme Utility (benchmark)
 

Processor

Intel Core i7-8565U
Intel Core i7-8565U

The Intel Core i7-8565U is a quad-core processor belonging to the Whiskey-Lake series. Compared to the Intel Core i7-8550U, the new processor offers a significantly higher Boost speed. But the TDP and the basic clock speed remained the same. For this reason, the Inspiron 17-7786 is able to stand up against the Inspiron 17-7773 in the single as well as the multithread benchmark of Cinebench R15. Overall, the performance of the processor is above-average.

However, not everything that shines is gold, and this also goes for the performance of the processor in our Cinebench-R15 multi-loop. While our test unit is still able to assert itself in the first run, the performance already begins to drop slightly in the second run. The performance drop becomes much more severe in the 19th and 20th runs, where the result briefly drops to 425 points before it levels out at about 460 points afterwards. With this, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 offers a lower multithread performance than the predecessor model in our Cinebench-R15 multi-loop. We ran this test twice to make sure that there were no other applications or updates causing the performance drops. This was not the case, and the repeated test of the Cinebench-R15 multi-loop produced an almost identical result.

For additional comparisons and benchmarks, see our CPU comparison chart.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630Tooltip
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 Intel Core i7-8565U, Intel Core i7-8565U: Ø516 (424.95-657.14)
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043 Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø516 (503.63-652.06)
HP Envy 17-ae143ng Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel Core i5-8250U: Ø645 (641.52-653)
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø546 (539.34-584.93)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76 Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø539 (515.94-625.61)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (142.6 - 308, n=96, last 2 years)
249 Points +44%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
173 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (138.3 - 193, n=51)
172.5 Points 0%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
172 Points -1%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
171 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
158 Points -9%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
143 Points -17%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
Intel Core i7-6500U
128 Points -26%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (580 - 4703, n=103, last 2 years)
2280 Points +246%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
659 Points
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
653 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
652 Points -1%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
642 Points -3%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (452 - 815, n=52)
612 Points -7%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
585 Points -11%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
Intel Core i7-6500U
308 Points -53%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (2.6 - 3.21, n=3, last 2 years)
2.85 Points +38%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
2.06 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.95 Points -5%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.87 Points -9%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (0.65 - 2.16, n=11)
1.811 Points -12%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.57 Points -24%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Multimedia
  (19 - 31.6, n=3, last 2 years)
24 Points +253%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
7.58 Points +11%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
6.8 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
6.44 Points -5%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (4.09 - 7.4, n=11)
6.31 Points -7%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
4.96 Points -27%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (367 - 459, n=3, last 2 years)
424 Points +87%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
281.8 Points +24%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
257.7 Points +14%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
241.4 Points +6%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (107.6 - 277, n=37)
238 Points +5%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
227 Points
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
224.8 Points -1%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (43921 - 109055, n=42, last 2 years)
86597 Points +136%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
41706 Points +14%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
36742 Points
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
36509 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
35100 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (13935 - 49795, n=42)
34603 Points -6%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (730 - 2622, n=43)
1096 ms * -7%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
Intel Core i7-8550U
1083 ms * -6%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
1041 ms * -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
1026 ms *
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
944 ms * +8%
Average of class Multimedia
  (363 - 1016, n=94, last 2 years)
554 ms * +46%
SPECviewperf 12
1900x1060 Solidworks (sw-03)
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (24.6 - 54.2, n=6)
35.5 fps +42%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
32.6 fps +30%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
24.99 fps
1900x1060 Siemens NX (snx-02)
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (2.68 - 35.1, n=6)
19.2 fps +489%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
4.53 fps +39%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
3.26 fps
1900x1060 Showcase (showcase-01)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
27.04 fps +71%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
15.8 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (5.53 - 19.3, n=6)
13.9 fps -12%
1900x1060 Medical (medical-01)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
16.23 fps +65%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
9.81 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (2.8 - 13.5, n=6)
8.67 fps -12%
1900x1060 Maya (maya-04)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
45.74 fps +43%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
32.06 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (11.6 - 32.1, n=6)
21.6 fps -33%
1900x1060 Energy (energy-01)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
3 fps +512%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (0.22 - 1.69, n=6)
0.867 fps +77%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
0.49 fps
1900x1060 Creo (creo-01)
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (11.5 - 37.9, n=6)
25.7 fps +123%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
17.43 fps +51%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
11.52 fps
1900x1060 Catia (catia-04)
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
25.43 fps +42%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (13.1 - 34.1, n=6)
23.6 fps +32%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
17.85 fps
1900x1060 3ds Max (3dsmax-05)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
23.92 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (12.3 - 29, n=5)
23 fps -4%
SPECviewperf 13
Solidworks (sw-04)
Average of class Multimedia
  (57.6 - 109.6, n=3, last 2 years)
75.9 fps +115%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (31.7 - 56.4, n=7)
43 fps +22%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
35.28 fps
Siemens NX (snx-03)
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (4.87 - 66.1, n=7)
31.8 fps +442%
Average of class Multimedia
  (1.97 - 22.8, n=3, last 2 years)
9.31 fps +59%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
5.87 fps
Showcase (showcase-02)
Average of class Multimedia
  (27.7 - 111.2, n=3, last 2 years)
56.4 fps +259%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (5.49 - 33.7, n=7)
16.9 fps +7%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
15.73 fps
Medical (medical-02)
Average of class Multimedia
  (19.9 - 74.4, n=3, last 2 years)
40.8 fps +382%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (2.26 - 22.8, n=7)
10.5 fps +24%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
8.46 fps
Maya (maya-05)
Average of class Multimedia
  (63.6 - 319, n=3, last 2 years)
152.6 fps +182%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
54.2 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (17.6 - 88.2, n=7)
43.7 fps -19%
Creo (creo-02)
Average of class Multimedia
  (49.1 - 241, n=3, last 2 years)
117.1 fps +332%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (17 - 68.9, n=7)
35.9 fps +32%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
27.12 fps
Catia (catia-05)
Average of class Multimedia
  (77 - 150.2, n=3, last 2 years)
104.3 fps +305%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (18.4 - 53.9, n=7)
35.9 fps +39%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
25.75 fps
3ds Max (3dsmax-06)
Average of class Multimedia
  (55.7 - 216, n=3, last 2 years)
111.5 fps +380%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (12.1 - 71.3, n=7)
31.3 fps +35%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
23.25 fps
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
951 Seconds *
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (687 - 1175, n=22)
821 Seconds * +14%
Average of class Multimedia
  (107 - 956, n=92, last 2 years)
275 Seconds * +71%
X264 HD Benchmark 4.0
Pass 1
Average of class Multimedia
  (222 - 237, n=2, last 2 years)
229 fps +80%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
178 fps +40%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (127.5 - 160.2, n=7)
144.4 fps +13%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
143.6 fps +13%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
127.5 (127min - 194max) fps
Pass 2
Average of class Multimedia
  (93.4 - 104.1, n=2, last 2 years)
98.8 fps +237%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
41 fps +40%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (29.4 - 38.8, n=7)
33.8 fps +15%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
33.1 fps +13%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
29.35 (29.3min - 29.7max) fps
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
Average of class Multimedia
  (4.12 - 30.5, n=85, last 2 years)
15.3 fps +204%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
5.03 fps
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (3.24 - 5.5, n=22)
4.66 fps -7%
wPrime 2.10
1024m
Average of class Multimedia
  (103.6 - 1259, n=2, last 2 years)
681 s * -111%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
394 s * -22%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (263 - 420, n=7)
353 s * -9%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
323.4 s *
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
257.5 s * +20%
32m
Average of class Multimedia
  (3.72 - 26.3, n=2, last 2 years)
15 s * -115%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Intel Core i7-8550U
9.971 s * -43%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U
  (6.81 - 12.4, n=7)
9.5 s * -36%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Intel Core i7-8550U
7.047 s * -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
Intel Core i7-8565U
6.984 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10
Cinebench R10
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Jetstream 1.1
Jetstream 1.1
Octane V2
Octane V2
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Mozilla Kraken 1.1
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
4341
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6936 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
17901 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
4223 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
8906
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
22844
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 32Bit
6.04 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 32Bit
77.4 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
2.06 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
6.8 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
77.9 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 32Bit
1.82 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
173 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
111.1 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
659 Points
Help

System Performance

In the PCMark benchmarks, the slightly faster processor produces a slightly better performance than that of the predecessor, which also already delivered a good performance. The combination of SSD and HDD ensures a quickly running system, without the need of forgoing storage space. With 16 GB of working memory, the convertible offers a sufficient amount of RAM, allowing you to even run virtualizations. However, since there is only a single module, you have to make do without dual-channel operation. With a second module, which can be installed without any trouble, you should be able to squeeze out an additional percentage point or two to increase the performance.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Multimedia
  (4039 - 8670, n=82, last 2 years)
6552 Points +57%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4488 Points +7%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
4175 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3704 - 4344, n=6)
4022 Points -4%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3916 Points -6%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
3769 Points -10%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
3610 Points -14%
Essentials
Average of class Multimedia
  (8480 - 12420, n=82, last 2 years)
10417 Points +27%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
8253 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
8190 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
7881 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (6763 - 8382, n=6)
7798 Points -5%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
7624 Points -7%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
5949 Points -27%
Productivity
Average of class Multimedia
  (5462 - 11186, n=82, last 2 years)
8685 Points +34%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
7171 Points +11%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
6961 Points +7%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
6767 Points +4%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
6483 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (5994 - 7281, n=6)
6467 Points 0%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
6384 Points -2%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Multimedia
  (3861 - 13548, n=82, last 2 years)
8566 Points +130%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4147 Points +11%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
3722 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3194 - 3722, n=6)
3508 Points -6%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
3362 Points -10%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
2971 Points -20%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
2818 Points -24%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Multimedia
  (4484 - 5525, n=9, last 2 years)
5075 Points +24%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
4245 Points +4%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
4092 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3910 Points -4%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
3837 Points -6%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
3696 Points -10%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3141 - 4092, n=6)
3688 Points -10%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
3666 Points -10%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
5343 Points +2%
Average of class Multimedia
  (3115 - 6078, n=9, last 2 years)
5278 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
5254 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
5193 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
4922 Points -6%
Average Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4240 - 5254, n=6)
4897 Points -7%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
4882 Points -7%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
4572 Points -13%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4092 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
5840 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5254 points
PCMark 10 Score
4175 points
Help

Storage Solution

Toshiba SSD with 128 GB
Toshiba SSD with 128 GB
An M.2 2280 also fits into the device
An M.2 2280 also fits into the device
Also from Toshiba: The 1-TB HDD
Also from Toshiba: The 1-TB HDD
 

Although with the 128-GB SSD from Toshiba, Dell offers a storage solution that is connected via PCIe, unfortunately the SSD was only able to perform well in our test of the read rates. At only 113 MB/s (according to AS SSD), the write rate of the SSD remained significantly behind our expectations. However, in everyday operation this was not noticeable and the access rates of the SSD are still considerably faster than in the direct comparison to a conventional hard drive. The rather unusual format (M.2 2230) does not represent an obstacle to replacing it with an M.2 2280.

As a second storage device, there is also a hard drive with 1 TB of storage in the device. This offers an average transfer rate of 103.3 MB/s, which is a normal value for hard drives with rotation speeds of 5400 rpm. This can also be replaced by a larger hard drive without any problems, although you should take the height of 7 mm (~0.27 in) into account.

It is not clear to us why Dell does not offer a second M.2 connection, since the device offers sufficient space inside.

Benchmarks of the SSD

AS SSD
AS SSD
CDM 3
CDM 3
CDM 5
CDM 5
CDM 6
CDM 6

Benchmarks of the HDD

HD Tune
HD Tune
CDM 3
CDM 3
CDM 5
CDM 5
CDM 6
CDM 6
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
KBG30ZMS128G
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
Liteonit CV3-CE512
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
Liteonit CV3-8D128
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
52%
78%
61%
344%
Write 4K
71.3
56.4
-21%
66.2
-7%
84.2
18%
151.3
112%
Read 4K
33.43
28.72
-14%
33.83
1%
28.39
-15%
46.62
39%
Write Seq
127.3
356.3
180%
449.4
253%
398.2
213%
1020
701%
Read Seq
816
490.3
-40%
468.6
-43%
472.1
-42%
935
15%
Write 4K Q32T1
94.6
276.7
192%
209.6
122%
181.6
92%
452.3
378%
Read 4K Q32T1
196.7
279.7
42%
290.8
48%
247.7
26%
559
184%
Write Seq Q32T1
130.6
298.5
129%
525
302%
454.3
248%
1614
1136%
Read Seq Q32T1
1110
522
-53%
508
-54%
533
-52%
3220
190%
Write 4K Q8T8
98
Read 4K Q8T8
209.4
AS SSD
18%
69%
23%
41%
328%
Seq Read
889
482.2
-46%
489.8
-45%
488.5
-45%
494.2
-44%
2339
163%
Seq Write
113.8
330
190%
445.8
292%
476.7
319%
404.2
255%
1409
1138%
4K Read
30.89
27.84
-10%
24.93
-19%
29.7
-4%
25.78
-17%
49.78
61%
4K Write
69.7
54.4
-22%
55.6
-20%
54.1
-22%
71.4
2%
122.1
75%
4K-64 Read
191.3
355
86%
282
47%
258.7
35%
234.6
23%
1329
595%
4K-64 Write
86.7
98
13%
247.1
185%
116.9
35%
259.1
199%
828
855%
Access Time Read *
0.607
0.218
64%
0.106
83%
0.161
73%
0.081
87%
0.056
91%
Access Time Write *
0.312
0.081
74%
0.081
74%
0.069
78%
0.057
82%
0.03
90%
Score Read
311
431
39%
356
14%
337
8%
310
0%
1612
418%
Score Write
168
185
10%
347
107%
219
30%
371
121%
1091
549%
Score Total
611
838
37%
891
46%
739
21%
844
38%
3488
471%
Copy ISO MB/s
773
410.1
-47%
255.9
-67%
300.4
-61%
1733
124%
Copy Program MB/s
327.9
127.6
-61%
109.2
-67%
157.4
-52%
305.8
-7%
Copy Game MB/s
606
165.5
-73%
129
-79%
221.7
-63%
405.5
-33%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
35% / 30%
69% / 69%
51% / 43%
51% / 48%
336% / 334%

* ... smaller is better

KBG30ZMS128G
Transfer Rate Minimum: 0.4 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 133.3 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 103.3 MB/s
Access Time: 18.7 ms
Burst Rate: 213.5 MB/s
CPU Usage: 2.8 %

Graphics Card

Nvidia GeForce MX150
Nvidia GeForce MX150

Even though with the Nvidia GeForce MX150, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 uses the same dedicated GPU as the predecessor, the results are slightly better through the bank. With 2 GB GDDR5, the GeForce MX150 brings its own VRAM, and the GPU has a clock speed of 1469 - 1532 MHz in Boost mode. However, in the comparison with the Asus VivoBook Pro, our test unit has to be content with remaining behind, since the GeForce GTX 1050 is significantly faster. 

The dedicated graphics card only takes over during 3D applications. In 2D-applications, the Intel UHD Graphics 620 handles the image output, ensuring a better battery life. This integrated graphics unit takes the load off the processor and is able to decode the H.265/HEVC in the Main10 profile with 10 bits of color depth, as well as Google's VP9 codec in the hardware, which represents a clear advantage when reproducing high-resolution videos.

You can find additional benchmarks on the Nvidia GeForce MX150 and the Intel UHD Graphics 620 here.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Multimedia
  (3408 - 60250, n=87, last 2 years)
18296 Points +279%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-8550U
7640 Points +58%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8565U
4823 Points
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
4631 Points -4%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
4519 Points -6%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
4507 Points -7%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2796 - 4905, n=47)
4191 Points -13%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
2734 Points -43%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (14679 - 150699, n=61, last 2 years)
57744 Points +162%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-8550U
36413 Points +65%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8565U
22070 Points
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
21153 Points -4%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
21134 Points -4%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16227 - 22183, n=43)
19512 Points -12%
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
18188 Points -18%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
11713 Points -47%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (1835 - 46022, n=87, last 2 years)
13540 Points +279%
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Intel Core i7-8550U
6042 Points +69%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
3628 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8565U
3571 Points
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
3542 Points -1%
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
3401 Points -5%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2323 - 3739, n=44)
3310 Points -7%
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX, Intel Core i7-6500U
1889 Points -47%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Multimedia
  (622 - 17620, n=87, last 2 years)
5121 Points +390%
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i5-8250U
1068 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8565U
1045 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (830 - 1147, n=16)
995 Points -5%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
22583 points
3DMark 11 Performance
4866 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
65934 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
15737 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3253 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
1646 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
1141 points
Help

Gaming Performance

As was already the case for the predecessor, if you decide for this convertible, games should not be on the top of your wish list. Although the frame rates are slightly better overall, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 masters current games only in the medium settings. Older and less-demanding games can even be played at high settings and in the native resolution. However, those who need more gaming performance should look for a device with a GeForce GTX 1050. With the Asus VivoBook Pro 17, we have already included a representative in our comparison.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 179.4 109.6 92.9 34.6
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 98.4 82.9 67.1 61.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 58.9 41.9 23 19
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 47.97 40.93 36.74

Emissions - better than we thought

Noise emissions

The cooling unit in the Dell Inspiron 17-7786
The cooling unit in the Dell Inspiron 17-7786

During idle operation, there are hardly any changes with the updated Whiskey-Lake edition of the Dell Inspiron 17 in terms of the noise level. While completely silent operation is not possible, at only 30.7 dB(A), the device is pleasantly quiet during idle operation. From time to time, the hard drive draws some attention by producing some noises, but this is normal. However, during load there is a big surprise compared to the predecessor. At only 33.4 dB(A), the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 now runs much quieter during average load (Power Profile: Balanced). Even the other competitors are unable to keep up with this. Only the Acer Aspire 5 is able to compete at 34.4 dB(A). During the stress test, our convertible reached its maximum level at 38.7 dB(A). With this, the device still operates relatively quietly even under full load and is never perceived as annoying. The fan control worked well, and we did not notice any audibly varying fan speeds in our test unit.

Noise Level

Idle
30.7 / 30.7 / 30.7 dB(A)
HDD
31.1 dB(A)
Load
33.4 / 38.7 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: 30.3 dB(A)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Noise
-5%
-10%
-156%
3%
1%
off / environment *
30.3
30.3
-0%
32.1
-6%
304
-903%
29.4
3%
28.3
7%
Idle Minimum *
30.7
30.6
-0%
32.1
-5%
31.9
-4%
30.1
2%
28.3
8%
Idle Average *
30.7
30.6
-0%
32.1
-5%
31.9
-4%
30.1
2%
29
6%
Idle Maximum *
30.7
32.2
-5%
34
-11%
31.9
-4%
29.7
3%
29
6%
Load Average *
33.4
40.5
-21%
40.3
-21%
39.4
-18%
34.4
-3%
36.7
-10%
Load Maximum *
38.7
39.5
-2%
42.6
-10%
39.7
-3%
34.4
11%
42.8
-11%
Witcher 3 ultra *
44.7

* ... smaller is better

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2036.438.337.937.536.42534.837.435.234.434.83131.232.332.531.231.2402930.128.928.6295031.331.829.429.331.3633031.93229.4308027.928.626.327.627.910027.127.626.426.527.112527.325.624.724.827.316025.425.524.724.425.420024.527.223.924.324.525024.225.522.422.824.231523.126.622.421.823.140022.624.82121.122.650021.623.620.320.521.663021.825.120.219.421.880021.824.820.118.921.8100023.428.519.918.623.4125022.627.718.918.222.6160023.929.918.617.723.9200022.829.518.217.522.8250021.428.317.617.421.4315019.826.417.41719.840001925.617.21719500018.724.517.217.118.7630018.322.417.11718.380001819.41717181000017.717.416.917.117.71250017.616.816.817.117.61600017.516.816.917.317.5SPL33.438.730.730.333.4N1.72.81.31.21.7median 21.8median 25.5median 18.9median 18.2median 21.8Delta2.73.22.822.7hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseDell Inspiron 17-7786

Temperature

3DMark 11 after the stress test
3DMark 11 after the stress test

The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 also surprises with its case temperatures always remaining low, during idle operation as well as under load. We measure the highest temperature at 43 °C (109 °F) at the bottom of the case. However, with the Acer Aspire 5 A517 and the HP Envy 17, there are also two other devices in our review that show even lower case temperatures under load. 

Using the hour-long load test, we evaluate the behavior of the built-in components (CPU and GPU) under constant load and whether the cooling system is able to keep the hardware sufficiently cool. During the CPU stress test, the Core i7-8565U heated up to 82 °C (180°F) and ran at its basic clock speed of 1.8 GHz on average. During the GPU stress test, we measured a temperature of 69 °C (156 °F) in the GeForce MX150. Due to the shared heat pipe for CPU and GPU, the CPU heated up significantly more (99 °C, 210 °F) during this test. The constant load has a negative effect on the 3D performance, which we tested right afterwards using 3DMark 11. Compared to the cold start, the result has decreased by 500 points.

Stress test: Prime95
Stress test: Prime95
Stress test: FurMark
Stress test: FurMark
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95
Stress test: FurMark + Prime95
Max. Load
 39.5 °C
103 F
42.1 °C
108 F
38.6 °C
101 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
41 °C
106 F
31.2 °C
88 F
 
 29.4 °C
85 F
27.5 °C
82 F
27.9 °C
82 F
 
Maximum: 42.1 °C = 108 F
Average: 34.9 °C = 95 F
35.5 °C
96 F
43 °C
109 F
40.4 °C
105 F
30.6 °C
87 F
36.3 °C
97 F
36.3 °C
97 F
28.1 °C
83 F
29.6 °C
85 F
30.2 °C
86 F
Maximum: 43 °C = 109 F
Average: 34.4 °C = 94 F
Power Supply (max.)  44.9 °C = 113 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.9 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 31.2 °C / 88 F for the devices in the class Multimedia.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.1 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 36.9 °C / 98 F, ranging from 21.1 to 71 °C for the class Multimedia.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 43 °C / 109 F, compared to the average of 39.1 °C / 102 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.1 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 31.2 °C / 88 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29.4 °C / 84.9 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-0.6 °C / -1.1 F).
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
GeForce MX150, i7-8565U, KBG30ZMS128G
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
GeForce 940MX, 6500U, Liteonit CV3-CE512
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
GeForce MX150, i5-8250U, Liteonit CV3-8D128
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, i5-8550U, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP
Heat
-13%
-18%
1%
3%
-29%
Maximum Upper Side *
42.1
42.7
-1%
44.7
-6%
36
14%
40.4
4%
46
-9%
Maximum Bottom *
43
47.2
-10%
45.5
-6%
37.6
13%
37
14%
56.2
-31%
Idle Upper Side *
24
28.4
-18%
31
-29%
26.2
-9%
25.3
-5%
28.6
-19%
Idle Bottom *
24.2
29.7
-23%
31.4
-30%
27.8
-15%
24.7
-2%
37.6
-55%

* ... smaller is better

Heat development - top (load)
Heat development - top (load)
Heat development - bottom (load)
Heat development - bottom (load)
Heat development - top (idle)
Heat development - top (idle)
Heat development - bottom (idle)
Heat development - bottom (idle)

Speakers

Speaker characteristics
Speaker characteristics

Compared to the predecessor, the position of the speakers has changed slightly. The two speakers are now directly below the palm rest, but they still point down. Thus the advantages and disadvantages that this configuration brings remain the same. At almost 69 dB(A), the speakers of our test unit achieve a volume that is more than sufficient. Due to an emphasis of the highs, the maximum volume is rather unpleasant and also makes speech more difficult to understand. However, the speakers should still be sufficient for music or making video calls, since at moderate volumes, the voices become very clear and easy to understand without any restrictions. While the bass is not completely silent, we would have expected a bit more, due to the size of the notebook. The use of a subwoofer would also have been possible, since the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 does not lack any space.

Speaker grill at the bottom
Speaker grill at the bottom
Speaker underneath the bottom of the case
Speaker underneath the bottom of the case
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2039.237.539.22539.934.439.93136.231.236.2403828.6385038.329.338.36339.229.439.28039.427.639.410041.126.541.11254224.84216044.224.444.220047.524.347.52505322.85331556.521.856.540056.521.156.550059.220.559.263062.919.462.980064.818.964.8100064.418.664.412506418.264160066.117.766.1200067.917.567.9250067.917.467.9315068.61768.6400067.31767.3500065.217.165.2630060.71760.7800059.61759.61000062.417.162.41250063.917.163.91600068.817.368.8SPL77.730.377.7N38.81.238.8median 62.9median 18.2median 62.9Delta6.126.141.838.841.836.234.436.234.533.634.533.632.933.634.932.634.932.633.132.633.132.633.137.429.337.450.629.250.660.228.360.264.427.964.465.827.565.863.126.863.162.826.262.864.925.364.969.42569.467.42567.465.524.465.564.623.964.663.323.863.364246467.623.967.668.723.768.768.123.668.168.223.568.266.623.566.665.723.465.766.523.566.573.623.573.670.323.570.379.236.379.248.42.748.4median 65.7median 24median 65.73.41.53.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Inspiron 17-7786Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Dell Inspiron 17-7786 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (68.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.5% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (16.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 36% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 57% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 24% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 71% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 8.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (11.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 12% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 85% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 6% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 92% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Management

Power Consumption

65-Watt power supply
65-Watt power supply

Despite the Core i7 CPU and a dedicated graphics card, our convertible is content with between 4.2 and 12.9 watts in idle operation. We notice that there are some significant improvements compared to the predecessor here. Under load, up to 63.4 watts is possible for short time periods, but then the power consumption of our test unit levels out at 56 watts. Only the Acer Aspire 5 A517 is a tad more efficient. Due to its more powerful GPU, the Asus VivoBook Pro 17 has no chance in this regard.

In terms of the power supply, we find the same that was already used in the Dell Inspiron 17-7773. This offers a maximum of 65 watts, which is sufficient according to our measurements. As the connector, we would have preferred an angled plug, since the straight plug makes the device feel even wider.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.6 / 0.9 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.2 / 9.4 / 12.9 Watt
Load midlight 56 / 63.4 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 17-7786
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, KBG30ZMS128G, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, SanDisk X400 M.2 2280 128GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
6500U, GeForce 940MX, Liteonit CV3-CE512, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, Liteonit CV3-8D128, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, aSi TFT, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
i5-8550U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, Samsung PM961 NVMe MZVLW512HMJP, IPS, 1920x1080, 17.30
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
 
Average of class Multimedia
 
Power Consumption
-11%
-2%
-5%
2%
-24%
7%
-48%
Idle Minimum *
4.2
5.5
-31%
5.6
-33%
4.8
-14%
4.1
2%
5.06
-20%
4.48 ?(2.2 - 11.6, n=45)
-7%
7.28 ?(2.2 - 34.6, n=93, last 2 years)
-73%
Idle Average *
9.4
11.6
-23%
11.2
-19%
8.3
12%
9.3
1%
10.3
-10%
7.88 ?(5 - 13.8, n=45)
16%
11.8 ?(4.6 - 43, n=93, last 2 years)
-26%
Idle Maximum *
12.9
12.4
4%
11.9
8%
10.3
20%
9.8
24%
10.7
17%
9.76 ?(6.2 - 14.7, n=45)
24%
14.6 ?(5.6 - 44.9, n=93, last 2 years)
-13%
Load Average *
56
65
-16%
46
18%
61
-9%
64
-14%
83
-48%
54.7 ?(33 - 75, n=44)
2%
77.3 ?(14.3 - 147, n=92, last 2 years)
-38%
Load Maximum *
63.4
56
12%
53
16%
86
-36%
66.4
-5%
99.9
-58%
63.5 ?(40.4 - 89.2, n=45)
-0%
119.3 ?(44 - 247, n=92, last 2 years)
-88%
Witcher 3 ultra *
92.4

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

3DMark 11 in battery operation
3DMark 11 in battery operation
Cinebench R15 in battery operation
Cinebench R15 in battery operation

In the direct comparison to the predecessor, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 also wins in terms of the battery life. This was already predictable from the low power consumption. We also already know the 56-Wh battery from the Inspiron 17-7773. In the test, this was able to supply power to the device for about 16.5 hours during idle operation. Under load, the device was still able to run for almost 2.5 hours. During the WLAN test, our large convertible achieved a good and useful runtime of exactly 9 hours. We reduced the display brightness by five steps, which corresponds to a display brightness of 150 cd/m². During the H.264 test as well, the Inspiron 17-7786 was able to offer a positive surprise with an endurance of 7:44 hours, so there is nothing in the way of enjoying a long night of watching movies. 

We also evaluated the CPU and GPU performance during battery operation and found that the CPU is throttled significantly. The GPU is also unable to use its full performance, but compared to the CPU the performance loss remains very low.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
16h 37min
WiFi Websurfing (Edge: 42.17134.1.0)
9h 00min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
7h 44min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 29min
Maximum battery life
Maximum battery life
Minimum battery life
Minimum battery life
WLAN battery life
WLAN battery life
H.264 battery life
H.264 battery life
Recharging time
Recharging time
Dell Inspiron 17-7786
i7-8565U, GeForce MX150, 56 Wh
Dell Inspiron 17-7773-0043
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 56 Wh
Dell Inspiron 17 7778
6500U, GeForce 940MX, 56 Wh
HP Envy 17-ae143ng
i5-8250U, GeForce MX150, 55.8 Wh
Acer Aspire 5 A517-51G-80L
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 48 Wh
Asus VivoBook Pro 17 N705UD-EH76
i5-8550U, GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile, 42 Wh
Average of class Multimedia
 
Battery Runtime
-19%
-18%
-10%
-36%
-58%
3%
Reader / Idle
997
883
-11%
811
-19%
560
-44%
933 ?(506 - 1571, n=25, last 2 years)
-6%
H.264
464
373
-20%
321
-31%
680 ?(319 - 1481, n=49, last 2 years)
47%
WiFi v1.3
540
408
-24%
495
-8%
487
-10%
377
-30%
265
-51%
560 ?(262 - 1204, n=92, last 2 years)
4%
Load
149
121
-19%
110
-26%
89
-40%
53
-64%
96.9 ?(39 - 215, n=73, last 2 years)
-35%

Verdict

Pros

+ flexible usage options
+ modern design
+ USB-C with DisplayPort support
+ robust aluminum case with flawless workmanship
+ fast quad-core processor
+ 16 GB RAM
+ useful storage solution (SSD + HDD)
+ good positioning of the connections
+ display with stable viewing angles
+ Nvidia GeForce MX150 with 2 GB of DDDR5-VRAM
+ pleasantly quiet
+ generous battery life
+ large 17-inch touchscreen
+ comfortable ClickPad

Cons

- stiff hinges
- slow SD-card reader
- relatively small keys
- SSD with low write rates
- throttled CPU performance in battery operation
- sliding characteristics of the touchscreen not always optimal
- outdoor usage is very limited (reflective display)
- no alternative hardware configurations (CPU/GPU)
In review: Dell Inspiron 17-7786. Test unit provided by Dell Germany.
In review: Dell Inspiron 17-7786. Test unit provided by Dell Germany.

As a 17-inch convertible, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 continues to be unrivaled, if we ignore the direct predecessor. With the new gigantic convertible, Dell follows its predecessor, the Dell Inspiron 17-7773. At first glance, the new 2-in-1 device does not look very different, since you only see the minor visual changes when you look more carefully. You can argue whether these changes were sensible or not. But more important are the changes underneath the hood, since the Kaby-Lake processor was replaced by the new Intel Core i7-8565U (Whiskey Lake). This offers a significantly higher Boost clock speed and should offer more performance accordingly. During the test, it was unfortunately unable to maintain this constantly, and our test unit was actually beaten by the predecessor in the Cinebench-R15 multi-loop. However, we were satisfied overall with the CPU in the device.

Unfortunately, Dell only offers the device with this CPU/GPU configuration. It is not clear to us why it is not offered with an i5 processor based on Whiskey Lake. Buyers only have a choice in terms of the storage solution. We recommend the combination of SSD and HDD, the way our test unit was also configured. Together with the 16 GB of RAM and 17-inch touch display, buyers will have to put 1328 Euros (~$1521) on the table.

Anyone who cannot decide between a convertible and a multimedia device should just get the Dell Inspiron 17-7786. This 17-inch notebook combines both device classes, and the dedicated GPU will allow you to play some games as well.

The Dell Inspiron 17-7786 was able to convince us with its very good selection of materials and the robust base. The input devices are good and usable, even if some small details prevented a better evaluation. The typing experience is better than with the predecessor, and the height of the keys was also adjusted.

Compared to the predecessor, the display is slightly brighter and more responsive, but in terms of color-space coverage, the current device is unable to keep up with the Inspiron 17-7773. Due to the strongly reflecting surface, the improved brightness is unable to make a positive difference when using the device outside. 

Overall, the Dell Inspiron 17-7786 is a successful upgrade with significantly improved power consumption and also considerably longer battery life.

Dell Inspiron 17-7786 - 01/31/2019 v6(old)
Sebastian Bade

Chassis
83 / 98 → 85%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
91%
Connectivity
59 / 81 → 73%
Weight
58 / 20-67 → 80%
Battery
90%
Display
83%
Games Performance
79 / 85 → 93%
Application Performance
88 / 92 → 95%
Temperature
92%
Noise
92 / 95 → 97%
Audio
59%
Camera
45 / 85 → 53%
Average
77%
86%
Multimedia - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Inspiron 17-7786 (i7-8565U, 16 GB, 17-inch Touch, MX 150) Convertible Review
Sebastian Bade, 2019-02- 4 (Update: 2019-02-23)