Dell XPS 14 overview: A course correction

Greatest Costs As we speak: Dell XPS 14

In 2022, Dell took an enormous swing with a brand new XPS 13 that reimagined how a contemporary laptop computer ought to look. Dell changed the bodily operate keys with touch-sensitive buttons and changed the touchpad’s borders with an edgeless design.

It didn’t go over nicely. The adjustments seemed glossy however made the laptop computer a bit harder to make use of. To make issues worse, rivals like Lenovo, Asus, and even Apple went a distinct route, shifting in direction of making their laptops feel and appear extra tactile.

Now, Dell is making an attempt to make up for misplaced time with a redesigned Dell XPS 14. It restores the bodily operate row and provides delicate tactile bumps to outline the touchpad’s borders. It additionally upgrades to the most recent Intel Core Sequence 3 chips. The result’s a strong premium laptop computer with enviable efficiency, although it’s nonetheless not on the high of its recreation.

Dell XPS 14: Specs and options as-tested

This overview covers the Dell XPS 14 with the OLED show and Intel Core Extremely X7 358H processor. Whereas all new Dell XPS 14 fashions are fairly related in 2026, there are just a few slight variations past the {hardware} specs of every configuration. The OLED mannequin is a hair thinner than the IPS mannequin, and likewise just a few ounces lighter.

• CPU: Intel Core Extremely X7 358H
• Reminiscence: 32GB LPDDR5x-9600
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Arc B390
• NPU: 50 TOPS
• Show: 14-inch 2880×1800 120Hz OLED touchscreen
• Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD
• Webcam and microphone: 4K webcam with IR digital camera
• Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 2.1 and Energy Supply, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
• Biometrics: Home windows Hey facial recognition
• Battery capability: 70 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.19 x 8.26 x 0.58 inches
• Weight: 3 kilos
• Working System: Home windows 11 Professional
• Value: $2,259.99

The configuration we reviewed is priced at $2,259.99 on Dell’s web site, which is a big improve from the $1,349.99 entry-level MSRP. This worth contains the choice to make use of Home windows 11 Professional as an alternative of Home windows 11 Dwelling, which provides $60 to the worth.

Buyers with bigger budgets will at present discover solely the choice so as to add extra reminiscence (as much as 64GB) or extra storage (as much as 4TB). These upgrades work out to an all-in worth of $3,109.99 for a mannequin with 64GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD. Dell says it is going to finally add the choice to improve to an Intel Core Extremely X9 388H, nonetheless.

Dell XPS 14: Design and construct high quality

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Dell positions the XPS 14 as a return to one of the best of the laptop computer’s design legacy, and it fulfills that promise. This laptop computer is a looker, although not in an overt or flashy approach. It as an alternative focuses on the small print to ship a refined, full package deal. 

The outside is clad in thick aluminum panels with nice curves that lack any sharp edge or floor, and the graphite colorway delivers an exquisite darkish luster. The one branding is a small, shiny XPS emblem on the lid, and the inside isn’t marred by stickers.

Opening the laptop computer with a single finger is simple. The body of the show could be very barely bigger than the decrease half of the laptop computer’s chassis, making a small lip, and the strain of the hinge is well-tuned. 

Inserting the laptop computer on a scale will reveal it is available in at three kilos, which is heavy for a 14-inch Home windows laptop computer in 2026. That’s one thing to bear in mind. Many aggressive laptops, such because the Asus ExpertBook Extremely, are nearer to 2.5 kilos or much less. However, the heft provides to the XPS 14’s premium really feel, and the laptop computer remains to be mild sufficient that it gained’t really feel like a lump in a mean laptop computer bag.

Dell XPS 14: Keyboard, touchpad

Foundry / Matthew Smith

The keyboard was the weakest hyperlink in the newest Dell XPS and later Dell Professional fashions because of the firm’s controversial choice to exchange the bodily operate row keys with touch-sensitive buttons. Fortuitously, the keys are actually again and work simply as you’ll count on.

Regardless of that enchancment, I nonetheless discover the keyboard to be lackluster. I don’t like Dell’s huge, slab-like keys, which have tiny gaps between them. I don’t assume the plastics used for the keys look or really feel as premium as the remainder of the machine, both. Key journey is shallow and keys activate with a timid bottoming motion. That’s to not say the keyboard is unhealthy. It’s tremendous. Nonetheless, I choose the keyboard on different premium 14-inch laptops such because the Asus ExpertBook and Lenovo Yoga 9i line.

I’ve extra reward for the touchpad. Prior fashions didn’t present any visible indication of the place the touchpad was positioned, however the brand new mannequin fixes that with delicate however noticeable bumpers on the left and proper. The touchpad can be giant, measuring about six inches huge and three inches deep. That’s higher than rivals, most of which have a touchpad that measures round 5 inches huge. The added house is useful when waggling fingers by paperwork with multi-touch gestures.

The touchpad additionally makes use of haptics to simulate bodily mouse clicks with out bodily motion. I’m a fan of haptic touchpads, and it’s an ideal match for a premium but moveable laptop computer just like the Dell XPS 14.

Dell XPS 14: Show, audio

Foundry / Matthew Smith

This overview is for the Dell XPS 14 with the OLED touchscreen, which is a $150 improve over the IPS mannequin. Though Dell’s pre-baked configuration selector additionally pairs the OLED show with the laptop computer’s strongest accessible Intel chip, the Core Extremely X7 358H, selecting a customized configuration permits you to snag the OLED with any inner {hardware} configuration.

And the OLED is unquestionably definitely worth the improve, no less than as long as battery life isn’t your high precedence (extra on that within the battery part). The OLED show ups the decision from 1920×1200 to 2880×1800, and whereas the 1200p show already seems slightly sharp, the development is noticeable. Much more noticeable, after all, is OLED’s excellent distinction and shade gamut. The IPS show seems tremendous by itself however, when positioned side-by-side with the OLED, the IPS panel seems flat and boring by comparability.

The OLED touchscreen has a refresh fee as much as 120Hz, although the IPS show supplies a 120Hz refresh fee, too. Apparently, the IPS show has a wider adaptive refresh fee vary (from 1 to 120Hz) than the OLED show (from 20 to 120Hz). I’d nonetheless advocate the OLED for movement readability, nonetheless, resulting from OLED’s decrease pixel response occasions and diminished movement blur.

Whereas the OLED show is sweet, the XPS 14’s audio system are distinctive. The laptop computer has a quad-speaker sound system with a pair of three-watt audio system and a pair of two-watt tweeters. The sound system manages to ship some sense of bass wallop, and whereas it’s (most likely) not going to trouble your neighbors, it might probably simply fill a studio condo, dwelling workplace, or small kitchen with sound. Lenovo’s Yoga 9i is the one Home windows laptop computer I can recall with equally wonderful audio high quality, and most rivals are far much less pleasurable.  

Dell XPS 14: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Dell’s specs checklist a 4K webcam, although I had some bother attaining 4K decision. In accordance with Dell, it is a results of Home windows Studio Results, although the problem endured even with Studio Results turned off. I might solely handle 1440p decision. That’s nonetheless sharper than most laptops (1080p is the usual), and the digital camera seems first rate for a webcam. The digital camera doesn’t have a bodily privateness shutter, although.

A dual-microphone array is supplied for audio seize and does its job admirably. It picked up robust audio in my testing with little background noise. It’s not distinctive on this, as many laptops now supply good audio arrays.

Biometric login is accessible by Home windows Hey facial recognition. A fingerprint reader is just not accessible.

Dell XPS 14: Connectivity

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Whereas the Dell XPS 14 adjustments course on some selections made by current Dell XPS/Dell Professional fashions, it sticks to the corporate’s trendy strategy to connectivity. The laptop computer has three Thunderbolt 4 ports (which additionally help USB-C, DisplayPort, and Energy Supply) alongside one 3.5mm audio jack, and that’s it.

On the upside, it is a strong vary of high-speed trendy connectivity for a Home windows laptop computer. The array of three Thunderbolt 4 ports supplies lots of choices for connecting a dock and high-speed storage.

Nevertheless, the laptop computer solely lacks USB-A, devoted video-out, a card reader, and different helpful bodily connectivity. For most individuals, which means you’ll must stay the dongle life. Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C are frequent, after all, nevertheless it’s nonetheless nearly inconceivable to completely keep away from older connection requirements.

Whereas the bodily connectivity has trade-offs, the wi-fi connectivity is firing on all cylinders. The XPS 14 has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Each requirements are new sufficient that there’s a superb probability you don’t personal every other gadgets that profit from them. Nonetheless, it’s good to see them included as it is going to assist future-proof the laptop computer’s wi-fi connectivity because the years roll on (and a laptop computer just like the Dell XPS 14 definitely has the potential to stay helpful for 5 to 10 years).

Dell XPS 14: Efficiency

The Dell XPS 14 on this overview has not solely the OLED improve, but additionally a {hardware} improve from the entry-level Intel Core Extremely 5 325 to the Intel Core Extremely X7 358H, which is at present one of the best accessible silicon (nonetheless, Dell says the Core Extremely X9 388H might be accessible sooner or later). The Core Extremely X7 358H pairs a 16-core CPU with Intel Arc B390 graphics and, on this configuration, is flanked by 32GB of speedy LPDDR5x-9600 reminiscence.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

First up is PCMark 10, a holistic system benchmark. It has favorable issues to say in regards to the Dell XPS 14 and reaches a rating of 8,809. Because the graph exhibits, that is a wonderful rating when positioned subsequent to quite a lot of Intel and AMD laptops from the prior era. It does fall behind the Asus ExpertBook Extremely, nonetheless, as that laptop computer posted a good higher rating of 9,892 on this benchmark.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Subsequent we flip to Cinebench, a closely multi-threaded render check, and the story right here is much like PCMark. Intel Core Sequence 2 chips didn’t carry out nicely in any respect on this benchmark, as represented by the Acer Swift Edge 14 AI. The Dell XPS 14 practically doubles the Swift Edge 14 AI’s end result.

The Asus ExpertBook Extremely stays within the lead, although. The HP Elitebook X G1a with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 additionally scores a victory. That’s consultant of AMD Ryzen AI 9 chips typically, as they have an inclination to carry out nicely on this benchmark.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

In Handbrake, a video encoding check that depends on the CPU, we see the Dell XPS 14 scores its first win. And, maybe extra importantly, the Intel Core Extremely X7 358H as soon as once more delivers an enormous acquire over the Intel Core Extremely Sequence 2 chips that had been present in related laptops final yr. That is about pretty much as good as CPU efficiency will get for a 14-inch Home windows laptop computer.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

Whereas the Intel Core Extremely X7 358H is a robust performer in CPU exams, that’s solely half the story. The chip additionally has Intel’s newest Arc B390 built-in graphics and it, very similar to the CPU, delivers an enormous acquire over its predecessor.

Because the graph above exhibits, the Dell XPS 14 can ship main positive aspects over older Intel chips with Arc 140V graphics and AMD chips with Radeon 890M graphics. Arc B390 is usually 40 or 50 % faster than one of the best built-in graphics accessible final yr.

That has real-world advantages. Cyberpunk 2077 can common 36 frames per second at 1080p decision and Extremely element, and that’s with out Intel XeSS picture scaling. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, in the meantime, averaged 52 frames per second at 1080p and Highest element, as soon as once more with out XeSS in use. 

Utilizing XeSS picture upscaling can increase the common framerate in each video games past 60 frames per second. That’s exceptional for an built-in graphics resolution.

Dell XPS 14: Battery life and portability

Dell ships the XPS 14 with a 70 watt-hour battery and boldly claims the laptop computer can last as long as 40 hours on a cost. That declare is barely relevant to the variations with the IPS show, nonetheless, and was achieved by native playback of a 1080p video file at 150 nits of brightness.

Foundry / Matthew Smith

PCWorld’s commonplace check does contain taking part in a video, however we use a 4K file of the brief movie Tears of Metal and check at 200 nits of brightness. Because the graph exhibits, our outcomes had been mediocre at finest. The XPS 14 endured about 16 hours, which is an effective however not distinctive end result.

It’s value mentioning, although, that I’ve additionally examined the Dell XPS 14 with the LCD show. I’m nonetheless engaged on the complete overview, however I can verify it lasts about twice as lengthy on a cost, as I’ve managed to hit no less than 22 hours of battery life on this similar check. The Dell XPS 14 with LCD show additionally has the much less energy hungry Intel Core Extremely 5 325 chip, which seemingly contributes to that mannequin’s superior battery life.

Dell XPS 14: Conclusion

The Dell XPS 14 with OLED show is an expensive Home windows laptop computer with strong CPU and built-in GPU efficiency. I additionally like the massive, responsive touchpad and dedication to high-speed connectivity, which incorporates Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7. The OLED show is attractive and the built-in audio is among the many finest accessible from a Home windows laptop computer. Dell nonetheless wants to enhance the keyboard, which feels extra shallow and fewer premium than many rivals.

All of this ends in a laptop computer that’s excellent however only a hair away from being my high choose. The Dell XPS 14 seems spectacular and proves pleasurable to make use of, however I didn’t prefer it as a lot because the Asus ExpertBook Extremely, which is lighter and has a greater keyboard. Nonetheless, the brand new Dell XPS 14 could be for you for those who’re all-in on Thunderbolt 4, otherwise you crave Home windows laptop computer with a chic and refined look.