Dell XPS 14 (2024) review: Style and substance come at too high a price

Price When Reviewed

$2,699

Best Prices Today: Dell XPS 14 (2024)

$1699

$2299.99

Dell launched a revamped XPS line in 2022, including a “Plus” to the title to point a brand new design scheme. In the 2024 XPS lineup, that “Plus” is gone as a result of the design of all of Dell’s XPS laptops has modified to the brand new look — a shift that will make sense since Dell has additionally modified its dimension choices to accommodate 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch shows.

The Dell XPS 14 inherits the trendy seems to be of its latest predecessors and packs in some highly effective {hardware} to make doing severe work look good. But fashion alone isn’t sufficient to benefit the lofty price ticket the XPS 14 wears, and with so many cheaper options operating equally succesful {hardware} in enticing packages of their very own, the XPS 14 has its work minimize out for it.

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Specs and options

The new Dell XPS 14 9440 has a range of configuration options that may begin it from a modest $1699 MSRP or vary it as much as $3479. All configurations run on the Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H, however Dell gives choices for graphics, reminiscence, storage, show, Windows model, coloration, and whether or not or not Intel vPro is included. 

• CPU: Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (30W TGP)
• Display: 14.5-inch 3.2K OLED
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p
• Connectivity: 3x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, 1x microSDXC card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: Windows Hello fingerprint, facial recognition
• Battery capability: 68 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 inches
• Weight: 3.95 kilos
• MSRP: $2,699 ($1,699 base)

Memory choices vary from 16GB to 64GB whereas storage ranges from 512GB as much as 4TB. Intel Arc graphics are the bottom, however there’s an choice to bump as much as an NVIDIA RTX 4050 for $300 further, which additionally comes with an automated bump to switch charge on the reminiscence from 6,000MT/s to 7,467MT/s. The laptop computer can include both a 1920×1200 anti-glare LCD show with 30-120Hz variable refresh charge or the 3200×2000 anti-reflective OLED with 48-120HZ refresh charge examined right here, with the previous protecting the sRGB coloration area and the latter protecting the DCI-P3 coloration area.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Design and construct high quality

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

The design of the Dell XPS 14 calls for lots of aluminum and glass, and in that approach, it has a lot in widespread with the newest smartphones. The complete exterior is wrapped up in steel, which Dell says is 75 p.c recycled aluminum. The show is roofed up in Gorilla Glass Victus, a tough glass made to withstand scratches and cracks that ought to be greater than up the abuse it’ll get from frequent touchscreen use. The newer trackpad design, which successfully hides the trackpad sees the entire space underneath the keyboard lined in a single piece of Gorilla Glass 3. 

It’s a regal look that may actually go toe to toe with Apple’s MacBook Air, proper right down to the wedge-like design. The XPS 14 has sneaky air flow slits alongside the underside sides and porting out just under the show — a design that dangers making a bottleneck for warmth escape if the lid is open sufficient to the touch no matter desk or desk it sits on. 

Dell’s design is smooth, however has factors of rivalry. With the rework in 2022, Dell shifted to a brand new keyboard design that’s current on the XPS 14. This makes use of completely sq., somewhat flat keys with minimal gaps between each other that may take some getting used to. The stealthy trackpad additionally could be tough to search out the bounds of. Then there’s the operate row, which is now a collection of illuminated capacitive buttons that present both secondary capabilities or F1-12. Dell says this permits for extra cooling beneath the keys, nevertheless it doesn’t make getting used to capacitive buttons any simpler. They merely don’t have the haptic suggestions of an precise key. 

Where the XPS 13 sees its keyboard run all the best way to the edges of the laptop computer, the XPS 14 has slightly further area and matches top-firing audio system in on the sides, identical to the XPS 16 I examined however slightly smaller. The bezels across the show are skinny, even on the backside due to the 16:10 side ratio, however Dell nonetheless managed to squeeze a discreet Windows Hello-capable webcam above the display.

Overall, the construct of the laptop computer feels sturdy and effectively put collectively, although the premium supplies include their very own downsides. Despite being a skinny laptop computer, the Dell XPS 14 weighs in at 3.95 kilos, successfully reversing the development of laptops in the direction of lighter and lighter weights. The iGPU-only mannequin ought to be lighter, however I even have a 14-inch Lenovo Legion Slim 5 14APH8 with an RTX 4060 inside that weighs lower than the XPS 14.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

I’ve had a while to get used to Dell’s new keyboard design, having examined the primary XPS 13 Plus and extra just lately the Dell XPS 16. But irrespective of how I come at it, I can’t fairly get previous the discomfort of it. Between the minimal dish of the caps and the very tight spacing — such that you could’t really feel the sting of a key with out additionally having a finger overlap the neighboring key — it’s tough to ever really feel fairly at residence on. 

In use, I used to be capable of attain a typing velocity of 118 phrases per minute in Monkeytype with 95 p.c accuracy. While the velocity is adequate, the accuracy is a matter, and low sufficient that autocorrect isn’t prone to clear up each mistake. While it may appear respectable, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, with its extra primary keyboard design, let me attain 128 phrases per minute with 100 p.c accuracy inside minutes of choosing it up. More than per week into testing the XPS 14, and I can’t even come shut. The switches are poppy and have surprisingly excessive actuation power, which helps preserve the keyboard from feeling even much less predictable.

The capacitive operate row is not any extra nice to make use of. Tapping the Delete key greater than as soon as is awkward, because it gives no suggestions, and it usually misses faucets in a collection. Hitting Ctrl + Shift + Esc can be extremely awkward when one of many keys in that shortcut isn’t a key in any respect.

As on the XPS 16, the XPS 14 trackpad is gigantic. It’s near the dimensions of the 6.8-inch smartphone screens on the market. Even although it’s not possible to really feel out the sides of the trackpad space, it virtually doesn’t matter because it’s so massive that anyplace you’re prone to contact it’s going to nonetheless register. With glorious palm rejection and pleasing haptics, it’s a strong piece of {hardware}. It generally is a little arduous to double-click on, however double-tapping is simply as viable. If Dell was going to alter something, I’d simply need to see it go even wider (all the best way to the edges, ideally), for extra ergonomic mousing. That could be particularly useful in choose instances, as XPS 14 tends to disregard any swipes that begin from exterior the precise trackpad area, although it’s considerably inconsistent on the matter. 

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Display, audio

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Dell XPS 14 has a stunning show. While the LCD choice might be half respectable, the OLED different presents rather a lot. It’s as sharp as might probably be wanted at this dimension, and 120Hz refresh charge permits for easy visuals. It can transfer between 120Hz and 48Hz although to save lots of on battery when essential. 

The OLED show is vibrant and colourful, hitting full display peak of 393.2 nits (small HDR highlights can go larger nonetheless) and 99 p.c DCI-P3 protection with the default coloration profile. I measured correct coloration as effectively, with colours deviating on common by solely a dE of 0.91 and at most 1.73, making this a show viable for design work. The contact panel can be responsive and a helpful complement to the trackpad, although I discovered little cause to make use of it given the standard of the trackpad. The anti-glare end to the show isn’t as efficient as some I’ve seen, nevertheless it typically retains the show straightforward to see. 

The XPS 14 combines 4 audio system — a pair of tweeters and a pair of woofers — to ship surprisingly strong and full sound for a laptop computer with such a small footprint. For music, it gives life that the majority laptops lack. The bass remains to be on the weak facet, nevertheless it’s nonetheless audible somewhat than being successfully erased by the audio system. There’s no wrestle with speech both, which comes by way of simply, because the audio system emphasize the vocal vary. The audio system get slightly disagreeable at full quantity, if I’m sitting shut, nevertheless it’s not a lot a difficulty of distortion as it’s of their quantity. 

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

Dell has put collectively an honest package deal for conferencing. The 1080p webcam captures moderately vibrant and crisp video footage that can serve effectively in video calls, although it’s nonetheless lower than the extent of high quality you would possibly need to depend on when you’re making frequent displays the place you’ll be the focus. The mics do an excellent job choosing up my voice and shutting out background noise, even different voices, however they seize a bit an excessive amount of echo in small rooms. 

The XPS 14 may also use its webcam for Windows Hello facial recognition, which proves an particularly fast approach to signal into the system. There’s additionally a fingerprint scanner on the top-right nook of the keyboard.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Connectivity

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

IDG / Mark Knapp

As with most thin-and-light laptops, the Dell XPS 14 has gone pretty lean on ports, although not as lean as some. It options three USB-C ports, every boasting bandwidth-buff Thunderbolt 4 help. Those ports are break up with two on the left facet and one on the fitting., giving flexibility for the way you dock or cost the laptop computer. Dell has additionally included a microSD card reader and 3.5mm headphone jack. A single USB-A port would have been a plus, however Dell no less than features a extremely light-weight dongle to supply up USB-A and HDMI by way of one of many USB-C ports.

Wireless connectivity can be a powerful level, with the XPS 14 providing Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, each of which have provided steady connections in my testing. Bandwidth over Wi-Fi hasn’t been a difficulty, and spotty connections on Bluetooth and failed pairing hasn’t stood in the best way of utilizing the XPS 14 with wi-fi headphones.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Performance

The Dell XPS 14 has sturdy efficiency, to make sure, due to its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and RTX 4050 pairing. That’s greater than sufficient muscle for on a regular basis computing after which some. And regardless that Dell exhibits pretty profitable cooling for the components inside, with scores not dropping precipitously over longer stress assessments, it doesn’t handle to finally sustain with a few of its competitors. And that’s dangerous information, for the reason that XPS 14 is arms down the costliest choice of the bunch, and it’s not even the one one providing a excessive stage of polish. 

Turning to PCMark 10, which assesses a system’s capabilities in quite a lot of widespread and office-related duties, we see the Dell XPS 14 has modest general efficiency, however not fairly as a lot as its rivals. It’s not far off, and far of the distinction is unlikely to be tangible in on a regular basis use, however as increasingly more demand is put onto these methods by future functions, these with the additional muscle now will possible show higher capable of sustain down the road. 

It’s not Dell’s uncooked multi-core efficiency that has held it again, although. In Cinebench R20, we see it may well plainly let it rip, beating out all of its competitors within the check. That performs out in our Handbrake encoding check, the place the Dell XPS 14 was capable of encode our 4K video file sooner than the remaining at just below 13 minutes. There’s some variability to the efficiency, although, because the XPS 14 didn’t rank as extremely in Cinebench R15 or Cinebench R23. So it’s not the all-out champ of CPU efficiency. And whereas multi-core efficiency exhibits off a methods means to handle heavy hundreds, single-core efficiency can recommend the responsiveness of the system, and in that division the XPS 14 is nearer to the center of the pack, notably lagging behind the Lenovo Slim Pro 9.

While its efficiency is aggressive, significantly within the CPU division, the Dell XPS 14 has to cope with less expensive competitors that leaves it little room to breathe. But competitors from the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED, Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, and MSI Prestige 15 AI Evo B1MG isn’t fairly 1-to-1 since these all run on built-in graphics. As configured, the Dell XPS 14 features a discrete GPU that offers it a leg up in graphically demanding duties. 

We see that in 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark, probably the most GPU-intensive check of the bunch, the place the Dell XPS 14 distances itself drastically from its iGPU competitors. However, the power-limited RTX 4050 it packs inside exhibits the downsides of that low wattage when confronted with the Lenovo Slim Pro 9, which additionally options an RTX 4050 however effectively outpaces the XPS 14. It wouldn’t have helped that the XPS 14 additionally noticed the bottom CPU efficiency on this check, and if a CPU doesn’t carry its weight in a gaming state of affairs, it’ll let further obtainable GPU efficiency go to waste.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Battery life

Dell’s minor efficiency shortfalls include a strong constructive: the battery life is not any slouch. In our testing, the XPS 14 lasted over 13.5 hours taking part in again a video file on repeat with the show set as shut as potential to 250 nits. That longevity units it other than Lenovo Slim Pro 9 that hounded it so completely in efficiency. That stated, Dell nonetheless has its competitors minimize out for it.

Dell’s personal Inspiron 14 Plus could have a lackluster show in comparison with the XPS 14 Plus’s OLED panel, nevertheless it’s an influence sipper and lets the Inspiron 14 Plus run for over 3 hours longer. The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED pulled off an analogous feat and nonetheless had the advantage of a regal OLED panel. The MSI Prestige 16 AI EVO B1MG could have fallen brief by greater than an hour, nevertheless it additionally needed to illuminate a 16-inch OLED panel.

Dell XPS 14 (2024): Conclusion

The Dell XPS 14 is an efficient laptop computer with loads of efficiency for on a regular basis duties and a few artistic workloads paired with some critically spectacular battery life. It places that functionality into a classy package deal with a stunning show. But all of that comes at a worth. Next to its competitors, the Dell XPS 14 asks a substantial premium and all it appears to supply in return is its seems to be. 

The XPS 14 isn’t the quickest of the bunch. It’s not the one one providing a splendid OLED show. And so long as its battery life is, it’s nonetheless a methods off from being the longest. If Dell’s design have been as nice to make use of as it’s to take a look at, it may need some benefit, however the design presents as many hurdles and complications because it provokes oohs and aahs. There’s some floor for the XPS 14 to face on when you want an exquisite show, glorious battery life, and completely require the benefits of discrete graphics.

But for anybody who could make do with out a kind of three facets, there are way more compelling choices at a lot decrease costs, and that places the XPS 14 in a tough place that makes it arduous to suggest — no less than, for the configuration examined right here. The base spec that omits discrete graphics could also be a extra viable competitor, nevertheless it nonetheless has its work minimize out for it, particularly because it loses the sharp OLED touchscreen.