When Dell decided to retire the XPS name, it left many fans scratching their heads. Known for years as the pinnacle of Windows laptops, the XPS line had a strong following. The new name, Dell 14 Premium, might not roll off the tongue as easily, but thankfully, the device behind the name maintains its legacy. This laptop still delivers the performance and design that made its predecessors legendary.
Design and Display: Maintaining Elegance and Functionality
In an era where brands often radically redesign products to match a name change, Dell has wisely opted to retain last year’s XPS 14 chassis for the 2025 Dell 14 Premium. With an elegant aluminum body adorned with Gorilla Glass 3, and a practical array of ports (three USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD slot), this laptop is a feast for the eyes and a powerhouse of convenience.
Its weight, tipping the scales at approximately 3.79 pounds, is slightly heftier than some competitors like the 14-inch MacBook Pro. However, the difference is negligible for most users. The expansive glass wrist rest and a massive touchpad enhance user comfort and functionality. The touchpad spans the area beneath the spacebar to the right ALT and Copilot keys, ensuring that users won’t feel cramped while navigating.
Though sleek and intuitive, Dell’s choice to replace physical keys for Escape and Delete with touch buttons above the keyboard might not appeal to everyone. These capacitive buttons remain illuminated even when the keyboard backlight is off, but they are dim enough not to distract.
Performance: A Solid Contender
Under the hood, the Dell 14 Premium comes equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. For those looking for a bit more oomph, our review unit featured 32GB of memory, a 1TB SSD, and an NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU. While not cutting-edge, this setup is robust enough for any productivity task and can handle more demanding applications like video editing or even gaming. The RTX 4050, though a generation old, still manages to keep up with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at respectable frame rates.
Battery Life: Adequate for Day-to-Day Use
The 69Wh battery in the Dell 14 Premium delivers moderate stamina. In testing with PCMark10’s Modern Office rundown, it lasted 8 hours and 30 minutes. While not as enduring as some competitors like the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED or Dell’s own XPS 13, it outpaces others like the ASUS ROG Z Flow 13 and the Razer Blade 14.
A Legacy Preserved
Despite its uninspired rebranding, the Dell 14 Premium upholds the tradition of excellence expected from this line. The laptop’s price, starting at $1,650 for the base model and $1,850 with the optional OLED display, reflects its premium nature, yet it offers good value considering its features and performance. Dell’s current sale, shaving $200 off the sticker price, sweetens the deal.
For those in search of a sleek, powerful, and portable Windows ultraportable, the Dell 14 Premium remains a top choice. Its combination of design, performance, and usability keeps it at the forefront of the laptop market, even if its name doesn’t quite reflect its pedigree.