Dell XPS 14 Laptop Review

About the Dell XPS 14 (2026)

• Price as configured: $2,199.99
• Processor: Series 3 Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (16 cores, up to 4.8 GHz)
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home, Copilot+ PC
• Graphics card: Intel Arc Graphics B390 GPU, as opposed to dedicated graphics, like NVIDIA GeForce, which is primarily found in Dell’s Alienware gaming laptops
• Display: 14 inches, touch, 2.8K, 20-120Hz, OLED, 400 nits, InfinityEdge display giving an extra inch of screen real estate (measured diagonally)
• Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x Dual Channel at 9600 MT/s
• Storage: 1TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD
• Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery, Kensington lock supported via USB Type-C ports, universal audio jack (right side)
• Dimensions 0.58 in. x 8.26 in. x 12.19 in.
• Weight: 3 lbs for 2.8K OLED, 3.05 lbs for 2K LCD
• Materials: CNC-machined aluminum and a large glass palm rest protected by Gorilla Glass 3
• Camera: 8MP/4K HDR webcam, Windows Hello–compliant, Intel IPU7
• Audio and speakers: Studio quality tuning with Waves MaxxAudio MaxxVoice 15, quad-speaker design with 3W Main x 2 Channel and 2W Tweeter x 2 Channel; 10W total peak output; universal audio jack; dual microphone array optimized with Intelligo High Fidelity Audio; Dolby Atmos
• Wireless: Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211 2x2, Bluetooth 6.0 Wireless Card
• Primary battery: 3Cell, 70Whr
• Power: 100W AC adapter, USB Type-C
• Warranty: 1-year limited laptop warranty, includes hardware and software with onsite support

Note: there’s also a Dell XPS 16 model for 2026, as an upgrade to its previous model we reviewed. And an XPS 13 is rumored to be available later this year.

How we tested

Laptops may tend to look the same—at least at first glance—but portable PCs can vary greatly in performance, comfort, and battery life.

For about three weeks, the Dell XPS 14 was used as our primary computer, having loaded it with productivity software, like Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), as well as a Chrome web browser, VLC media player, WhatsApp (desktop version), Audacity for audio editing, and DaVinci Resolve for video editing.

To test its performance, I also installed and ran benchmarking software, including Maxon Cinebench 2026 and, for a more focused graphics test, Geekbench 6 (I decided against 3DMark as this laptop isn’t really designed for gamers).

The power cable sent with the Dell XPS 14 was used to juice up the laptop, when needed (which wasn’t often!), though at one point I attempted to use a different USB-C cable/brick for an ASUS Zenbook, but a message on the Dell screen suggested it wasn’t powerful enough.

What we like

It’s a powerful and smart PC

Those who invest in a Dell XPS likely want a balance of power, design, and effortless portability.

In the performance department, the 2026 XPS 14 does not disappoint. The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor (16 cores, up to 4.8 GHz) effortlessly handled everything we threw at it, including video editing, gaming, AI image generation, and multitasking. I purposely left many windows open and running apps to gauge how it would handle the stream on the processor.

While not technically a gaming PC, the integrated Intel Arc Graphics (B390) performed better than expected when playing some of the latest titles in the Steam catalog, with high-res character models, enhanced environmental effects, and smooth animations.

The numbers in benchmarking software didn’t quite match our experience, but Maxon Cinebench 2026 yielded an average score (between two successive sessions) of 3033 points for multiple threads and 506 points for single threads.

Similarly, running the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark put the Dell XPS 14 at 2739 (single-core) and 16656 (multi-core), which were about the same as my day-to-day laptop (Asus Zenbook S14), which scored 2776 (single-core) and 16185 (multi-core). The CoPilot+ experience was also smooth and intuitive on this XPS 14, a nod to Microsoft’s commitment to integrating AI into Windows 11.

The XPS 14’s OLED screen is a stunner

Side by side with two other PCs reviewed this spring, the Dell XPS 14’s display was second to none. Granted, Dell sent us its 2.8K OLED touchscreen model—a few hundred dollars more than the 14-inch non-touch 2K model—but the contrast, clarity, and color were noticeably superior to other Windows 11 PCs with comparable specs under the hood. With its incredibly dark blacks, watching movies on this laptop provided more depth and atmosphere.

The InfinityEdge bezel was the exact same thickness as other Windows 11 PCs currently in my care—about 1 cm. on the top and .5 cm. on the sides—so nothing extraordinary there. But the screen quality was exceptional, overall, and brightness was a decent 400 nits, but nothing spectacular.

There’s also a 3.2K OLED option, for even more detail.

Exceptional battery performance

While it’s hardly one of the sexiest of features to advertise, as a frequent traveler, I can appreciate the importance of a long-lasting battery. There’s nothing sadder than “wall huggers” at an airport, tethered to an AC outlet, desperately trying to keep working.

The Dell XPS 14 proved exceptional in this regard, with multiday regular use—email, web browsing, social media scrolling, and word processing—and also fantastic on streaming video.

Case in point: At 60% brightness, I chose for the laptop screen to “never” go to sleep, launched the VLC media player, and played a movie (.mp4 file) continuously in a loop. And 22 hours later, I still had 3% battery left.

What we don’t like

Heavier than many other PCs

At 3 pounds for the OLED touchscreen version we tested (and slightly more for the non-OLED model), you will definitely feel this under your arm while walking around or when carried in a backpack—not to mention that the power cable is bigger and heavier than most I’ve seen these days.

My regular 14-inch ASUS ZenBook is so much lighter at 2.16 pounds that I really felt a difference, while other PCs I recently reviewed in 2026 were also lighter than this.

Fan can be noisy

Perhaps it’s a tradeoff with the power this Dell XPS exudes, but the shhhhh fan noise comes and goes—even when resting idle on a website.

This is definitely in contrast to Dell’s callout of “cooler, quieter performance with Dell’s largest and thinnest fans yet” in its materials.

Legacy ports are gone

A few years back, we saw the shift to only including USB-C/Thunderbolt ports, with manufacturers citing the super-thin form factor as one of the main reasons, but I’ve applauded the return of at least one USB-A and/or on many models today (yes, there is enough space for them).

Why does it matter? Dongles suck.

If you still have USB-A devices, as I do, then a laptop with a USB-A port is worth considering—along with a couple of USB-C ports, naturally.

The XPS 14 has two Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports on the left side and one on the right, along with a headphone jack. Also, there is no Ethernet jack, but it doesn’t seem super necessary, as this isn’t a business laptop, per se.

Warranty

1-year limited laptop warranty, includes hardware and software with onsite support.

Should you buy the Dell XPS 14 (2026)?

Yes. Despite a couple of minor flaws, this is one seriously good PC

While the Dell XPS 14 is not a perfect 10—if it were lighter and quieter, it certainly would be closer to it—but even with its minor flaws, this is one seriously good PC. Those who want a slick design, lots of power for editing or AI tasks, and a gorgeous screen will not be disappointed with the return of Dell’s flagship performance line.

XPS is back, indeed.

Starting at $1,699 for 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and a non-touch, non-OLED screen (or $2,199 for our 32GB, 1TB SSD, and OLED touch model), these aren’t inexpensive PCs—but the craftsmanship and power help to justify the price tag.