The Dell XPS 14 (2024) is a striking blend of innovation and premium craftsmanship, but it’s not without its quirks. Designed to compete with the likes of the MacBook Pro 14-inch, this laptop pushes boundaries with its futuristic aesthetics and powerful internals. However, its polarizing design choices and mixed performance in real-world use make it a device that demands careful consideration. Here’s our in-depth review.
Design and Build Quality: Sleek but Divisive
The XPS 14 inherits the minimalist design language of its predecessor, the XPS 13 Plus, featuring an "invisible" haptic trackpad and a capacitive touch function row that replaces traditional keys. The machined aluminum chassis and glass palm rest exude luxury, and the 3.7–3.8 lb weight keeps it portable for a 14-inch laptop .
However, the design sparks debate. The flush, zero-lattice keyboard offers shallow key travel (1mm) and a "springy" feel that some reviewers found uncomfortable for prolonged typing . The lack of physical function keys and tactile feedback on the touch bar also frustrates users accustomed to muscle memory, with accidental presses (e.g., mistaking Esc for tilde) being a common complaint . The seamless trackpad, while visually appealing, lacks clear boundaries, leading to occasional misclicks .
Display: A Visual Feast
The standout feature is the optional 14.5-inch 3.2K OLED touchscreen (3200x2000), which delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a 120Hz refresh rate. With up to 500 nits brightness, it’s ideal for creative work and media consumption . The base model’s FHD+ (1920x1200) non-touch display, while bright, feels underwhelming for a premium laptop .
Performance: Power with Caveats
Equipped with Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H and optional RTX 4050 GPU, the XPS 14 handles productivity tasks, light gaming, and creative workflows like video editing with ease. Benchmarks show it competes closely with the MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 in multicore performance but lags in single-core tasks .
However, the RTX 4050’s 30W power limit and the laptop’s 100W adapter lead to throttling under heavy loads. Gaming performance is modest: Cyberpunk 2077 runs at 30–45 FPS (with DLSS), while Doom Eternal hits 90–105 FPS at medium settings . Users also report thermal throttling and blue-screen crashes, particularly when using peripherals without a high-wattage dock .
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag
Dell claims up to 21 hours for the FHD+ model, but real-world tests show 8–12 hours for OLED configurations and ~12 hours for general use. This falls short of the MacBook Pro’s endurance, though it’s a significant improvement over earlier XPS models .
Ports and Connectivity: Minimalist to a Fault
The XPS 14 offers three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD slot, and a headphone jack—but no HDMI or USB-A. Users must rely on dongles, which can be inconvenient. Some also report issues with external displays via USB-C docks . Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure modern wireless connectivity, though driver-related Wi-Fi dropouts have been noted .
Software and AI Features: Future-Forward, But…
The integrated NPU enables local AI tasks like Windows Studio Effects for background blur in Teams, but most Copilot features remain cloud-dependent. While the NPU hints at future-proofing, its current utility is limited .
Verdict: Who Should Buy It?
Pros:
- Stunning OLED display (upgraded model)
- Premium, eye-catching design
- Strong performance for productivity and light gaming
- Improved thermals over previous XPS models
Cons:
- Divisive keyboard and touchbar design
- Underpowered GPU for the price
- Limited ports and adapter dependency
- Inconsistent battery life
Price: Starting at $1,499 (base model), rising to $2,500+ for OLED and RTX 4050 configurations .
Recommendation: The XPS 14 suits users prioritizing design and display quality over raw power. Creatives and professionals may prefer the MacBook Pro for better battery life and performance, while gamers should opt for the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. If you’re drawn to its aesthetics, wait for discounts or consider the upcoming Qualcomm-powered XPS 13 for better efficiency .
Final Score: 4/5 – A bold step forward with room for refinement