ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Dell’s newest high-performance laptop computer is at present on sale beginning at $1,250.
- It is beautifully designed, with a modern, fashionable construct and highly effective, however accessible, {hardware}.
- It runs heat, and requires energy administration from the person to get probably the most out of the battery.
extra shopping for selections
Observe ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
Dell’s laptop computer rebrand could have resulted in some shuffling round of naming conventions, however the brand new Dell 14 Premium — Dell’s refreshed high-performance line of laptops — seems an entire lot just like the Dell XPS upon first look. In the event you’re confused about this laptop computer’s placement in Dell’s product placement hierarchy, it is within the client class, and the highest-tier mannequin in that group. This makes it a premium, however accessible, laptop computer for professional creatives, designers, and tech fanatics.
Additionally: Looking for a Windows 11 laptop? This Dell checks all the right boxes for me
From the zero-lattice keyboard to the edge-to-edge OLED show and invisible trackpad, the Dell 14 Premium lives as much as its identify with a modern, future-facing construct. Due to its intelligent recessed design, it gives the look that it is hovering above the floor when sitting on a desk.
Appearances apart, Dell needs to emphasise that this laptop computer is just not an XPS, however fairly an evolution of the road into one thing new. The thought right here was to take what labored on its high-end machines and enhance on the issues that customers noticed as ache factors, and it does that to some extent, regardless of apparent comparisons to its predecessor.
When it comes to {hardware}, the Dell 14 Premium comes with the Intel Core Extremely 7 255H “Lunar Lake” processor, as much as 32GB of LPDDR5X, 8400MT/s dual-channel RAM, and both an Intel Arc Graphics or Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.
Choosing the 32GB of RAM and OLED show will carry the worth as much as $2,250 — the higher restrict of what could possibly be thought of “accessible” for a premium-tier laptop computer.
The overview unit I examined had a special CPU than the retail model: an Intel Core Extremely 7 265H, out there for customers as a particular order, however not customary on the machine. This resulted in a really slight efficiency enhance in comparison with the retail model (a performance-core base clock velocity of two.2GHz vs the usual 2.0GHz).
The 14-inch OLED touchscreen is as attractive as you’d anticipate, with a 3.2K decision, 400nit brightness, and a variable refresh fee as much as 120Hz. The show’s skinny bezels and seamless webcam module lead to a clear and crisp design that gives the look that the display screen is larger than it’s.
Additionally: Why buying the right laptop is more complicated than ever (and how to make the best choice)
All in all, it is a attractive laptop computer. The keyboard seems unbelievable, however there are some usability trade-offs related to its design. The primary being that, whereas it has good key journey, it would not really feel as expressly ergonomic as another laptops’ keyboards just like the HP EliteBook X G1a and even the Acer Swift 16 AI. In the event you’re a quick typer, you could want a while to acclimate to the important thing format right here, as some would possibly understand it as a bit cramped.
The LED operate key row can be one other factor that sacrifices usability for aesthetics. In earlier evaluations for the XPS, I’ve expressed my lukewarm reception for the characteristic, and it stays the identical right here. Personally, I discover the always-on lighting a bit distracting, however after per week with the laptop computer, I’ll say I’ve acclimated to it.
The invisible haptic trackpad is without doubt one of the most premium components of the laptop computer’s design. The feel is in contrast to another laptop computer I’ve felt, with a easy, silky texture that feels luxe. The haptic clicks are very refined, requiring little or no finger motion, permitting the person to glide throughout the floor unhindered by the trackpad’s boundaries. This can be a design trick, because the trackpad itself is not essentially bigger than customary, however positively feels as such.
This design does increase some considerations about sturdiness, nevertheless, since this single glass sheet seems nice, however a scratch or dent would mar the in any other case pristine floor. Fortunately, Dell emphasizes its sturdiness, saying it could stand up to as much as 1,200 drops.
Additionally: I didn’t expect much from a $300 Windows laptop – then this Acer proved me wrong
In comparison with the XPS mannequin, port choice is streamlined with a number of extra choices. You get three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports (as an alternative of two), an audio jack, and a microSD card slot. This can be a welcome enchancment that pushes the system firmly into professional creator territory and provides to the laptop computer’s longevity, one thing I am glad Dell determined to compromise on for the Premium line.
Whereas a aggressive GPU, the RTX 4050 is proscribed to 30 watts of TDP (thermal design energy) within the Dell 14 Premium, which limits its efficiency. The constraints of this laptop computer’s cooling system are evident throughout prolonged, demanding workflows, when the system warms up and stays that means.
That being stated, throughout on a regular basis duties, the laptop computer runs cool and quiet, and the 4050’s efficiency delivers for video modifying, picture rendering, and even gaming, however demanding workloads shortly increase the temperature, which is especially felt on the wrist relaxation and keyboard.
The GPU right here performs effectively for many video games, nevertheless it’s not notably optimized for PC gaming due to stated warmth era and the laptop computer’s design, which will get in the way in which of some gaming practicality. Particularly, the LED operate row, which, for those who’re enjoying a sport that makes use of F1 keys, will should be reconfigured.
As a substitute of pounding on the keyboard, it is higher suited towards video modifying and graphic design, with a number of ports for connecting to an exterior monitor, hooking up peripherals, and using the 32GB of RAM for big file transfers with the included microSD slot.
Additionally: Should you replace your desktop with a laptop setup? I tried with this Dell, and didn’t mind it
For that cause, I would place this laptop computer extra within the realm of professional creators and the enterprise realm than a gaming laptop computer, regardless of its potential to run video games due to the 32GB of RAM and RTX 4050 GPU. Talking of, let’s contact on the battery life right here. This can be a laptop computer that vastly advantages from energetic energy administration, as you will need to be conscious of consumption to get probably the most out of the 69.5Whr battery.
Throughout my testing, I discovered that the Dell 14 Premium responds to battery life in a means that parallels the warmth era. Throughout on a regular basis use: internet looking, productiveness software program, and multitasking throughout functions, battery life is excellent, lasting to the eight hour mark and past. However when you shift gears to extra demanding workflows, that battery life begins to drop off.
You will get lower than that for those who’re engaged on extra power-hungry duties and 5 hours or much less for those who keep in efficiency mode. For these causes, I might say this can be a laptop computer that requires some mindfulness of use, versus a light-weight and breezy system you may maintain untethered from the charger and neglect about.
Lastly, whereas we’re on the subject, though this laptop computer is modern and compact, it weighs 3.66 kilos for the LCD show and three.79 kilos for the OLED. That is on no account the heaviest laptop computer on the block, however a testomony to its design for weighing greater than it seems.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Dell 14 Premium lives as much as its identify as an aesthetic laptop computer dedicated to its future-forward design. This is not a laptop computer made for everybody, and that is tremendous. Dell has efficiently improved components of its design that do not compromise its imaginative and prescient, such because the expanded port choice and stability of {hardware} and value.
Because the highest-performing laptop computer in Dell’s base tier of laptops, it is a premium however accessible machine well-suited towards professionals who want a balanced strategy to efficiency. The luxe bodily design makes an announcement and is a pleasure to make use of, however customers will should be conscious of the {hardware}’s energy calls for and warmth era.