Dell is back to its old haunts, with the Dell XPS 14 in the line-up again. It might have the same name as the 2024 model, but it's got an all-new chassis, new screen options, a new keyboard, and new internals, and it might just be one of the best 14-inch laptops on the market.

The design and build quality are improved even over last year's Dell 14 Premium (yes, that really was the name Dell decided to call the XPS for a short while), and you get a 14-inch screen in a device that's only a hair larger than the usual 13-inch laptops.

I've been testing two models from the opposite ends of the pricing scale, and the thing that surprised me is just how similar they really are. I don't think you can go far wrong with the Dell XPS 14 this year, and Panther Lake is a return to form for Intel.

About this review: Dell sent us two versions of the Dell XPS 14, and had no input into the contents of this article.

Dell XPS 14 (2026): Pricing, availability, and specs

The Dell XPS 14 launched during CES, and the big surprise wasn't the all-new chassis but the return of one of the best-known brands in computing history. They're now available from Dell.com, and will soon be available at Best Buy and other large outlets. The starting MSRP is $1,350, which gets you an Intel Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. There are no discrete graphics options this year, which possibly says more about how powerful the iGPU in Panther Lake is, but might also be an indictment of how difficult it is to source VRAM and dGPU dies.

Dell sent us two configurations to represent both ends of the current scale (the X9 chips are still on the way). One with the 2.8K OLED touchscreen, Intel Core Ultra X7 358H, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage that looks to be $2,200 at retail, and one with the 1920x1200 IPS non-touch panel, Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage that's $1,450 on Dell right now.

New chassis, old name

Dell gets it right this year

I've been an XPS stan ever since the early days, and the futuristic styling always gets me going. Last year's Dell 14 Premium leaned toward a slightly angled MacBook; this year, it's been bulked out to look more like a Razer Blade or MacBook Pro, and it's a positive improvement. It's a visual change that makes it easily noticeable, even in a stack of other laptops, and the XPS name proudly adorns the lid.

The chassis redesign no longer has a microSD card slot, but you still get three Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio port. The touch-sensitive F-row has been replaced by physical keys, with the zero-lattice keyboard extending upwards. That's a good thing, mostly. If you use the function keys, you probably hated the capacitive ones that disappear when you're not looking.

The "invisible" touchpad now has slightly engraved lines on the sides for a visual reminder of where the touch-sensitive area starts, which might make this better for more users, although I loved the sci-fi nature of the single, unbroken panel of the earlier design more. It's still the flagship, it's just slightly more approachable, and that can only be a good thing.

Oh, and those raised lines around the edges of the keyboard tray are there because you now get to the internals by lifting the keyboard tray, instead of pulling off the bottom of the case. This does mean a slightly more involved upgrade process, but it makes the chassis more solid as a result, and that's a trade-off I can live with.

Time for some performance numbers

Panther Lake arrives to mixed fanfare

I want to say one thing before I dive into the benchmarks. Don't get too caught up in the numbers, because both of these chips are enough for daily computing tasks and then some. The flagship X7 358H has more graphics power and a little more CPU grunt, so if you need that, it's an easy choice. But the midrange chip was just as good at document creation, browsing, and everything else you use your computer for daily.

And the slightly higher numbers of the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro with the same Core Ultra X7-358H came with more noise. It's only a fraction higher in the benchmarks, and really, I'd rather have a quieter laptop if I'm going to be sitting typing on it all day. The Dell XPS 14 is a return to form, and it does this without the dGPU that last year's models came equipped with.

Battery life is improved over the already great performance of the Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake laptops. I found that either model could do a solid eight hours without breaking a sweat, and the balanced power settings didn't make much difference in how they felt while working.

The midrange Core Ultra 7 355 managed a staggering 25 hours in the Procyon productivity test, a mark that only the dual-screen Zenbook Duo has achieved across all the laptops I've tested. The more powerful Core Ultra X7 358H managed closer to 17 hours, but that's still good, and you can feel confident not carrying the charger around while you're on the go. I'm loving that even Windows laptops can now boast that, and really, it means you can choose the laptop you vibe with instead of having to spec hunt every time.

The new matte IPS panel is actually my favorite

I can't believe I'm saying this

Dell sent both display options over, and looking at them side-by-side in the above image, you can only just tell which one is OLED by the depth of color. The OLED covers 100% sRGB, 97% AdobeRGB, and 100% P3, but the IPS is no slouch either, at 96% sRGB, 71% AdobeRGB, and 72% P3. Both have ideal gamma curves, high refresh rates, and fit the high standards that Dell has always had for the XPS line.

The rest of the differences are mainly a matter of preference. The 2880x1800 OLED is touchscreen, while the 1920x1200 IPS panel is not. The OLED measured 440 nits peak brightness, while the IPS measured 575 nits. The OLED is more uniform in brightness and color, though, so if that matters, you know which to pick.

Getting used to the hidden touchpad took a little more time than I thought, so I'm glad for the tiny edge that serves as a visual and tactile reminder. It's a good, accurate touchpad with plenty of space, and it has some of the best palm rejection I've experienced while typing on the zero-lattice keyboard. That also takes a little getting used to, and I can't say I can touch-type on it that quickly, but it feels pretty nice.

Should you buy the Dell XPS 14 (2026)?

You should buy the Dell XPS 14 if:

• You want a gorgeous 14-inch laptop
• You want a solidly-built laptop that feels like it can take some punishment
• You dig the flat keyboard and barely-seen touchpad

You should NOT buy the Dell XPS 14 if:

• You need a numpad on your keyboard
• You want the lightest 14-inch laptop
• You need a fingerprint reader

Dell listened to its fans this year and brought back the XPS name. That's already a win, but a good thermal solution, powerful processors, and a chassis redesign that makes it even more futuristic seal the deal. It feels more MacBook Pro-ish than the tapered base of last year's Dell 14 Premium, offers plenty of battery life, and has good screens, whether you opt for IPS or OLED. If you need graphical prowess for content creation or gaming, go for the Core Ultra X7 358H, but the more affordable Core Ultra 7 355 is plenty for general computing tasks.

And with more powerful processors, you also get an NPU for Copilot+. I know Dell apologized for how AI-centric last year's marketing was, but some of the features (especially the webcam ones) are things I use every day, and it feels weird when I use a laptop that doesn't have them. This is a superb laptop at any tier; it's just a shame that computer component pricing, as it is, might push it out of reach for many.