Blog
Dell 14 Premium review: Still contending with Apple’s best
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Dell 14 Premium: One-minute review
The Dell 14 Premium is finally here, and it is definitely worth the wait.
The 14 Premium is the latest Dell laptop to launch as part of its rebranding, replacing the fan-favorite Dell XPS lineup of laptops, which ranked among the best laptops year after year for as long as I’ve been reviewing laptops for TechRadar.
Like the Dell 16 Premium, the Dell 14 Premium essentially carries on the XPS formula with little changed beyond the branding, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The Dell XPS 14 (2024) was one of the best Dell laptops I’ve ever reviewed, and the 14 Premium is even better still.
Starting at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,798.40, the 14 Premium matches the starting price of the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) that it is competing with, though the 14 Premium does max out a bit cheaper than the MacBook Pro 14.
Obviously, you won’t get the same kind of performance from the base-spec 14 Premium as you do if you go the discrete graphics, non-OLED route, which starts at $1,999.99 / £1,999 / AU$$3,297.8. Content creators, or those who want one of the best displays you’re going to find on a laptop right now, will want to check out the RTX 4050/OLED configurations, which start at $2,199.99 / £2,199 / AU$3,598.10.
If performance is what you’re after, the Dell 14 Premium beats out the MacBook Pro 14-inch, overall, in my testing, but it’s not a total knockout. Given the performance I’ve seen from the MacBook Pro 14-inch base-spec, the 14 Premium really can’t keep up on the low-end, and those looking to keep things within a tighter budget will likely be better off with a MacBook Pro (as much as it pains me to say it as a diehard Windows user).
If you’re looking for high-end performance, however, the MacBook Pro 14-inch’s M4 just can’t keep up with the 14 Premium’s RTX 4050 discrete graphics. It makes a huge difference in some workloads, like 3D modeling, and especially when it comes to gaming.
One other thing the 14 Premium has over the MacBook Pro 14-inch is the option for an OLED display, which looks gorgeous. The rest of the laptop is solid and has a much more premium feel to it than the 14 Plus, but there are some design quirks that keep it from truly laying out its competition on the mat.
While the discrete graphics and OLED upgrades do push the price considerably higher, there’s no question that the upgrade is worth it, especially the upgrade to the RTX 4050 GPU, which unlocks a lot of power necessary for high-end applications.
This, of course, considerably impacts the device’s battery life, dragging it down below nine hours in my testing. But for a laptop this compact with a high-end display and discrete graphics, it’s definitely a worthwhile compromise.
So, bottom line: does the Dell 14 Premium defeat the current MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4? Yes, but it’s down to the judges rather than a KO, and so your mileage may vary depending on your needs and budget. If you’re going with high-end specs, the Dell 14 Premium is probably the best Windows laptop going right now, but if you’re not going to go with the RTX 4050 GPU, the MacBook Pro 14-inch is probably the better bet for those looking to stay on budget.
Dell 14 Premium: Price & availability
- How much does it cost? Starts at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,798.40
- When is it available? It’s available now
- Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.
The Dell 14 Premium is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,798.40, respectively.
This puts it in line with the starting price of the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4), and is roughly in line with where the XPS 14 (2024) launched last year, though the 14 Premium is cheaper to start in the UK and Australia than its predecessor.
Given its premium status, this isn’t really that bad a price for a laptop like this, and its high-end configurations are cheaper than a comparable MacBook Pro 14-inch, which definitely can’t be overlooked. Still, it’s expensive, especially in an era where everyone is a bit less free with their spending than they were even a year ago.
Dell 14 Premium: Specs
- Up to RTX 4050 GPU
- Wi-Fi 7
- Only Thunderbolt 4
The specs for the Dell 14 Premium are pretty much identical to the Dell XPS 14 that preceded it, with some important differences.
This is not an Intel Lunar Lake laptop; it’s an Arrow Lake H laptop, so while the processor model numbers might look very similar, they are two different architectures.
This allows the Intel Core Ultra 255H chip to be paired with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, something last year’s model wasn’t capable of due to the limitations of the Lunar Lake chip design.
The 14 Premium is also configured with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, though it only has Thunderbolt 4 ports rather than the newer Thunderbolt 5 that the top-spec Dell 16 Premium has.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
Price | $1,499.99 at Dell.com | £1,499 at Dell.com | AU$2,798.40 at Dell.com |
CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
GPU | Integrated Intel Arc 140T | Integrated Intel Arc 140T | Integrated Intel Arc 140T |
Memory | 16GB LPDDR5x – 7467MT/s | 16GB LPDDR5x – 7467MT/s | 16GB LPDDR5x – 7467MT/s |
Storage | 512GB PCIe NVMe | 512GB PCIe NVMe | 512GB PCIe NVMe |
Display | 14.5-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz | 14.5-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz | 14.5-inch non-touch 2K IPS 120Hz |
Ports | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1 | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1 | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1 |
Battery | 69.5WHr | 69.5WHr | 69.5WHr |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 |
Camera | 1080p IR camera | 1080p IR camera | 1080p IR camera |
Weight | 3.66 lbs | 1.66kg | 3.66 lbs | 1.66kg | 3.66 lbs | 1.66kg |
Dimensions | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm |
The base specs are fairly modest, though you do start out with at least 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and a 512GB SSD, which is necessary if you’re planning on using Windows 11’s Copilot+ AI features. There’s also no difference in starting configuration between the US, UK, and Australia.
| Header Cell – Column 0 | US | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|
Price | $2,399.99 at Dell.com | £2,364.59 at Dell.com | AU$4,207.50 at Dell.com |
CPU | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | Intel Core Ultra 7 265H | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
GPU | Nvidia RTX 4050 | Nvidia RTX 4050 | Nvidia RTX 4050 |
Memory | 32GB LPDDR5x – 8400MT/s | 32GB LPDDR5x – 8400MT/s | 32GB LPDDR5x – 8400MT/s |
Storage | 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe | 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe | 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe |
Display | 14.5-inch Touch 3.2K OLED, 400 nit, 120Hz | 14.5-inch Touch 3.2K OLED, 400 nit, 120Hz | 14.5-inch Touch 3.2K OLED, 400 nit, 120Hz |
Ports | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 5, 1 x microSDXC 7.1 | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1 | 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 3 x Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 (DP 2.1, Power Delivery), 1 x microSDXC 7.1 |
Battery | 69.5WHr | 69.5WHr | 69.5WHr |
Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, BT 5.4 |
Camera | 1080p IR camera | 1080p IR camera | 1080p IR camera |
Weight | 3.79 lbs | 1.72kg | 3.79 lbs | 1.72kg | 3.79 lbs | 1.72kg |
Dimensions | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm | 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.71 ins | 320 x 215.97 x 18mm |
On the top-end, the Dell 14 Premium configurations are nearly identical, save that in the UK, you can opt for a slightly more powerful Core Ultra 7 265H chip rather than the Core Ultra 7 255H in every other configuration.
For this review, I tested out the top US configuration listed above.
Dell 14 Premium: Design
- Gorgeous OLED display
- Excellent port selection
- Trackpad and function key row still controversial
From the outside, the Dell 14 Premium is identical to last year’s XPS 14 (save for the new logo on the lid), and that’s not a bad thing. The 14 Premium’s construction and minimalist aesthetic definitely make it look like it’s all business, something you’d expect from a company like Dell, renowned as it is for its business and enterprise market dominance.
That doesn’t make it ugly, though. It’s a good-looking laptop, somewhat undercut by its two colorways, Graphite and Platinum, which are honestly rather boring at this point.
With the new Surface Laptop 7 coming in a gorgeous Sapphire colorway and even Apple adding a Sky Blue option for this year’s MacBook Air models (not to mention my beloved Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch having a Violet option), laptops are starting to finally have more personality than the design deadend that Apple pushed us all into with its MacBook Silver and Space Gray colorways in the 2010s.
In this regard, I hope Dell catches up next year, but one thing at a time, I guess. Dropping the XPS branding and introducing a splash of color in one release might have pushed some Dell fans over the edge, so steady as she goes, design-wise.
Image 1 of 3
I’ve spilled enough ink over the past couple of years about my mixed feelings when it comes to the borderless trackpad (and loss of the delightful carbon-fibery palm rests), so I’ll let that critique go. Finally.
I’ve yet to fully embrace the solid strip beneath the keyboard, as it does take some getting used to for finding out exactly how to right click on something, but it’s easy enough to pick up and soon becomes second nature. It’s still an accessibility nightmare, as is the lack of physical function keys along the top of the keydeck. On the plus side, there are top-firing speakers, which isn’t always a sure thing on a 14-inch laptop.
The keyboard itself is decent enough, though these aren’t my favorite keys to type on. I’m very used to mechanical keyboards, so the travel and tactile responsiveness of the 14 Premium’s take getting used to, and I’m not sure I ever will. If this is going to be your only or even just your primary laptop, however, you’ll get used to it just fine.
Some are going to complain about the lack of USB Type-A ports on the 14 Premium, but frankly, it’s 2025. At some point, older, slower interfaces will be retired, and it’s time, honestly. There are plenty of adapters out there to convert USB-A to USB-C, and you can even add the option for a mini-hub dongle with USB-A and HDMI ports that can plug into one of the three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the device. All three provide power delivery and DisplayPort out, with up to 4 monitors supported overall.
You also get a microSD slot, which is great for creative pros who work with SD cards alot, and a dedicated 3.5mm combo jack. All in all, a solid port selection for a device this small.
One other knock I have to give the 14 Premium though is its webcam. The 1080p IR webcam itself is perfectly good, and gets up to 30 FPS 1080p video, which is great for video calls and meetings. My problem, though, is the lack of a privacy shutter. It’s 2025, and this should be the default on a ‘premium’ laptop.
The overall aesthetics of the 14 Premium are as good as its XPS pedigree, but it could use some freshening up in the next couple of years, in my opinion. It’s built solid and won’t be embarrassing to whip out in the office in five year’s time, but we are kind of coming up against this design’s shelf life, and I hope we see something new next year.
Dell 14 Premium: Performance
- Powerful creative chops
- Decent 1080p gaming
- Falls a good bit behind Apple’s MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) on some benchmarks
So, when it comes down to it, performance really is the most important factor in a laptop like the Dell 14 Premium. It’s competing against one of the best MacBooks ever made in the recent MacBook Pro 14-inch, and given its pricing, the 14 Premium has to deliver on something other than cost.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag, ultimately. The CPU performance for the M4 chip outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 255H in all tests but Geekbench 6.4 multicore performance, where they are very close, with the Dell 14 Premium in the lead.
That said, the Intel Core Ultra 255H is mostly competitive with the M4 in CPU computing tasks, and the difference is such that you’d be very hard-pressed to notice the M4’s faster performance in actual use. The 14 Premium falls behind quite a bit on single-core performance, which is important for running some high-impact creative apps like Adobe Photoshop or Pro Tools, but that’s only part of the story.
The very strong single-core performance for the MacBook Pro 14-inch is offset quite a bit by the relatively slow SSD performance I saw in my Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmark. The Dell 14 Premium clocked in with an impressive 4,235 MB/s read speed to the MacBook Pro 14-inch’s 2,900 MB/s. That’s a nearly 50% faster read speed for the 14 Premium, and that translates directly into faster load times for programs and opening files.
The MacBook Pro 14-inch might beat the 14 Premium in single-core performance, but when it comes to system and app startup, downloads, and other file operations, that extra sluggishness on Apple’s part will noticeably cut into its advantage here. That doesn’t mean the 14 Premium will somehow eek out a win when it comes to video encoding or processing photos in Photoshop. What it does do, however, is help keep the 14 Premium in the hunt when its Intel chip is being outclassed by the M4’s processing power (ironically, last year’s Dell XPS 14 scored the highest in my storage benchmark tests).
Swing things around to GPU performance, though, and things fall apart for Apple pretty quick. There just isn’t a way for an integrated GPU to compete with even a budget discrete Nvidia GPU like the RTX 4050.
There are only a few cross-platform GPU tests that I can use for both the Dell 14 Premium and the MacBook Pro 14-inch, but in all cases, the RTX 4050 just outclasses the M4 10-core GPU, especially in ray-tracing workloads like Solar Bay
Meanwhile, in areas like video and photo editing, the MacBook Pro 14-inch might have an advantage over the 14 Premium, but it’s not earth-shattering.
The 14 Premium encoded a 4K video into 1080p about 22% slower than the MacBook Pro 14-inch, which is definitely something for video editors to consider (who are we kidding, we know y’all are just going to buy a MacBook Pro. Your entire industry is built around macOS). In my PugetBench for Creators-Adobe Photoshop tests, the Dell 14 Premium came in about 29% slower. For video and photography pros, this will absolutely be a dealbreaker and push you firmly back into the Apple camp, and that’s understandable if that’s what you’re looking to use your next laptop for.
However, compare those results to the MacBook Pro 14-inch’s Blender Benchmark 4.3.0 performance, which is about 60% slower, overall, than the 14 Premium’s.
When it comes to machine learning workloads, the situation will be similar, since Pytorch, the software framework that drives pretty much all AI development right now, is deeply tied to Nvidia’s tensor core hardware. We don’t have any good cross-platform AI benchmarks right now to give quantitative numbers, so giving a percentage of which laptop is better isn’t really possible yet (I’m working on it, I promise).
That said, I’ve spent the better part of a decade studying computer science to earn my Master’s degree in the field, and I can tell you that not a single person I know uses anything other than Nvidia hardware for this kind of work, and the Dell 14 Premium will be able to run AI inference and GAN workloads far better than the MacBook Pro 14-inch.
Finally, when it comes to gaming, none of these laptops are making it onto our best gaming laptop list, but the RTX 4050 GPU in the 14 Premium I tested made it much easier to play modern AAA PC games, with reasonable adjustments made to settings.
At 1080p on the highest settings in those games where I can compare results across devices, the Dell 14 Premium averaged about 75% faster FPS on average overall compared to the MacBook Pro 14-inch.
Of course, there’s also the issue with whether or not the game you want can run on a Mac, which isn’t a guarantee, while Windows is the default for all PC games on major platforms like Steam or GOG. I wouldn’t go out of your way to buy the 14 Premium to play games on, but it’s nice to know that you can effectively game if you’re on the road for work and you’re tired of writing up reports or designing work presentations in your hotel room.
Dell 14 Premium: Battery Life
- How long does it last on a single charge? 8 hours, 16 minutes
- How long does it take to charge from empty to full? It takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge to full with a 100W AC adapter
For battery life, the Dell 14 Premium doesn’t have spectacular longevity, especially compared to something like the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, which run about 55% longer than the 14 Premium, but there are costs involved in using discrete graphics and more power hungry OLED displays.
Overall, I think the tradeoff is worth it, but if batter life is a major concern for you, sticking with an LCD display and integrated graphics are the way to go here, and should get you a good bit more juice on a single charge.
Should you buy the Dell 14 Premium?
Category | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
Value | The 14 Premium is not totally out of line price-wise for its market. This is still a premium device, so budget-conscious buyers might be better off looking elsewhere. That said, for the level of performance and portability, it will likely offer a better value than a similarly specced MacBook Pro 14-inch. | 4 / 5 |
Specs | There aren’t a whole lot of configuration options available, you do get three Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and options for an RTX 4050 GPU and a gorgeous OLED display. | 4.5 / 5 |
Design | The 14 Premium is a good looking device that is well-made and portable. Its ‘virtual’ function keys, borderless trackpad, and lack of webcam privacy shutter knocks some points off though. | 4 / 5 |
Performance | While it doesn’t dethrone the MacBook Pro 14-inch as the go-to device for creative pros, it more than holds its own against Apple’s popular laptop and even outperforms it in key areas. | 4.5 / 5 |
Battery Life | At just over 8 hours of battery life on a charge, this isn’t the longest-lasting laptop going. If batter life is a concern, skip the RTX 4050 GPU and OLED display to reduce strain on the 69.5WHr battery. | 3.5 / 5 |
Final Score | The Dell 14 Premium outperforms the MacBook Pro 14-inch when every score is averaged, but there’s enough nuance here that it’s not a laptop I can unconditionally recommend to everybody. Most people? Yes; but creatives will still want to look at the MacBook Pro 14-inch. | 4.10 / 5 |
Buy the Dell 14 Premium if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
How I tested the Dell 14 Premium
- I spent about two weeks with the Dell 14 Premium
- I used it for everyday work and creative tasks
- I ran it through our standard battery of benchmark tests
I spent about two weeks working with the Dell 14 Premium, putting it through my typical battery of benchmark tests, and using it for everyday productivity and creative work.
I used standard benchmarking tools like 3DMark, Geekbench, PugetBench for Creators, and in-game benchmarks for PC gaming performance analysis.
I also used the laptop as my everyday device, including some light gaming in addition to working with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
I’ve been reviewing laptops for Techradar for more than five years, and I’ve tested more than a hundred laptops in that time, both for reviews and for investigative testing to support special computing features and content in that time, so I know better than most when a laptop is hitting the mark and when and where it misses.
- First reviewed August 2025
