Dell's new XPS 14 laptop has improved build quality and performance. It features Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 chips and a variable refresh rate display.
Key facts
- •The XPS 14 features Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 chips
- •The laptop has a seamless haptic trackpad with lightly textured boundary lines
- •The keyboard has a proper function row but has a paltry 0.8mm key travel
- •The OLED model has a 2880 x 1800 tandem OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate
- •The XPS 14 has excellent battery life, with the OLED model reaching over 10 hours of near-continuous mixed usage
- •The entry-level model costs $1,999.99 and the OLED model costs $2,899.99
The 2026 XPS 14 is a premium laptop with incredible build quality and good performance. It has improved in almost every way from the previous XPS 13 model. The new XPS 14 features an actual physical F-row, better speakers, and remarkable battery life.
Design and Build
The XPS 14 has a seamless haptic trackpad with lightly textured boundary lines and a keyboard with a proper function row. The build quality is impressive, with the laptops being only a little thicker than a MacBook Air but about a third of a pound heavier. The trackpad has some issues, such as requiring extra hard presses for a click to register and occasionally getting accidental double-clicks.
Performance and Display
The XPS 14 features Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 chips, which provide solid thermals and power efficiency. The OLED model has a 2880 x 1800 tandem OLED touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the lower-end model has a 1920 x 1200 IPS panel with a variable refresh rate that goes from 120Hz to 1Hz. The OLED display is rich in deep contrast and lively colors, while the IPS panel is slightly brighter but less vibrant.
Battery Life and Price
The XPS 14 has excellent battery life, with the OLED model reaching over 10 hours of near-continuous mixed usage and the IPS model reaching over 14 hours. The IPS model even smashed the battery rundown test with 26 hours of continuous runtime. However, the XPS 14 is wildly expensive, with the entry-level model costing $1,999.99 and the OLED model costing $2,899.99.
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Verge.
