Upgrading your Windows laptop? This affordable Dell model is my top pick for work

Back in early 2025, Dell made a bold move. The company announced that it was going to rebrand its entire portfolio. Classic names like “XPS” and “Inspiron” were thrown out to be replaced with more generic-sounding titles. 

These include “Dell,” “Dell Pro,” and “Dell Premium.” I’ve been anxious to try out this generation to see if it introduces a new era for Dell or if it’s more of the same. I recently had that opportunity with the Dell 14 Plus.

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This is the company’s latest midrange laptop and one of the successors to the Inspiron series. It even looks like an Inspiron, sporting the familiar combination of gray, rubber keys on an all-silver body. Although the design isn’t revolutionary, I still had a wonderful time with the Dell 14 Plus. 

It’s this mixture of tried-and-true tech with next-gen advancements. To repeat what I said in my old Inspiron 14 Plus review, “the device has many of the hallmark features I enjoy in a laptop.”

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

The comfortable keyboard from the Inspiron 14 has returned. Its chiclet-shaped keys remain gentle yet responsive to the touch. They sit inside a chassis primarily made out of aluminum, giving Dell’s machine a nice, sturdy feel. Like before, the edges on the bottom half are rounded for comfort.

Also: This Lenovo laptop bombarded me with AI features – here’s why that’s a good thing

I also like to think that Dell read my past review because I recommended that the brand continue using the same anti-fingerprint manufacturing technique for future products. Sure enough, the Dell 14 Plus did not have a single fingerprint smudge on it in all my time handling it.

Solid performance

Inside my review was an Intel Core Ultra 256V processor, an integrated Intel Arc graphics card, and 16GB of memory. Below is a table highlighting the Dell 14 Plus’ performance results across multiple benchmark tests. I also included other laptops with similar hardware for comparison.

Looking at the numbers, you’ll notice that Dell’s computer did quite well in the three tests. It outperformed the Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition in every metric and is very close to outdoing the HP EliteBook. 

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This tells me the 14 Plus renders high-resolution images quickly and tackles demanding workloads with relative ease. It’s not a high-end model, but the configuration can deliver a similar experience.

This experience was reflected by my other performance test, in which I ran 50 different tabs on Google Chrome. My selection included several YouTube live streams (some in 4K resolution), ten ZDNET articles, five Amazon product listings, and a series of randomly chosen GIFs.

Unsurprisingly, the Dell 14 Plus did great. It handled all of the open windows with just a touch of slowdown; nothing too debilitating. The one major downside of the heavy workload was overheating — the keyboard became a little warm after several minutes.

Let’s talk about that display

So, the laptop delivers a top-notch performance in addition to having a solid design. You may be wondering, “Are there any issues with the Dell 14 Plus?” Yes, I wasn’t a big fan of the display. It isn’t bad per se; the screen just didn’t blow me away. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by other laptops that excel in these areas.

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My review unit had a 14-inch 2.5K (2,540 x 1,600) display, delivering impressive image detail. The display’s anti-glare coating helps, as it allows the panel to maintain clarity under bright conditions. However, I was disappointed by the lack of image-enhancing software like Dolby Vision. Compared to the Lenovo Yoga 9i mentioned earlier, the Dell 14 Plus has a noticeably dull screen.

Also inside the chassis are a pair of 2.5W speakers supported by Waves MaxxAudio Pro and Dolby Atmos Cores. Together, they enable immersive sound output. However, the drivers are located at the bottom of the laptop, pointing down. I’ve never been a fan of this placement as it muffles the sound.

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Fortunately, the aforementioned audio software pairing allows the Dell 14 Plus to circumvent this limitation somewhat. Music and dialogue sound fine coming out of the speakers. That said, I can’t help but wonder how better the sound output would be if the drivers were on top.

In terms of battery life, the Dell 14 Plus ran for about 11 hours and 40 minutes under Best Power Efficiency before draining completely. For the sake of comparison, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition can hit a solid 12 hours with the right optimization. I end up liking Dell’s machine more because it offers a comparable experience at a lower price.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Prices for the Dell 14 Plus start at $1,129. My review unit’s configuration is slightly more expensive at $1,180. The most powerful option comes with an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V chipset and 32GB of RAM. It is currently on sale at a discounted $1,280. All three come with a 1 TB SSD.

Dell’s latest machine stands tall as a great affordable option that performs very well amongst a sea of expensive computers. It was such a good experience that I am overlooking the few issues I had with it. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a next-gen laptop that won’t make your wallet cringe at the price tag. For me, it is definitely a highlight of 2025.

That said, if you are looking for something else, I recommend the Lenovo Yoga 9i Aura Edition. It has a significantly better display and robust AI features, although it is more expensive.