Dell 14S Review: Premium Mid-Range Laptop Faces Price and Competition Challenges

The Dell 14S, a mid-tier laptop succeeding the Dell 14 Plus, starts at $1,270, significantly higher than its predecessor. It features an aluminum chassis, 0.61-inch thickness, and optional OLED display, but has minor compromises like shiny plastic edges, mediocre 2-watt speakers, and a noisy webcam. Ports include two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, two Thunderbolt 4, and a headphone jack, but no SD card slot. Higher configurations with Intel Core Ultra 7 355, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage cost $1,469, undercutting the Dell XPS 14 by $400. Battery life is strong, lasting 20 hours for 50% drop in video playback, but Smart Charging caps at 80% and is difficult to disable. The OLED display covers color gamut well but only reaches 300 nits and 1920x1200 resolution, lower than the Dell 14 Plus's 2560x1600. Competition includes the HP OmniBook 5 at $630 with similar specs and OLED. The Dell 14S faces an uphill battle against cheaper previous-gen models, making it hard to recommend despite its premium feel.