When it comes to laptops, for a long time I have been married to an Apple MacBook and all of the quirks and idiosyncrasies that come with being an Apple girl. But when the opportunity came up to review Dell's new XPS 14, shown at CES 2026, my interest was piqued.
At CES this year, Dell announced it was bringing back the popular, slim and lightweight XPS range (after controversially dropping it the year previous), and it wasn't long before shoppers rushed to snap one up. A light, stylish laptop for not-quite Apple prices? Where do I sign.
Here's how I got on with the revolutionary device, and why I think it's more than a competitor for the Apple MacBook.
The laptop and its design
At $3,499.10, the XPS 14 is not cheap. But for that price, you get a super stylish, slim and attractive laptop you won't be embarrassed to pull out in a meeting, on the train, in a coffee shop and at home. From a fashion perspective, I love how easily this laptop slots into my handbag when I'm heading out for the day, and how good it looks when I bring it out.
Crafted with premium CNC aluminium (which gives it the premium feel), Gorilla Glass 3, and a new unibody structure with thicker walls, the laptop has sleek glass palm rests, minimal parting lines and a tonal colour palette create a clean, calming interior free of visual clutter. That design attention to detail continues when you open the laptop up. With a super-bright screen, a gorgeous 14-inch touchscreen OLED display with 2.8K resolution and attractive Windows display, this laptop makes browsing the internet and doing your work a breeze.
It feels luxurious and elegant (dare I say expensive) to the touch, but the laptop also feels like it's durable and can withstand whatever you throw at it. XPS laptops are famous for being long-lasting and Dell's premium, flagship Windows laptops that will last a lifetime. And from a few weeks of using it, I can safely agree.
The laptop and its use
Having used this laptop for the last month, I am a full convert to the Dell XPS 14. Not only does this laptop look the part in terms of style and design, but it also delivers in almost every detail — from crisp clarity to battery life.
One of my favourite features is the screen resolution, which allows for deep blacks and high contrast whatever you're looking at. I also love the amount of space under the keyboard for your wrists to rest while you're typing (it's the small things), as well as how slowly the battery seems to drain when you're using it out and about without a charger. Oftentimes, I find myself nervously checking the battery sign when I'm using a laptop out in the world. But this one seemed to withstand at least a day of browsing, uploading, working and surfing; no mean feat in this world of constant streaming and high-intensity visuals. Dell say it can give up to 31 hours of battery life in one charge, though I confess I am yet to fully test this stat out.
Other great features include the 4K webcam, the lightweight but premium feel (it weighs just 1.36kg), the Intel Core Ultra Processor and the edge-to-edge display that maximises your view within a compact design. Watching a show on this laptop is seamless and immersive, and I also love the built-in Eyesafe technology, which reduces harmful blue light without sacrificing colour quality, so you can work and play comfortably for longer.
While I am not a gamer, I believe this laptop is ideally suited to those who do. Dell promise you will experience crisp detail and peak performance for your favourite games, thanks to the Intel XeSS 2 — which delivers ultra-smooth, high-resolution visuals, so every frame looks stunning without sacrificing speed. The sound quality is also surprisingly impressive. The hidden 10W quad speaker system delivers bold and clear audio without any of the unsightly grills.
The only thing I needed to be won around to is the keyboard, which takes some getting used to. Because it is flat, it feels slightly unusual to the touch and sometimes makes it harder to type as I'm used to doing so. But this feels like a minor quibble with what is otherwise an excellent laptop.
The laptop and the verdict
When it comes to whether I would recommend this laptop to shoppers, I say yes: whole-heartedly. Not only does it compete with Apple in terms of style, but it also really lives up in terms of substance. I love how portable it is and how easy it is to use productively and creatively at work or at home. If you're in the market for a new laptop, it's one of the best I've ever seen. And I'm not sure I'd go back to Apple after using it.
