Dell is headed in the right direction with the XPS 14, and I can recommend it again. It offers a lightweight design, nice speakers, and a solid webcam — and it brings back a physical function row. I wish the keyboard had more feedback, and you'll need to save up for even entry-level configurations.
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The Dell XPS 14 is back, and it was badly in need of reinvention. Following a poorly executed name change and some design choices that were made in the name of looks over functionality, the new system is a vast improvement. Starting at $1,599.99, the new Dell XPS 14 (DA14260) is lighter, smaller, and more functional than it has been in years, with a physical function row and tactile bars marking where the touchpad is. You get strong performance from Intel's new Core Ultra Series 3 processors, incredible battery life on the 1080p model — arguably enough already to consider it as one of the best ultrabooks — with a screen boasting a variable refresh rate that goes down as low as 1 Hz.
The shallow keyboard remains divisive, but updates to the speakers and an option for a tandem OLED help make the XPS feel fresh.
Design of the Dell XPS 14 (2026)
What a difference a few small changes can make. The Dell XPS 14 is a lovely little machine that, like the Dell XPS 13 Plus and Dell 14 Premium before it, is clearly made in the image of the MacBook Air.
But while it's taken a few years, Dell has finally listened to some of the most glaring criticisms of its previous designs and improved upon most of them. First and foremost, a year after ditching the XPS brand name, Dell has brought it back and slapped it right on the lid. There's no Dell logo on the otherwise spartan aluminum top — it's all XPS. I appreciate the commitment (Dell's logo can be found on the bottom of the system, for those who care to look).
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Our system came in graphite gray. As of this writing, Dell doesn't have a lighter "platinum" version available, though Dell tells me a lighter option, "shimmer," is on the way, which should resemble a champagne shade. When you lift the lid, the XPS 14 is slightly less austere than previous models. While the display still has a minimal InfinityEdge bezel, it doesn't have the same wow factor as it did even a few years ago. Many of Dell's competitors have thinned down their bezels to match.
What is impressive is what Dell brought back and what it added: a function row and subtle barriers on either side of the touchpad. Maybe this looks less like a futuristic device, but it sure looks like a more usable one. The touchpad's barriers are subtle lines that indicate where the haptic touchpad stops. Those light lines are enough to give me more reassurance when using the device, and I never even had a real problem before.
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