Laptops · Ranked #41 of 43 · Best for ultrabook battery life

Dell 14S

68
Weak
Average of 6 professional reviews
2 of 6 recommend it · one critic disagrees
Where the 6 reviews landedRange 40–80
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 68.3 · 5 printed, 1 estimated · printed scores only: 74

Just Josh's review from 2024 has no printed score; we read it as 40/100. The other 5 average 74.

Dell 14SImage: Dell

6 professional reviewers tested the Dell 14S, and 2 recommend it. Most praised: battery life and picture quality. Most common complaint: brightness.

Reviewed by Trusted Reviews, Tom's Guide, WIRED and 3 more

The catch: The OLED screen is dim and glossy, and options push the price up.

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What 6 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 80
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2026

    A capable ultrabook with class-leading battery life, solid performance and a pleasant OLED panel.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  2. 80
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2026

    Delivers an XPS-like feel at a lower price with excellent battery life, making it appealing for students.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  3. 70
    WIREDHands-on review

    A solid premium-feeling laptop with great battery and display colors, but its price is high against cheaper and older models.

    Read WIRED review
  4. 70
    ZDNETHands-on review · 2026

    A midrange laptop that nails fundamentals, with smooth performance, a vivid OLED display and around 22 hours of battery.

    Read ZDNET review
  5. 70
    Tom's HardwareHands-on review · 2026

    A cheaper alternative to the XPS 14 with aluminum build, OLED option and over 20 hours of battery.

    Read Tom's Hardware review
  6. 40est.
    Just JoshNo printed score · Video review · 2024

    The Dell XPS 14 is a visually stunning laptop that is unfortunately held back by its high price, poor display resolution, and frustrating keyboard design.

    Read Just Josh review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

Watch a video review

From YouTube channels we vetted by hand. Videos paid for by the brand are never listed.

What critics praise most

Battery life5 of 6
Picture quality3 of 6
Performance3 of 6

What critics dislike most

Brightness4 of 6
Price4 of 6

Other laptops critics rate highly

Apple MacBook Air (M4)Image: Apple
Best overallApple MacBook Air (M4)7 reviews · broad agreement91
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)Image: HP
HP Spectre x360 14 (2024)4 reviews · critics agree89
Apple MacBook Air (M5)Image: Apple
Best all-round laptopApple MacBook Air (M5)8 reviews · broad agreement88
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)Image: Apple
Runner-upApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)7 reviews · critics agree87

Also reviewed, not yet scored

Common questions

Is the Dell 14S worth it?

Critics are divided: 2 of 6 recommend it. The OLED screen is dim and glossy, and options push the price up.

Do critics agree about the Dell 14S?

One critic disagrees: scores range from 40 (Just Josh) to 80 (Trusted Reviews), a spread of 40 points across 6 reviews. Just Josh's review from 2024 has no printed score; we read it as 40/100. The other 5 average 74.

What do critics dislike about the Dell 14S?

Brightness (4 of 6 reviews), Price (4 of 6 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Dell 14S?

The Apple MacBook Air (M4) (critic score 91), best overall.