Earlier this year, Dell undertook a significant rebranding effort, streamlining its product names and bidding farewell to some of its most iconic lines, including XPS and Latitude. This shift wasn’t just cosmetic; it represented a deeper transformation in the company’s approach to design and branding.
The once-shiny aesthetic charm of the XPS line made way for a more utilitarian look focused on productivity, sacrificing some standout attributes for simplicity that could be somewhat confusing for consumers.
Among the first products to emerge from this rebranding was the Dell 16 Plus, which quickly received acclaim for its impressive performance and sleek design. Recently, I had the chance to test the Dell Pro 14, a more budget-friendly sibling that still packs a punch when it comes to performance.
After using the Dell Pro 14 as my main device for a couple of weeks, I found it to be quite the reliable workhorse, delivering a solid performance that comfortably competes with the MacBook Air, without the hefty price tag associated with the MacBook Pro.
A Practical Workhorse
The specific configuration I tested featured 32GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro (350) processor. To put things into perspective, upgrading the MacBook Air with a similar memory would cost around $1,580 (€1,350), while even the entry-level MacBook Pro with the M4 processor will set you back at least $2,200 (€1,900).
In contrast, the Dell Pro 14 I reviewed is priced around $1,400 (€1,200), even offering the option to double the internal storage to a whopping 1TB. This price difference is significant, allowing for several key advantages beyond mere cost savings.
One major benefit is the diverse selection of ports available. Unlike Apple’s offerings which typically feature a USB-C input and, for the MacBook Pro, an HDMI port, the Dell Pro 14 flaunts:
- Two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4.0 ports with power delivery and display capabilities.
- Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports with PowerShare.
- A dedicated HDMI 2.1 port and a gigabit-class Ethernet port.
The USB-C ports use a modular design, which enhances their durability and repairability compared to previous generations.
Moreover, these enhancements lead to a modular engineering structure that boasts four times higher twist resistance and nearly 33 times better impact resistance compared to its predecessor, the Latitude series.
Security is also a strong point for the Dell Pro 14, which comes equipped with a fingerprint sensor and an IR camera array for seamless Windows Hello facial recognition. In my experience, both methods worked smoothly.
In today’s fast-paced work environment, ease of authentication can drastically enhance productivity. The laptop also integrates a physical privacy shutter to obscure the FHD webcam when not in use, adding another layer of security.
Powerful Performance
Dell has made an interesting choice of processor for the 14-inch business laptop. The version I evaluated comes with an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 350 processor. While not the latest model from AMD, it still offers robust performance capabilities. The processor features:
- Four Zen 5 cores and four Zen 5c efficiency cores.
- A peak clock speed reaching up to 5GHz.
- Integrated graphics performance through the Radeon 860M iGPU.
In terms of performance metrics, it outperformed Intel’s Core Ultra 7 258V processor by about 12% in Cinebench (R24), although it still lags behind Apple’s M4 silicon. When tested on Geekbench, the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 350 also surpassed Intel’s offering across single-core and multi-core assessments.
When running multiple applications such as Chrome, Slack, Trello, Teams, Photoshop, and Spotify, the Dell Pro 14 never faltered. It handled everything smoothly and never required any adjustments to its fan settings for cooling.
Does the Dell Pro 14 offer enough power for heavy workloads? Absolutely. Its capabilities are more than sufficient to handle common business tasks as well as more intensive activities like coding and light video editing.
Does the Dell Pro 14 provide good battery life? Yes, with a 55-Whr battery that delivers impressive longevity. Dell claims it can last up to 15 hours on a full charge. In my testing, it sustained around 11.5 hours of consistent work, making it viable for a full day’s use, although it’s noteworthy that it does consume quite a bit more power under higher usage scenarios.
What’s the build quality like on the Dell Pro 14? It weighs slightly more than the MacBook Air but is much lighter than the MacBook Pro. The design features a polycarbonate shell that is functional, yet it exhibits some flex. Although it doesn’t undermine the typing experience, it would have benefited from a stiffer design that imparts a more premium feel.
Overall, if you are seeking a productivity-driven workhorse that offers powerful performance without the steep price tag of Apple’s offerings, the Dell Pro 14 stands as a highly competitive option. Its value proposition is particularly compelling for business users looking for efficiency without compromise.
For more insights and information, be sure to explore related content over at Moyens I/O.