I tested the Dell14S for a week — and its epic battery life blew me away
The Dell 14S delivers epic battery life, solid performance, and a premium chassis, but a dim display and pricier configurations could hold it back.
The Dell 14S is a new addition to Dell's 2026 laptop lineup, positioned below the XPS 14 and replacing the short-lived 14 Plus. It aims to offer XPS-like features at a more affordable price, and the result is a qualified success. While it features a more durable aluminum chassis and delivers strong performance, the price increase of roughly 43% compared to the previous 14 Plus is a significant factor to consider.
Dell claims the 14S offers an exceptional battery life, lasting 20 hours and 41 minutes in continuous web surfing tests, which outperforms the MacBook Air M5 by over 5 hours and is as good as the XPS 14 OLED. However, the display is dim, and the laptop is relatively thick for its size. Despite the higher price, the Dell 14S offers premium build quality, solid performance, and a great design that puts it in the same league as other premium laptops.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
