Dell 14S and 16S laptops are stepping in where Dell’s old Plus models used to sit. The new machines are positioned below XPS, but above basic budget laptops, with modern AI PC chips and display upgrades for everyday productivity buyers.
Dell says the lineup supports Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, up to the Core Ultra 9 386H. AMD Ryzen AI 400 Series versions are also planned. Both sizes run Windows 11 and are Copilot+ PCs, with dedicated AI hardware for on-device tasks.
Midrange, but not bare-bones
The standard display is FHD+ with 400 nits of brightness. Buyers can step up to QHD+ panels with a 120Hz refresh rate, 500 nits and Dolby Vision. OLED options are also available for shoppers who want deeper black levels and stronger contrast.
Memory choices include 16GB or 32GB, while storage ranges from 512GB to 2TB. The Dell 14S weighs about 3.2 pounds, and the 16S comes in around 3.9 pounds. Both are available in Celestial Blue or Frost Blue.
Battery life is the pitch
Dell’s biggest claim is battery life. The 14S is rated for up to 24 hours of productivity or 18 hours of streaming. The 16S flips that story, with up to 26 hours of streaming and 14 hours of everyday work. Real-world results will depend on the panel, chip and workload.
The Dell laptop lineup is already available in the U.S. for Intel models. Pricing starts at $1,270 for the 14S and $1,320 for the 16S. AMD versions are expected later this month.
This looks like Dell trying to make its middle tier easier to understand after last year’s naming shuffle. It is still not cheap, but the mix of AI PC hardware, OLED options and long battery claims should make the 14S and 16S worth watching beside machines like Apple’s entry-level MacBook Neo.
