Dell 14S review

The Dell 14S is the budget Windows option on this list, at $649.99 on Dell's US store when we checked. Dell pitches it as a lightweight 14-inch laptop with fresh colors and long-lasting battery life. The base model pairs a Series 3 Intel Core 5 320 processor, which has a 16 TOPS NPU and six cores, with 8GB of LPDDR5x memory and a 256GB SSD. The 14-inch display runs at 1920 x 1200, 60Hz and 300 nits with 100% sRGB. Dell fits a 61.2 Whr battery, larger than the MacBook Air's, and lists a starting weight of 2.53 pounds. The savings show in the details: the base memory is single-channel, the keyboard is not backlit, and the HDMI port is version 1.4. Upgrading to 16GB adds $200, which brings it close to the XPS 13 with student pricing. For most students that makes the XPS 13 the better Dell, but the 14S is a fair choice when the budget is firm.

Who it is for

Students who need an inexpensive Windows laptop for papers, browsing and video classes.

Price

From $649.99 at Dell when checked.

Accessories Dell Price $649.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Series 3 Intel Core 5 320 processor with a 16 TOPS NPU
• 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display at 60Hz, 300 nits and 100% sRGB
• 8GB LPDDR5x memory, with a 16GB option
• 256GB SSD, with 512GB and 1TB options
• 61.2 Whr battery and a starting weight of 2.53 pounds

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Low price for a current Windows 11 laptop
• Strength: Large 61.2 Whr battery
• Strength: Several color options
• Weakness: Base model has 8GB of single-channel memory
• Weakness: Non-backlit keyboard on the base model
• Weakness: HDMI 1.4 port is an older standard

Key facts

• Price: From $649.99
• Processor: Intel Core 5 320
• Memory and storage: 8GB and 256GB (base)
• Display: 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz
• Battery: 61.2 Whr
• Weight: From 2.53 pounds

Where it ranks

Dell 14S is No. 8 in our Best Laptops for Students verdict.