Dell XPS 13 vs Dell 14 Plus: two of our favorite models are on sale – but which is the better buy?

It's a great time to shop for a new laptop, as the official Dell Store has launched its annual Presidents' Day sale with machines starting at just $349.

Not only are there great discounts across the board, but several of our most highly rated Dell models are listed with significant discounts. Two in particular have caught my eye: the excellent Dell 14 Plus for $699 (was $1,219), and the Dell XPS 13 for $949 (was $1,299).

The Dell 14 Plus is one of our favorite Windows 11 laptops from the past few years, and a great choice if you just want a solid machine with plenty of power. The Dell XPS 13, on the other hand, is an absolute classic that we've always rated highly here at TechRadar due to its stunning design and feather-weight portability.

Below, you can find out how these two models compare with a detailed deep dive. Both these discounts today are the best we've seen since Black Friday all the way back in November, but as you'll see, these are two very different laptops, despite being from the same brand.

Today's two best laptop deals at Dell

Which machine is the better buy right now?

Both of these laptops are relatively lightweight and powerful – they're both fantastic options if you need a reliable machine that you can take everywhere. That said, there are obviously several fundamental differences between the two.

The Dell 14 Plus is a mid-range laptop designed from the ground up to be a great value option. You get a really decent set of specs for the money (this Ultra 7 configuration is a great option), and a healthy selection of ports, so you don't need a dock to hook it up to most peripherals.

The XPS 13, on the other hand, is very much a premium product that's more akin to a high-end Apple MacBook than most Windows 11 laptops. The whole body is CNC'd from a single block of aluminum, you get a lovely haptic touchpad, and the display is a higher-end panel with adaptive refresh rates.

The XPS 13 is also lighter, but that does come with a serious drawback. You only get two ports on the XPS 13, which means you'll likely have to carry a dock if you need to hook it up to an external monitor or the like. That can offset any weight savings, so bear that in mind.

The XPS 13 configuration shared on this page is also the Snapdragon X Elite configuration, rather than the Intel-based version. That means excellent performance and battery life, but you'll definitely want to make sure all your required applications are fully supported on Snapdragon chipsets.

Note that you can also get an Intel-based XPS 13 for $1,199 (was $1,499) at the official Dell Store right now, if you'd rather go down that route.