Meet the new XPS 14: the super-portable laptop that keeps your data safe

If your idea of a laptop that places a premium on security is a rather chunky device that looks all very business-like – and for that, read boring – you need to think again. With the XPS 14, Dell has produced a highly secure notebook, but one that still benefits from a striking appearance, durable nature, and it's very light and slim so it's easy to take anywhere.

There's no need to compromise between the safety of the laptop – and your potentially very sensitive data on it – and portability with the XPS 14, because Dell provides both. This article will explore how Dell has delivered a tight level of security with the XPS 14, while still producing a sleek notebook that turns heads and came out as the top laptop in TechRadar's 'Best of CES 2026' list.

TL;DR

• The XPS 14 features a number of security capabilities designed to keep it safe while in use, including a suite of BIOS protections collectively termed Dell SafeBIOS. That, combined with the Dell Trusted Device application, helps detect tampering deep in the BIOS and firmware layers of the device.
• Windows Hello logins and Dell SafeID with TPM back up those BIOS-level defenses with smart credential security, while a unique implementation of the Kensington lock slot gives the XPS 14 additional security when used in public places.
• This focus on security doesn't mean Dell has compromised elsewhere, as the XPS 14 isn't just a highly secure device, it also looks good, offers plenty of battery life, and is a sleek and lightweight laptop that's easy to take anywhere.

1. A laptop built with security in mind

A foundational element of security for the XPS 14 is that it benefits from Dell SafeBIOS, which helps keep your laptop, and the data on it, safe – just as the name suggests.

What is Dell SafeBIOS exactly? It's a suite of built-in security technologies designed to prevent some of the most dangerous attacks you might encounter, namely those aimed at the firmware or BIOS. These areas of the device – what we call “below the OS” – are largely invisible to software-only security and, as a result, a key target for sophisticated threat actors that want to establish persistent control that can survive reboots and OS reinstallations.

So, this is protection for the deepest level of your system, working with third-party defenses such as Intel Boot Guard and BIOS Guard for the best possible below-the-OS security. With the Dell Trusted Device enabled, the device is protected by a series of BIOS and firmware-level tamper detections, including off-host BIOS Verifications and Indicators of Attack (IoA), proprietary features that monitor for potentially malicious changes to BIOS attributes.

Ever worry that in a moment of tiredness, you might click on a link, or open a file, that you shouldn't? Ideally, everyone should be constantly vigilant about their security and, for example, check the contents or origin of an email message properly and carefully – but mistakes can happen..

Should you have the misfortune to run into something nefarious online, where other notebooks may let something malicious slip through, the XPS 14 with Dell Trusted Device and Dell SafeBIOS is designed to help catch and repel suspicious activity before an attacker does damage.

2. What other security features does the Dell XPS 14 offer?

On top of Dell SafeBIOS, other features that work to keep the XPS 14 safe and secure include logins with Windows Hello, and Dell SafeID.

If you're going to take this Dell laptop on your travels, it's obviously good to have a secure method of logging in to the device, which in this case is Windows Hello.

The XPS 14 has an industry-first 8-megapixel webcam with an ultra-narrow design that allows it to sit in the slim bezel at the top of the screen, and this supports Windows Hello via its infrared sensor. This means you can use facial recognition for logins, and once the system is trained to detect your face in a few different lighting conditions, it's a very quick and secure way to get into your laptop – and make sure nobody else does.

The XPS 14 also benefits from Dell SafeID with discrete TPM, a security chip that stores the encryption and signing keys for Windows Hello – and other security features besides – to ensure they won't be compromised.

3. Peace of mind with an innovative take on the Kensington lock slot

The XPS 14 is also equipped with Kensington lock slot functionality to ensure that it's secure from potential theft when you're using the laptop in a public place, and Dell has come up with a unique twist in the implementation here.

In what's an industry-first, Dell has made it so that every USB-C (Thunderbolt 4) port on the XPS 14 can be used as a Kensington lock slot. This means that whichever ports are in use, or the positioning of the connectors, doesn't matter as you can employ any of them to lock your notebook down in, say, a café or shared office space. With the XPS 14 secured to a heavy desk, that means you can leave the laptop momentarily – if you want to get a drink, perhaps – or not worry about it should you get briefly distracted.

The upgraded lock mechanism, created by Dell along with Kensington, is pending a patent, and it adds an extra element of safety – and a visible deterrent – to prevent opportunistic thieves who may otherwise be tempted to try a grab-and-run with your laptop (and the data on it).

4. Is the Dell XPS 14 suitable for frequent travellers and easy to fit in a case?

As mentioned at the outset, if you had visions of a secure laptop being more of a brick-like, hefty device, this couldn't be further from the truth with the XPS 14, as Dell has ensured it's commendably thin and light.

In fact, the XPS 14 is the slimmest 14-inch laptop that Dell has ever made at 14.6mm. It also has a small overall footprint – at 210 x 310mm, it's more comparable to a 13-inch notebook, such is the compact nature – and it's light at 3lbs. So, if you're taking public transport and need to fit the Dell XPS 14 into a backpack – or you're flying with a small piece of cabin baggage – you'll find this laptop takes up a lot less space than you might imagine.

Dell's premium build quality – with durability checked in extensive drop, heat, and wear-and-tear testing – also means you don't need to worry about the XPS 14 taking a few knocks while it's in your travel backpack.

5. There's no compromise in battery life with the XPS 14 either

If you were worried that something's got to give with the XPS 14 – if it has security locked down tight, as well as portability and its slim nature – then don't fret that Dell has cut back with longevity, because this laptop boasts excellent battery life.

What does excellent mean? With up to 31 hours¹ of longevity when on the move, Dell claims the XPS 14 has the best battery life of any 14-inch notebook currently on the market.

How does the XPS 14 manage to last for so long away from a power socket? It's down to a combination of a few factors, one of which is the cutting-edge Panther Lake processor that reaches new heights for Intel in terms of power-efficiency.

On top of that, Dell has used new tech with the battery in the XPS 14. Higher density energy cells (900ED cells – another first-to-market feature) mean that more power can be packed into a small space in the battery. A further innovation comes in the form of a screen that can lower the refresh rate to 1Hz intelligently (when static content is displayed) to reduce power consumption. That's with the LCD model – the OLED display can drop to 20Hz – but either way, this saves a surprising amount of power.

All this adds up to more than all-day battery life, and an XPS 14 laptop where there's no compromise on staying power, as well as security, portability, or durability for that matter.

If you think a Dell XPS 14 is right for you, find out more on the Dell website: US readers click here, AU readers here, CA readers here and UK readers here.

And there’s one more thing to know before you buy: Dell offers a price match guarantee. To learn more about the Dell price match and price guarantee, including the terms, exclusions and restrictions, US readers can click here, AU readers here, CA readers here and UK readers here.