• Dell's new XPS RTX Spark Desktop has been glimpsed
• We don't have tech specs yet, but this mini PC could be a threat to the Mac Studio
• Apple is struggling to produce this Mac, and compact PCs like the XPS model could lure buyers away – depending on exact pricing

Nvidia's RTX Spark processor was one of the major highlights of Computex 2026, with Team Green (in conjunction with Microsoft) promising to 'reinvent' the PC no less — and we've just seen Dell's effort at a mini PC packing this CPU.

Wccftech caught a glimpse of the Dell XPS RTX Spark Desktop at Computex (via Notebookcheck.net), and as you can see from the image below, the mini PC takes a fair bit of inspiration from the Mac Studio.

It's a compact box with the power button on the front, accompanied by a selection of ports including four USB Type-C, and an HDMI plus Ethernet port. Around the rear of the XPS mini PC there are two further USB-C ports alongside a microSD card slot.

Whereas Wccftech divulges thermal info on a rival RTX Spark device, the Asus ProArt Mini PC, which targets 140W, we don't know how much power Dell will be supplying to this XPS box.

We're told the XPS mini PC will run with the N1X chip (the more powerful RTX Spark CPU, as you might expect) and up to 128GB of RAM on board. That copious amount of memory makes it clear that this is a device targeted at professional usage, and specifically running AI locally.

Analysis: sparking a small but powerful rebellion?

Reaction to the Dell XPS RTX Spark Desktop has been somewhat mixed, I think it's fair to say. As noted, we don't have the full story on the spec yet, and we're also missing some critical information in terms of the pricing. Dell hasn't indicated what this PC might retail for — we don't yet have an official press release for the device — and the same is true for pricing with other RTX Spark desktops (there are a bunch of these inbound, including one from Microsoft and the mentioned Asus hardware).

Collectively, what these compact PCs do offer is an alternative to Apple's Mac Studio at an opportune time when the latter is notably struggling for stock. If you want a Mac Studio right now, there's a distinct problem with Apple having order lead times of the likes of four months or more. On top of that, the maximum amount of RAM you can equip your Mac Studio with is 96GB currently, whereas some AI use cases demand much more than that (and that spec is only available with the much pricier M3 Ultra variant, otherwise you're looking at a cap of 64GB for the lesser Mac Studio).

So, in a time where that's increasingly a problem for developers and those engaged in heavyweight AI work, RTX Spark machines could be an alternative to Apple's PC — Dell's XPS box will run with up to 128GB.

The question is, can Dell muster stock which has that memory spec? As obviously it faces the same RAM headwinds as Apple does right now. The bigger worry for many, though, is exactly where the price might end up with such a model. The chatter we've heard thus far indicates a price tag for RTX Spark desktops which is north of $4,000 in the US, possibly closer to $5,000 (and regional equivalents to that). Although in fairness, a high-specced Mac Studio is very pricey too.

There may be folks who want to wait for the M5 version of the Mac Studio, granted, but I wouldn't hold your breath on that score. The RAM crisis is rumored to have sidelined that refresh for now, and that would certainly be no surprise given all the stock issues with the current Mac Studio.

As to how all this will play out, we'll just have to wait and see for now, as RTX Spark desktops (and laptops) aren't due to emerge until September at the earliest. If you order a Mac Studio from Apple now, though, you still won't have it by then.

• Dell has won a Pentagon contract worth $9.7 billion
• The technology services company will act as a single procurement point
• The Pentagon, intelligence community, and Coast Guard will jointly procure software

The Pentagon is looking to cut costs and stop software license sprawl in its latest contracts with Dell and Microsoft.

A $9.69 billion contract has been awarded to Dell to act as a single procurement point for Microsoft licenses across the US Defense Department, the intelligence community and the Coast Guard. The contract will move the Pentagon and other military departments away from duplicative spending on Microsoft licensing.

Defense Department Chief Information Officer Kirsten Davies said the contract would allow the Pentagon to save $422 million annually by consolidating “existing IT budgets from across the services and the agencies into a single efficient vehicle.”

Annual savings of $422 million

The contract awarded to Dell - known as the Microsoft Department of War Enterprise Software Agreement II Core Enterprise Technology Agreement - allows Dell to provide Microsoft 365, advanced cloud subscriptions and on-premises licensing. The contract continues the Pentagon’s existing Enterprise Technology Agreement with Dell and Microsoft.

However, the $9.7 billion is not new funding, but a consolidation of budgets from contracts that have come up for renewal at the same time.

“This second-generation blanket purchase agreement will streamline and consolidate critical Microsoft software and services across the Department of War, the intelligence community and the U.S. Coast Guard,” Davies said.

Acting Navy Chief Information Officer Barry Tanner said, “The vendors were all evaluated based on competition, comparison to GSA schedule pricing and overall chain of value to the department. Going through the process of evaluation, they came out on top.”

Michael Dell, the founder and CEO of Dell Technologies, has recently courted favor with President Donald Trump by pledging $6.25 billion to fund investment accounts for children, called “Trump accounts” in the President’s honor.

The Department of Defense has been under increasing scrutiny from across the political divide as it seeks approval for a $1.5 trillion budget for 2027. The Pentagon has failed every audit it has undertaken since they were legally required in 2018, with the Pentagon targeting to pass its first audit by 2028.

Via CNBC

• Equal1 and Dell's RacQ is the world’s first rack-mounted quantum computer for enterprise use
• It operates from a standard single-phase 1.6kW wall socket
• The system uses a built-in close-cycle cryocooler, eliminating the need for external cryogenic plumbing

Equal1 and Dell have come together to launch what they are calling, “the world’s first deployable silicon-spin hybrid quantum-classical computer,” built specifically to fit within the existing data center form factor.

Announced at Dell Technologies World 2026, the new prototype will fit inside a standard 19-inch data center rack, which means existing infrastructure wouldn’t have to be upgraded to accommodate future deployments.

Equal1 is framing the news as a major development whereby quantum computers will be suitable for enterprise deployment, beyond current research lab limitations.

A quantum computer which will fit where your classical computers already are

The entire solution is designed to meet enterprises where they are, with the rack units they already have, a standard power delivery and conventional networking architecture. For example, Equal1’s RacQ can be plugged into a standard single-phase 1.6kW wall socket and operate without external cryogenic plumbing.

The company says the 1,600W power consumption roughly resembles that of a high-end classical compute server or GPU-heavy enterprise system.

It also uses an integrated close-cycle cryocooler designed to maintain an internal operating temperature of 0.3 Kelvin (-459 degrees Fahrenheit), so the type of dilution refrigerator required by today’s quantum computers would not be necessary.

Powering RacQ is UnityQ, a quantum system-on-chip that uses standard semiconductor processes, which means scaling manufacturing might not be as much of a challenge.

Dell sees itself as a partner for future quantum deployments

As for where Dell fits into the equation, RacQ fits within a standard Dell VR3300 42U rack and weighs around 400kg.

“We are putting quantum inside the rack so customers can roll it in, plug it in and begin running hybrid quantum–classical workloads in days, using the infrastructure they already own,” CEO Jason Lynch wrote.

On the ground at Dell Technologies World, the experimental prototype combines a silicone quantum computer with a Dell PowerEdge R770 server, a PowerSwitch networking environment and Dell’s Quantum Intelligent Orchestrator.

With this new work in progress, Equal1’s model clearly positions RacQ as a co-processor for specific workloads. Classical systems will remain relevant, but quantum systems can handle targeted computational workloads, essentially mirroring how GPUs have accelerated AI workloads rather than replacing CPUs outright.

“Classical and quantum workloads operate as a single system,” the company wrote in a press release.

The partnership is not so much of a surprise, with Dell defining its role in quantum computing as an infrastructure layer and a systems integration partner for future hybrid computing environments.

“We're actively working to ensure quantum technologies can be seamlessly integrated into existing computing ecosystems,” Dell Quantum Infrastructure Lead Burns Healy shared during CES 2026.

• Dell squeezes nearly 10PB of flash storage into one compact 2U server
• KIOXIA’s massive SSDs eliminated the need for seven additional storage servers
• The complete rack configuration could reportedly cost more than $75 million

Dell Technologies has unveiled a new server configuration which packs an astonishing 9.8PB of flash storage into a standard 2U chassis.

The PowerEdge R7725xd achieves this density by combining 40 of KIOXIA's LC9 Series 245.76 terabyte SSDs with AMD EPYC processors.

A comparable configuration using conventional 30.72TB drives would require seven additional servers and consume roughly eight times more power.

How the server achieves such extreme storage density

The KIOXIA LC9 Series drives are available in a specialized E3.L form factor that allows 40 of them to fit inside a single 2U chassis.

Each drive delivers up to 245.76TB of flash-based storage with PCIe 5.0 performance for demanding AI data pipelines.

"The combination of the Dell PowerEdge R7725xd server and the KIOXIA LC9 Series enterprise SSD isn't just about high density," said Akihiro Kimura, technology executive at KIOXIA Corporation. "It's a shift in how we architect AI infrastructures."

The system supports up to five 400 gigabit per second network interface cards, enabling users to fill and move data through pipelines more efficiently.

This allows organizations to scale AI infrastructure without expanding their physical footprint or increasing their overall energy consumption.

What this means for AI data center economics

Arun Narayanan, senior vice president at Dell Technologies, said the server delivers the storage density and power efficiency that customers need to scale AI infrastructure without sacrificing performance.

The flexible, air-cooled storage configurations are designed to complement GPU-enabled servers, supporting AI data management and model training across the entire AI lifecycle.

A single rack using these servers could theoretically exceed 200PB of flash storage, though the cost would be substantial.

At approximately $15,000 per 245.76TB drive, a 200PB configuration would require roughly 815 drives costing around $12.2 million.

Building a complete rack with servers, networking, and cooling would likely push the total to $75 million or more.

Whether the premium cost of these high-density drives makes sense for every organization remains an open question.

For hyperscale cloud providers and major AI labs with massive data ingestion requirements, the math likely works in favour of density over cost per terabyte.

However, for smaller enterprises, traditional 30.72TB drives may still offer better value.

Dell and KIOXIA have raised the bar for what is possible in a 2U server, and the AI data center of the future will be built on density.

The 9.8PB milestone is not the end of the road, but it is a signpost pointing toward a future where storage capacity is no longer the bottleneck for AI innovation.

The technology is real, the density is unprecedented, and the implications for AI data centers are profound, even if the price tag makes most IT managers wince.

• Jensen Huang says the era of "useful AI" is here
• Nvidia CEO hails the speed and efficiency of new tech
• Huang joins Michael Dell on stage to unveil new AI Factory hardware

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has once again laid out his support for increased AI usage in the workplace, highlighting the huge potential productivity and efficiency gains for organizations everywhere.

"Our company has always gone fast, but it’s really going fast now," Huang said on stage at Dell Technologies World 2026 this week, “We’ve now arrived at the era of useful AI, which is the reason why demand is going parabolic, utterly parabolic."

"What took months now takes weeks. What took weeks now takes days. And what takes days now takes hours. Things that would have taken an hour, you and I expect instantly now. It’s a big deal in productivity, but a gigantic leap in computation requirements."

"The new Jensen"

"What has really changed is that our ambition has changed," Huang continued. "There’s no question my ambition has changed. I wanted to be somebody to do something, make a contribution, but was the old Jensen. The new Jensen: I’ve got big ambitions now!"

“The amount of software work that we do in our company now supported by agents is incredible,” Huang added.

“One engineer, a really good engineer today, is working with an agent, but a really great engineer in the future is going to be orchestrating a whole bunch of agents. We’re going to be orchestrating a whole bunch of sub-agents to do work. We’ve now arrived at the era of useful AI, which is just really exciting for all of us because until now it’s been novel.”

Huang was speaking at his now traditional cameo appearance at Dell Technologies World 2026, where he spoke alongside company CEO and founder Michael Dell, who was also keen to espouse on the benefits of workplace AI.

“Not long ago AI meant assistants that could write faster and summarize better and answer questions, but that was from the age of 20 percent to 30 percent productivity gains,” Dell noted. “It was valuable and kind of amazing but really only the beginning. Now we’re deploying agentic AI autonomous agents that plan, reason, execute and adapt and close a loop.”

Now is the time for businesses to “completely rethink and reimagine” workflows for the agentic AI era, Dell continued, noting that this, "is going to lead us to gains of 20 times and 30 times in terms of productivity improvement...so who gets there first will rapidly distance themselves from all the rest, and the companies that do not become agentic AI-driven businesses I think will struggle to survive.”

Huang and Dell also unveiled a host of new improvements to their AI Factory initiative, which will be boosted by the new Nvidia hardware announced earlier this year at GTC 2026.

This includes a Dell PowerRack with Nvidia Vera Rubin NVL72 (a version of which was signed on stage by Huang), which the company says can deliver up to 10x lower cost-per-token than Nvidia Blackwell for massive-scale agentic AI inferencing, alongside new PowerEdge XE9880L, XE9885L and XE9882L servers — the first built on Nvidia HGX Rubin NVL8, supporting up to 144 GPUs per rack with 100% direct liquid-cooled compute nodes and up to 5.5x the performance of HGX B200.

Dell signed off by calling Huang a “great partner and friend, a true leader and visionary of the AI age,” noting how the next era of AI infrastructure is going to “built by deep partnerships between companies that are advancing accelerated computing and the companies that know how to deploy it across the real world.”

“I’m here every year selling Dell!” Huang quipped.

• There are multiple reports of a nasty bug affecting Dell laptops
• It's seemingly caused by a recent update to Dell's SupportAssist app
• Affected laptops keep crashing every half an hour or so, but there's a fix in either removing or disabling the offending support services

If you have a Dell laptop running Windows 11 and you've been experiencing it regularly crashing every half an hour or so, you aren't alone by any means — and thankfully there appears to be a solution.

After a tip from a reader, Neowin picked up that there are multiple reports on the Dell community forum complaining that the laptop maker's SupportAssist software is bugged, and causing crashes where the PC completely freezes with a Black Screen of Death (BSOD).

There are a number of reports on Dell's forum, and also on Reddit, noting that the issue is hitting fleets of PCs (in the business world), as well as individual laptops, including Alienware gaming notebooks (there are a couple of cases mentioned, including for example an Alienware M16 R2).

Essentially, any laptop with SupportAssist installed could be prone to this bug, and going by the number of complaints, it's not uncommon — though it isn't clear how widespread the glitch is exactly.

Seemingly this has been caused by a recent update to Dell SupportAssist, and if you've encountered BSOD crashes and reboots happening regularly with your device, there is a solution that seems to have worked for most folks.

How to deal with Dell SupportAssist crashes

There are multiple reports of laptop owners or IT admins who have fixed this issue, and they all come back to the same solution: removing SupportAssist or disabling the service.

If you're reaching the end of your tether due to crashes and want to get rid of SupportAssist, that's as simple as heading into Settings and going to the Apps panel, then into the list of 'Installed apps'. Scroll down to find Dell SupportAssist, click the ellipsis (three-dot icon) on the right, and select 'Uninstall'.

You're not quite done, though, as there's also a Dell SupportAssist Remediation app — at which the finger of blame is actually being pointed by many — so you need to remove that as well. Some folks suggest removing everything pertaining to SupportAssist, which means ditching a third service, Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery Plugin, too.

After you're done with those, reboot your PC and hopefully you'll find the crashes are no longer happening. If you only removed the main app, and not all three, and that doesn't cure the issue, it's worth trying ditching them all. Remember that without SupportAssist, you will have to manually search for and apply any laptop firmware updates (from Dell's support website).

You can always reinstall these apps at a later date, once we hear from Dell that SupportAssist is fixed. Of course, remember that we haven't heard anything official from Dell yet, so this problem isn't confirmed — and ditto for the solution. But, going by most reports, removing SupportAssist works (although do note that I've seen the odd comment complaining that a laptop is still crashing even after ditching the app).

Another route suggested by some is to try merely disabling Dell SupportAssist Remediation (rather than engaging in any uninstallation). Do this by typing the following into the search box in the Windows 11 taskbar:

services.msc

Press Enter and this will pop up the services panel showing all local running services, so you'll need to scroll down and find Dell SupportAssist Remediation. Right-click on it, then select 'Properties', and in the panel that appears, in the dropdown menu called 'Startup type', select 'Disabled' (you can reenable it later by changing it back to 'Automatic').

Neowin also observes that this bug has seemingly cropped up before — last year in fact, where a different cure was found to work. This involved opening SupportAssist and running the 'scan hardware' option, and after that process had finished it seemingly did the trick (though it may take a while).

In the meantime, we'll just have to wait to hear from Dell about what might be going on here, but there's an obvious irony about an app that facilitates technical support causing a show-stopping problem on some laptops.

As one Redditor put it: "The irony of SupportAssist being the cause. I'm so glad I'm no longer in IT."

I remember it like it was yesterday. I got an email in my inbox with a link to preview an unreleased Dell display. The very moment that I saw the specs, I thought I was dreaming: 52 inches, 6K display, Thunderbolt dock, fast response time. And, from one of, if not the largest, display makers in the world.

I've said for years now that Dell monitors are a staple in the workspace; however, this is nowhere near the norm or regular in the average workspace. Most people who have seen this monitor on my desk, in the background of photos, or in virtual meetings assume it's a TV mounted on my wall. Some have even thought it's a window, depending on the content I have on it.

That's how good this monitor is.

At its core, it performs just like some of the other incredible monitors that I've tested from BenQ, Dell, LG, and beyond. However, there's one massive caveat. This monitor is absolutely massive. 52 inches sounds large when you read it on paper or see it in photos, but once you experience it in real life and realize that, as a 6-foot-2 individual, I could fit in the box it came in, it makes it all the more real.

The moment you plug in, you feel like you are entering a workspace, not just adding a panel to your machine. There's no need to switch around between what you have open or remember what was on the other screen. There's no need for multiple desktops, or even for your laptop to be open, to get just a little bit more screen real estate.

For me, this is possibly the best business monitor I've ever tested - so long as you have the space (and the need for higher resolutions). There's so much on here that I have had everything open I could possibly need for large research projects, and I have had plenty of space, especially if you have this thing scaled all the way up to 6K resolution. The amount of material you can fit on the screen is absolutely ludicrous.

Dell UltraSharp 52 U5226KW: Unboxing and First Impressions

Keep in mind I also review an insane amount of desks, and I regularly will come home or check my cameras and see massive boxes on my front porch when this monitor got delivered, I saw it while pulling up to my house, and I immediately assumed it was a desk that I was waiting for. In fact, as I write this, I realize that one of my regularly used desks that I'm currently testing is actually smaller than this panel is — madness.

Dell sends all the goodies that it normally sends with its monitors in the box, including cables, power supply, and a base that I love to hate on a little bit. Just to try it out, I put this model on the base at first, and then realized that the base is also significantly larger than others to hold this gargantuan of a panel.

So, I quickly took it off and put it on the monitor arm and realized that my nice monitor arm could not support the insane weight of this panel on its own. I resorted to resting the weight on my Grove made desk shelf and using the monitor arm to route cables and hold the monitor from falling forward and backward.

Once I plugged in my first machine to test this panel with it, it took me about two minutes to set my display preferences correctly on my machine and make sure that all my devices were plugged into all the different ports; then I got to work.

Dell UltraSharp 52 U5226KW: Design & Build Quality

I've mentioned it a little bit, but this monitor, outside of being massive in size, actually retains a pretty standard aspect ratio. It really does truly feel like just a properly scaled up version of a standard monitor, unlike ultra-wide, where you very clearly get extra width on the side, or a 16:10, where you clearly get some extra height. This one feels pretty standard when it comes to aspect ratio.

That's not to say that you will probably ever actually use anything in full screen on this display, unless it's for a movie, potentially a large virtual main, or presenting content. If you are truly using this as a productivity machine, odds are you'll have a myriad of windows open spread across this entire thing, with some shoved up in corners that are just reference materials, others that are dead center, and the like.

The panel itself continues to hold the quality of a standard Dell monitor, which I've spoken about many, many times. It feels like it will last a lifetime and like I will never have any issues with it as long as I treat it with basic decency.

One thing that becomes glaringly obvious when you have a giant display like this is desk depth. Because it's so large and it only has a slight curve to it, you'll need to make sure that you are sat far enough away from the desk to actually be able to utilize the full amount of screen without straining your neck to be able to see the edges.

The ports stay in the center back of the monitor, which are phenomenal once you have everything plugged in and pushed back to where you may want it. For changing things out, if you do have this monitor tucked back on the edge of a desk, potentially against a wall, it will be slightly difficult to get around, as your arm can't just reach in from the edges like a standard monitor. If you are able to get up and under the monitor from the front, you could do that and find your port if needed.

Originally, I was planning on putting this on a very hefty monitor arm like what I have for my main display, which is a very large (large is now a relative term, since Dell's display dwarfs my BenQ MA320U).

However, after setting my monitor on top of my shelf, supported by a monitor bent for mid to normally large I fell in love with the sleek, floating look and decided to keep and now I am thrilled with it. It keeps my cables clean. It makes it to where I can swivel out the monitor to plug in test machines and swap out docking stations I'm testing, all while looking fantastic and having very high functionality.

Dell UltraSharp 52 U5226KW: In use

I've tried to use this monitor every single day since getting it set up around a hundred days ago. If this was a YouTube review, I'm sure I would have a hundred-day test somewhere in the title or metadata, like all the YouTubers do. In that time, it really does feel like I have found a cheat code that gives me the ability to have multiple monitors, all while not having the annoyance of bezels or managing multiple monitors in whatever OS I'm working with.

There are times that I don't even use more than two-thirds of the available real estate. I've learned to understand that that's 100% okay and doesn't mean that I'm not fully utilizing what is in front of me.

There are other times that I have been working on large research projects, grinding on an insanely busy day and having a thousand things that I'm doing at once and having to triple task on things. Or other days where I'm in large meetings while also presenting, and I'm able to fit it all on a screen without even needing to have my laptop open.

On my other desk setups, I'm used to swapping between desktops on my Mac or context switching a lot with multiple windows open and hidden, and having to remember what's on the other screens when I can't fit it all. On this one, I can keep it all open, and then all I have to do is remember which zip code it is in (ok it’s not THAT big).

I will say that if you have the cash for it, this is an easy choice over an ultra-wide, as you still have that vertical space that you don't have on an ultra-wide.

While using this monitor, I have tested every single computer that has come through my studio on it. I have run gaming systems just for kicks and giggles. I have worked on it as many days as possible, and I have had it in the background of almost every virtual meeting I've had, simply just as an incredibly cool background that people either think is fake or a window.

At all times, I have an Apple TV, two docking stations, a display port running to whatever desktop I am testing at the time and HDMI running to whatever extra device I may want to plug-in on the fly. For the two docking stations, I rotate the different laptops I have, testing between those, and I'm able to pop them up on the panel or run picture-in-picture or picture-by-picture.

There were a few laptops and a few desktops that I was testing that were more budget-friendly and not as high-performance as the others. I was able to quickly spot which had the cheaper or lower-performance graphics cards, as they were not able to scale to the high resolution and sheer size of this panel. This made it glaringly obvious which ones had a higher graphical output.

If there's such a thing as an endgame monitor, this would probably be it. While it may not be the best thing for gamers, and I'm sure that there aren't going to be any businesses that buy this for the cubicles. When it comes to overall productivity and business performance, I'd be willing to bet that this monitor can outperform just about all of them.

Dell UltraSharp 52 U5226KW: Final verdict

This monitor has officially entered a class of its own. I know many people who don't even have TVs that are this large, and for sure there are most people who don't have monitors that have these kinds of specs.

To have both the size of a TV and the specs that outperform even some of the best monitors on the market, this monitor is in a class of its own. Like I said before, it truly transcends the idea of what a monitor can be and turns an expansion of your laptop into a true environment of productive mastery at whatever you are working on.

While I can't say this scientifically, I'd also be willing to bet that this monitor makes you smarter, more productive, better at your job, and whatever else it takes to be able to try and convince your boss to let you buy one for the office.

• Dell Pro 5 Micro delivers desktop-class computing in an ultra-compact form
• Single USB-C input allows powering directly from compatible Dell Pro monitors
• Integrated NPU provides 50 TOPS performance for on-device AI acceleration

Dell is shrinking the office desktop computer down to a block which can sit entirely behind a monitor while still doing the work of a full-sized business PC.

The new Dell Pro 5 Micro Desktop ditches the traditional tower for an ultra-compact form, which suits offices where desk space is limited and cable clutter is a visible problem.

This device draws up to 100W of power through a single USB-C input and can therefore run directly off a compatible USB-C hub monitor, such as a Dell Pro P screen.

USB-C powered design

The Dell Pro 5 Micro runs on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with an integrated NPU rated at up to 50 TOPS.

This is the maximum capacity Dell cites for its Copilot+ PC experience in the mainstream desktop line.

That level of AI throughput supports on-device acceleration for Copilot-driven workflows, background optimization, and low-power inferencing tasks.

The system supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory at speeds up to 7200MT/s, which should help keep multitasking and database-style workloads responsive - but the downside is that the thermal envelope of such a small chassis will likely cap how long it can sustain peak loads.

This device does not support Windows Studio Effects within Microsoft’s AI-oriented stack, which is notable given its Copilot+ classification - as a result, access to advanced camera and background processing features found on higher-end Copilot+ systems is limited.

The Pro 5 Micro is compatible with the Dell Pro 5 Wired Fingerprint FSS Mouse (model MS526C), which supports Windows Hello Enhanced Security Sign-in.

That pairing positions the desktop as a low-form-factor endpoint for organizations that want to roll out Recall-compatible PCs without committing to larger desktops or notebooks.

Despite its small form, the Pro 5 is a Copilot+-capable desktop with Intel vPro-style manageability, so organizations can treat it like other Dell Pro endpoints for imaging, patching, and remote provisioning.

Its standardized BIOS and cloud-based Intel vPro tools allow configurations to remain consistent across different CPU options without requiring separate system images.

This means IT teams can deploy and manage different hardware configurations without changing their workflow.

The Dell Pro 5 Micro is available now.

• Supercapacitors turn charging time from hours into mere seconds
• Fast charging exposes the real limits of lithium-ion battery chemistry
• Supercapacitor technology lacks sufficient energy capacity for practical electric vehicles

Dell has introduced a keyboard and mouse combo that charges in five seconds and delivers a full day of use.

The new Dell Pro 7 Rechargeable Compact Keyboard and Mouse relies on supercapacitor technology rather than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

This system delivers unprecedented charging speeds, with a full recharge in under 5 minutes, powering the keyboard for up to 3 months and the mouse for 1.5 months.

How supercapacitors change the charging equation

Supercapacitors differ fundamentally from conventional batteries in how they store and release energy.

Unlike lithium-ion cells that rely on chemical reactions to store power, a process that inherently limits charging speed, supercapacitors store energy electrostatically.

By combining high-speed charging with moderate energy storage, Dell enables a system where devices are ready to use almost immediately.

Dell’s implementation of this technology in the Pro 7 peripherals eliminates the need to leave devices plugged in overnight or carry spare batteries for critical moments.

The company also claims the mouse is the world’s lightest rechargeable pointing device that does not use a lithium-ion battery.

The compact design makes the devices ideal for mobile professionals, consultants, or anyone moving between hot desks, conference rooms, or home offices.

The keyboard offers quiet keys for minimal disruption, while the mouse delivers precise tracking without requiring heavy batteries.

This technology could reshape the electric vehicle (EV) industry within the next few years.

EVs rely almost entirely on lithium-ion battery packs that store energy through chemical reactions, and in a typical EV, full charging takes about 30 minutes on fast chargers or several hours using home setups.

That process typically delivers a driving range between 300 and 500 km, depending on the vehicle, but the limitation involves not only charger speed but also the underlying battery chemistry that governs energy storage.

Pushing energy too quickly into lithium-ion cells generates heat, accelerates degradation, and reduces long-term performance reliability.

In theory, an EV powered by supercapacitors could recharge in a few minutes rather than hours under current systems.

Such systems can also handle rapid bursts of energy more efficiently, improving acceleration and regenerative braking performance.

However, there is a trade-off because supercapacitors currently store far less energy than lithium-ion batteries.

This limitation means vehicles would experience reduced driving range if supercapacitors were used on their own.

Supercapacitors also tend to discharge stored energy more quickly over time, especially when the vehicle remains idle.

A more practical solution involves combining lithium-ion batteries with supercapacitors in a hybrid energy storage system.

This approach could improve charging speed, extend battery lifespan, and enhance performance without sacrificing overall driving range.

The same principle seen in Dell’s accessories suggests future EV systems may better balance charging speed and endurance.

• Dell Pro Premium prioritizes mobility while supporting serious business workloads
• Magnesium alloy chassis reduces weight without sacrificing durability or structural integrity
• More newly designed Dell machines also set for launch in May

Dell is pushing its executive-oriented notebook business laptop line toward a genuinely workstation-grade experience without adding bulk or weight.

The new 14-inch Dell Pro Premium sits at the top of the refreshed Dell Pro line-up, built for senior executives and customer-facing managers who move between offices, airports, and conference rooms throughout the day.

Dell says it is the lightest notebook in the Dell Pro family, and calculations suggest its chassis could shrink to roughly 15mm — 7% thinner than its predecessor — while still housing a full-sized 14-inch display.

What's new with the Dell Pro Premium?

The chassis relies on a magnesium alloy body finished in magnetite, which keeps mass down while giving the device a more solid, premium feel than a typical all-plastic business offering. That lighter frame makes it easier to carry alongside a power brick and briefcase over long periods.

The performance of this device focuses on modern business workflows, handling multiple apps, video calls, whiteboards, and large datasets rather than gaming or heavy rendering.

Inside, users will find an Intel Core Ultra Series 3, which integrates on-device AI and support Copilot+ PC experiences.

The 14-inch screen offers a Tandem OLED panel with richer contrast and deeper blacks, although higher power use may limit all-day battery life.

An 8MP HDR camera provides high-resolution video calls, supporting executives who rely on a polished virtual presence.

However, for those who need a true workstation, Dell’s Pro Precision 5S and 9 Series hardware complement the Pro Premium by offering much heavier compute and graphics muscle.

The Precision 5S marks the thinnest and lightest mobile workstation Dell has ever shipped - and relies on integrated Intel Arc Pro or AMD Radeon Pro graphics instead of a discrete GPU to keep weight and thickness in check.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Dell Pro Precision 9 T2 / T4 / T6 desktops are built for extreme workloads. They feature up to 15 PCIe slots and add support for five 300W Nvidia RTX PRO Blackwell-generation GPUs.

Dell also revealed more details about the newly designed Dell Pro 3, Dell Pro 5, and Dell Pro 7, set for a May launch. These machines boast a modular motherboard layout that frees up space for larger cooling fans and more efficient thermal management, helping keep CPU and graphics performance stable during extended meetings or AI-assisted workloads rather than throttling under heat.

These professional-grade laptops also come with the option of either the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 or and AMD Ryzen AI 400 chips.

“IT leaders can deploy sleek and modern devices users are excited to use at every level of the organization, along with improved performance, without sacrificing the manageability, security, or value they demand,” said Rob Bruckner, president, CSG Commercial, Dell Technologies.

The MacBook Neo, along with the Mac mini, is Apple's most affordable computing option at just $599. And yet it is a formidably capable device, possibly, a once-in-a-generation product. Why? One unknown I wanted to clear up was how well it ran Windows 11 in a virtual machine.

So I asked the team at Parallels to benchmark a Windows-equipped Neo, and what they delivered shocked me.

I didn't have high expectations given the Mac Neo's limited specifications. It uses similar hardware to the iPhone 16 Pro Max: an Apple A18 Pro with six cores, 256GB storage and 8GB of unified memory.

Against a $1,119 Dell Pro 14 laptop (Intel Core Ultra 5 235U @ 2.00 GHz, 10-core, 16GB RAM, running Windows 11 build 26200 natively), a MacBook Neo with a virtualised Windows 11 (build 26200) with six vCPU and 6GB vRAM (via Parallels Desktop 26) delivered approximately 20% higher single-core CPU performance than natively on the Dell computer.

That's across five industry-leading benchmark packages: Geekbench, PassMark, 3DMark, PCMark, Blender, and Unigine. I reached out to Parallels to obtain the raw data from these tests and will update the article once it is received.

For typical office productivity workloads, overall performance is approximately 20% slower than native Windows 11 on the Dell laptop.

Parallels said this “remains responsive and practical,” meaning it should be fast enough for everyday use. They also added that "this setup works well for standard office productivity (Microsoft Office, email, calendar), web applications and browser-based tools, business productivity software, and light development and testing".

There are obvious caveats - you still need to buy a copy of Parallels and a Windows 11 license - and this certainly warrants more extensive tests, something that I hope my peers will carry out.

Apple is only warming up

I cannot stress enough how important this finding is.

Here we have an Apple laptop that was never destined to run Windows 11, capable of running Microsoft’s flagship OS in a virtual machine, better than a Dell laptop designed to run Windows 11 natively.

Not only is the Dell laptop far more expensive, but its CPU is also expected to be more powerful. What we have seen is the fruit of vertically integrated platform, something that Apple mastered by kicking out Intel and Samsung from its Mac and iPhone range.

Own the hardware and the software and you can perform miracles.

This is mind-blowing and both Apple and Parallels deserve a big pat on the back for achieving this. It's too early to say the writing is on the wall for Windows laptops, but expect Apple to sell millions of these in the current financial year. Could it become Apple's best-selling computer ever? I wouldn’t bet against this.

Matt Hanson, who reviewed the MacBook Neo for TechRadar, quipped that “While I wouldn't recommend using Windows 11 on the MacBook Neo full-time, as native macOS performance is always going to be better, Apple's affordable laptop has put budget laptop and Chromebook makers on notice. It's not perfect, but the performance, build quality and design mean there's really no choice if you're looking for a laptop under $600: buy the MacBook Neo”.

Matt gave it a 4.5 out of 5, noting the presence of USB 2.0 ports, the lack of a keyboard backlight, and limited RAM as the only significant drawbacks of an otherwise stellar laptop.

I will not buy Apple’s cheapest laptop just yet but I - and I am sure millions of others - would find it hard to resist a $99.99 refurbished MacBook Neo in a few years.

Today's best MacBook Neo & Mac mini deals

• Dell CEO Michael Dell answered a question about Anthropic at a forum
• The CEO said companies shouldn't dictate how governments use their tech
• Dell added that its not a "workable model"

The CEO of Dell has said in a Bloomberg Television interview that companies in business with the government cannot dictate how their technology is used.

Michael Dell added, “I just don’t think that’s workable model,” when asked a question regarding Anthropic’s ongoing battle against the Pentagon’s designation of the company as a “supply chain risk.”

Speaking at a forum in Washington, the CEO didn’t mention Anthropic by name, and Dell added his company has systems and controls in place to ensure sales go only to authorized users, but did not elaborate.

The Anthropic battle

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently labelled Anthropic a “supply chain risk” after the AI company refused to budge on allowing the US government to use its Claude model for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems.

The designation, along with President Donald Trump issuing an executive order for all government agencies to stop using Anthropic technology, has resulted in Anthropic filing two lawsuits against the US government in an attempt to get the designation overturned.

The supply chain risk designation is typically reserved for foreign companies at risk of being abused by adversaries, with the most notable example being US sanctions and designations against Huawei.

What happens next?

By labelling Anthropic as a supply chain risk, the Trump administration is setting a dangerous precedent. Either companies are forced to comply with the US government’s desired use of a company’s product, as has happened with OpenAI’s latest contract, or companies do not renew their contracts and the government procures technology from a different company.

Those in the know will remember how Google ended its partnership with the US military after an internal petition reached over 4,000 signatures over the company’s involvement in Project Maven. The project involved AI image recognition software developed by Google being used for drone strikes in the Middle East.

Google chose to let its contract lapse without renewal, and the US government turned to other companies including Palantir, Anduril, Amazon Web Services, and Anthropic to fill the gap.

Now, in the fallout of the Anthropic situation, almost 1,000 Google and OpenAI employees have signed letters calling for clear limits on military uses of AI. Should these companies bow to their employees' demands, they could face the wrath of the US government. On the other hand, they may face a mass exodus of employees if their demands are not addressed.

One outcome that the US government may have failed to acknowledge in its dealings with Anthropic is that companies now may be less willing to work alongside the US Department of Defense due to fears their technology may be used for purposes their terms of service explicitly forbid.

• Dell Pro Essential laptops combine portability, performance, and collaboration
• Copilot key provides quick AI assistance for faster everyday workflow tasks
• MIL STD 810H durability ensures laptops withstand frequent travel and rough handling

Dell’s new Pro Essential 15 business laptop looks to help teams navigate hybrid work environments by combining portability, performance, and collaboration features in a single device.

To boost productivity, the 15-inch model includes a dedicated Copilot key for quick AI assistance, and also includes a built-in numeric keypad for faster data entry, and security features such as hardware TPM 2.0 with an optional fingerprint reader.

According to the company, it also uses recycled, low-impact materials, reflecting Dell’s broader approach to sustainability and responsible device design.

Laptops for small businesses

While mobility is important, many SMB operations still rely on stationary workstations to run offices, reception areas, or shared workspaces where stability is critical.

To support these environments, Dell offers Pro Slim and Tower Essential desktops as part of the Pro Essential portfolio, providing reliable performance with Intel processors, upgradeable memory and storage, and expansion slots for PCIe cards.

Tool-less chassis designs simplify maintenance, and built-in TPM 2.0 safeguards sensitive data.

By combining laptops, desktops, and mobile workstations, Dell ensures teams can operate seamlessly across all work environments without compromising performance or security.

These Dell systems also come with cloud-based monitoring through the Dell Management Portal integrated with Microsoft Intune.

With this, businesses can get remote oversight of devices with minimal manual effort, which is a plus, especially for IT teams with limited resources.

Microsoft Autopilot provides zero-touch deployment, maintaining consistent configurations across employees and locations.

For lifecycle predictability, Dell APEX PC as a Service (PCaaS) offers subscription-based access covering procurement, deployment, maintenance, and retirement of devices.

Sustainability is integrated throughout the portfolio, from recycled materials to circular design principles, supporting long-term device use and responsible operations.

SMBs have expressed the need for more than entry-level PCs that offer consistent reliability, protect data by design, and remain easy to manage as teams grow.

The expansion of the Pro Essential portfolio reflects Dell’s response to those needs, providing devices that offer flexibility, durability, and long-term value.

The Dell Pro Essential portfolio will be available globally through Dell.com and authorized channel partners, with regional availability and configurations varying by market.

Who will be the lucky customer to grab this collector’s item from eBay? This Dell Poweredge R820 server sells for a mere $1,200 (less than 1,700 Australian Dollars), about one hundredth its original selling price, talk about depreciation!

Yes, it’s located in Canberra, yes, it is a refurbished, 13-year old antiquated dinosaur in tech terms. But where else can you get a relatively cheap and affordable computer with 1TB of RAM, yes RAM- albeit the DDR3L type.

There’s 32 memory modules, each with a 32GB capacity so that’s less than $40 per stick (and just over $1 per GB), manufactured by SK Hynix. The same registered ECC (HMT84GR7AMR4A-H9) memory costs almost $60 in the US.

1TB DDR5 memory would set you back more than 10 times this price! So you’re essentially getting the rest of the server for free.

Dell PowerEdge R820 deal

And what a system it is! This is a rare quad-CPU server; each processor has eight cores/16 threads. Granted, these are Intel Xeon E5-4640 types, a 95W CPU launched almost 14 years ago, with a single-thread performance that’s vastly inferior to the Intel N100.

However, there are four of them, making it a fantastic, dirt-cheap way of running virtual machines via Proxmox or ESXi.

There’s plenty of connectivity options as well: two Fibre Channel cards (16GbE?), two SPF+ ports (10GbE), two Ethernet ports (Gigabit), a standard serial port, VGA ports, an iDRAC management port, a SAS connector to connect to external storage, USB and even a SD card slot.

Storage-wise, you get a pair of 10K SAS HDD and a single 800GB Intel DC S3700 SSD, just a SATA drive, but still very capable. Oh, and don’t forget the DVD drive and the pair of 1100W redundant power supply units.

Just as a caveat, shipping that monster to anywhere in the world will cost a lot of money, it has no rack rail (you won’t be able to mount), and there’s obviously no warranty.

And do not underestimate the power consumption on this server; it will likely consume almost 1Kwh costing you more annually, at least in the UK, than the price of the server itself. Think of it as an electric heater that’s also a server. Madness!

Gemini also tells me that it was never designed to be quiet (after all, it lived all its life in a data center in Australia). When it boots up, expect to experience something akin to a Boeing 747 taking off from your workbench, probably complete with the vibrations.

Also consider

If you missed out on that deal, then consider this Cisco UCS B440 blade server with four Intel Xeon E7-4870, four 300GB Intel SATA SSDs and 1TB of DDR3 RAM for a mere AU$3,799 (about $2,700). Yes, it is also based in Australia for some odd reason.

For a bit more, and a US shipper, this Sun Oracle ZS-4 ZFS storage server has 64 (yes 64) 16GB DDR3 memory modules with a pair of 600GB HGST 10K SAS HDDs and a bunch of other components as well. It costs significantly more with a sticker price just over $3,000 but you can make an offer.

Our last candidate is UK-based. Eight HP Proliant s6500 4U racks are on sale with eight nodes in each. Each node has two CPUs and 128GB RAM, totalling 1TB of system memory (128 8GB modules). At around $3230, it’s quite a bargain if you know what you’re doing and the seller will take offers as well.

• Dell patched critical flaw in RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines caused by hardcoded credentials
• Exploited as a zero-day since mid-2024 by Chinese state-sponsored group UNC6201
• Attackers deployed new Grimbolt backdoor and used novel “Ghost NICs” technique for stealth and lateral movement

Chinese state-sponsored threat actors have been abusing a rather embarrassing vulnerability in a Dell product for nearly two years, experts have claimed.

In a security advisory, Dell said its RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines contained a hardcoded credential flaw.

RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines (RP4VM) is a data protection and disaster recovery solution designed for virtualized environments, primarily VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. As it was being built, a developer left login credentials in the code, most likely to be able to quickly log in and test the product.

Limited active exploitation

Usually, developers would sift through the code before shipping the product and remove all traces of hardcoded credentials. However, sometimes they are forgotten, or left unchecked, leaving a gaping hole for cybercriminals to exploit.

Now, Dell says that all versions prior to 6.0.3.1 HF1 contained hardcoded credentials - a critical vulnerability because “an unauthenticated remote attacker with knowledge of the hardcoded credential could potentially exploit this vulnerability leading to unauthorized access to the underlying operating system and root-level persistence.”

To make matters worse, security researchers from Google and Mandiant have warned Dell of “limited active exploitation” of the flaw. The two companies are saying that the bug was being exploited, as a zero-day, since mid-2024, meaning they were using it for more than a year and a half.

The group apparently exploiting this bug is tracked as UNC6201. This is not a widely recognized group, such as APT41 or Silk Typhoon, but they are equally as dangerous. In fact, the researchers said the group deployed multiple malware payloads, including a brand-new backdoor called Grimbolt, built in C# using a new compilation technique that made it faster and harder to reverse-engineer than its previous tools.

The researchers also said UNC6201 used new techniques for lateral movement and stealth:

"UNC6201 uses temporary virtual network ports (AKA "Ghost NICs") to pivot from compromised VMs into internal or SaaS environments, a new technique that Mandiant has not observed before in their investigations," Mandiant told BleepingComputer. "Consistent with the earlier BRICKSTORM campaign, UNC6201 continues to target appliances that typically lack traditional endpoint detection and response (EDR) agents to remain undetected for long periods."

Via BleepingComputer

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 is not your usual business PC. It's not going to be the pick for casual users, or gamers, or admin work. And it's worth specifying that to begin with: this is a beast of a machine for professionals who need uncompromising power in engineering, AI, and all-around business performance, and who want a machine that is capable today and upgradable for the future,

Yes, it’s niche, and that’s okay. Dell doesn’t shy away from creating machines for a specific subset of users.

If you’re looking into this machine, there is a wide range in specs and pricing. The entry-level buildout is right around $1,000. But the high specs on my review unit are pushing $13,000. So, it may rank as one of the best workstations I've tested, but it certainly comes at a (hefty) price.

Dell Pro Max Tower T2: Price and Availability

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 is available from both Dell US and Dell UK in a range of configurations.

The entry configurations are priced at around $1,000 and still include a Core Ultra 7, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an AMD Radeon Pro GPU.

As I mentioned, my buildout is pretty high-tier. My exact buildout is priced at $12,787 and features an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K vPro with 128 GB of RAM, an NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell with 96GB, 4 TB of storage, and a massive 1500W PSU… oh, and a DVDRW drive.

Dell Pro Max Tower T2: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 brings me down memory lane; it makes me remember the PCs I grew up on, the one I learned my fascination with computers on, and then I turned it on.

The machine that once reminded me of dial-up and waiting for a simple PDF or low•res photo to fully render is no longer reminiscent of my past at all, and simply reminds me that this is 2026 and this machine means business for today, and tomorrow. That’s exactly how this machine feels. Granted, it‘s no small casing, but for the amount of power packed into this chassis, the power-to-size ratio is wild.

Another thing that quickly surprised me is the port offering. There are great DisplayPorts, USB-A and USB-C ports, a disk drive for crying out loud, and other great ports that make this a spectacular machine all around. What‘s awesome too is that the build quality is spectacular, yes, it is a big machine, but it's a big machine that is built to last, and built to be re-built as new components are released, keeping the desktop workstation around for quite some time to come.

Dell Pro Max Tower T2: Design & Build Quality

This desktop has a classic tower design with a. 32L Chassis that offers great cooling, space to expand and change out parts in the future, and it fits the mold of what pro-level users are used to, which is a bigger deal than some may think.

For those who are not necessarily enthusiasts but are just pro-users, they may not care about the fancy new doohickeys, gadgets, and gizmos. They want a machine that will work the way they need it to, every time, without fail or downtime, and they want it to work right away. They don‘t want to have to learn a new system or rebuild their setup.

The form factor helps with that, but so does the port location, the simple DisplayPort out, the IEC power connection, not some proprietary cable, and the all-around business-first focus. It’s simple things like this that help business users.

Beyond the design, the build quality is great. It’s rugged enough that you can get work done without worrying about your machine breaking, and it looks and feels professional enough that it never passes as a gaming machine, keeping this strictly business.

The internals of this blast-from-the-past-looking tower are nothing close to those with which I grew up. It’s rocking an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K with 24 cores, up to 5.7GHz boost, and built-in NPU AI Acceleration. It has an NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell with 96GB, plus a total of 4TB of blazing-fast SSD storage, 128GB of RAM, and a power supply with plenty of headroom to add other components in the future.

This computer is fine-tuned down to the component selection for AI models, training, 8K video editing, large-scale rendering, massive database manipulation, CAD, simulations, and more. This machine is a powerhouse. Plain and simple.

Dell Pro Max Tower T2: In use

I work alongside engineers, those who work with large data warehouses, those who work with AI, those who work in 3D modeling, 4K and 6K video editors, professional photographers, those who run massive visual events, those who run full custom applications, and so on. I was able to work alongside all of those individuals with this computer to see just how powerful the Dell Pro Max T2 Tower truly is.

It is important to note that this is not a gaming PC; those are also highly spec’d, but in different ways. You could upgrade the GPU to a more gaming-focused one to get closer, but right now this machine is built for work, not play.

I'd happily use this machine as my workhorse for serious work. In high-performance roles like data engineering and architecture, tower PCs are common. This machine is spectacular for that. If you already have a monitor and keyboard setup you love, you're just looking for a more powerful engine for your ecosystem. That's exactly what this delivers.

It’s snappy, has great ports, doesn’t slow down, and stays quiet even during benchmarking tests.

Dell Pro Max Tower T2: Final verdict

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 is a powerhouse workstation designed for real productivity. It’s not your everyday gaming PC; it’s more than that. Yes, it’s not the most advanced gaming GPU, but it is among the most powerful for raw performance and processing.

For AI, data models, data-intensive work, massive productivity, and beyond, this will handle it. And thanks to the old-school tower form factor, this machine can be upgraded with other components as you desire, without breaking solder joints or cramming parts in.

In short, this isn’t the PC for most, but for those who know they need incredible power in a Windows machine to handle these kinds of tasks, then this may just be the enterprise-grade machine you’ve been dreaming of.

For more powerful options, we've tested the best business computers and the best mobile workstations.

• Reused enterprise SSDs amplify failure risks under sustained AI workload pressure
• Flash wear remains a physical limit that software optimization cannot erase
• Drive reclamation trades short-term capacity gains for long-term reliability concerns

The ongoing shortage of enterprise SSDs has forced data center operators to rethink how they manage storage resources as AI workloads increase pressure.

A senior Dell executive has warned reusing enterprise SSDs creates serious reliability risks at a time when storage systems remain in short supply.

Flash media degrades with repeated write cycles, and older drives can fail more quickly once operators place them back into demanding environments.

Flash wear and the risk of data loss

“Flash drives wear out with use. Reintroducing aging media increases the likelihood of accelerated component failure, data unavailability, and, in the worst case, catastrophic data loss,” said David Noy, the company's Vice President of Product Management for Unstructured Data Solutions.

Such outcomes conflict directly with the stability that AI tools require, as these systems depend on uninterrupted and predictable data access.

This warning comes as analysts expect SSD supply constraints to continue for at least another year.

Some storage vendors have responded by promoting drive reclamation strategies, in which operators remove existing SSDs from one system and reuse them in another.

VAST Data has described this approach as a way to extend limited flash capacity by relying on software-based data reduction.

However, Dell’s leadership argues this response reflects market pressure rather than technical improvement.

“Flash recycling’ as a strategy is a great marketing sound bite, but also a sign of pressure, not progress,"Noy said, "that may sound pragmatic, but it carries real risk. For software-only storage vendors, it is a sign that desperate times call for desperate measures.”

The company maintains reused flash carries the same physical wear regardless of software efficiency, and has reiterated its long-standing support for tiered storage architectures that combine flash and spinning media.

By allowing less critical data to move away from flash, organizations can reduce their dependence on scarce and costly SSD capacity.

Dell argues that this flexibility offers resilience when pricing shifts or delivery timelines extend, without forcing customers into an all-flash environment.

Other suppliers have taken similar positions. DDN, for example, supports multi-layered storage systems that span NVMe, conventional SSDs, disk drives, and cloud resources.

Automated data movement policies allow information to shift between tiers while maintaining acceptable access speeds.

Like Dell, DDN suggests that reducing reliance on premium flash hardware offers a more sustainable response to shortages than attempting to reuse aging components.

Dell’s critique also frames flash recycling as a trust issue, suggesting that software-only vendors may lack accountability when reused hardware fails.

Via Block & Files

The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus is a little brother to the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus I previously reviewed. It trades a bit of screen real estate for a higher-quality display and the ability to be tucked away in a backpack for on-the-go use. While it may not fit in the tighter laptop bags, it will fit in larger, more robust backpacks.

The Pro Max 16 Plus delivers powerful performance, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 chip, an NVIDIA RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU, and up to 128GB of RAM. Simply put, this is one of the best mobile workstations of its class.

The two Thunderbolt 5 ports showcase the drive for speed, power, and forward thinking for the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus. Dell knows that at this price point and with this power, not everyone can swap them out as quickly as cheaper laptops. So, they have made sure to future-proof this one as much as possible.

The Dell team also found a way to pack in an SD Card, a Smart Card reader, an RJ45 port, and a 280W power adapter to power up this beast of a machine. It's a compelling option for developers, engineers, data professionals, and generalists who need a single machine that serves as their all-in-one tool to handle all their workloads without breaking a sweat.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: Price and availability

The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus has a base price of around $4000, available from both the Dell US and Dell UK websites. I'm also seeing it available from some online retailers.

As ever with Dell laptops, there are a huge number of configurations available, so prices will vary. In this review, I'm testing a model with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX (16 Cores, 24 Threads, 5.5 GHz Turbo, 55W), 128GB RAM, an NVIDIA RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU, and 2TB SSD. All alongside the 16-inch OLED 3860x2400 with 500 nits max.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: Unboxing and First Impressions

After just reviewing the Dell | Pro Max 18 Plus, I knew this 16-inch model was going to be very similar. It's essentially 98% as good as the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus in a smaller shell, with an upgraded Tandem OLED 120Hz Display.

Unboxing, I realized that while the 2-inch difference, of course, makes a difference for screen size, the heft of this machine is still very prevalent. This is not an Ultrabook, it’s not a thin machine you toss in your bag and forget about.

And Dell isn’t ashamed of that at all. It proudly packs an insane amount of power into this unit, all while making it look pretty good and having superb usability in day-to-day operations.

Plus, with the ability to take in 280W, I want to be able to take that charger with me everywhere, but the sheer size of this brick is wild.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: Design & Build Quality

This is a hefty computer. There’s no denying that. But at the same time, it is light enough and portable enough to take around. Unlike the larger 18-inch brother, which pretty much means yes, you can carry it. Still, only to and from a workspace, the 16-inch laptop is more portable and easier to toss in a backpack, take with you out of your workspace, and experience the power of portability.

While the Dell Pro 14 Premium is hyper portable and designed to be lightweight, and the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is designed to be an entire barrage of horsepower crammed into one machine that can technically be called portable, the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus fits between the two, while still favoring the hefty side. I wouldn’t want to walk around holding this with one hand while typing with the other, but I wouldn’t mind closing this, heading to where I am going, and then popping this back open again on a table, desk, or even my lap.

In fact, comparing laptops, this one feels more like a more powerful Precision 5690. Naturally, the Precision runs on older architecture, but it’s the same size screen, a similar keyboard, and fills a similar amount of space dimension-wise on everything except thickness.

The Pro Max 16 Plus can fit in my beloved Nomatic Backpack, but is too large for sleeker backpacks like the Bellroy Transit, primarily due to the thickness on top of the 16-inch display. But then again, there are some mid-sized bags, like a few from Troubadour, that this fits in, so it really comes down to the design of the laptop pouch.

Dell has done a fantastic job at keeping ports where users want them. I’ve seen some laptops, specifically workstation-class ones, that place ports on the back of the computer, with the idea of having this machine pretty much just docked.

Thankfully, Dell takes portability seriously, even with this tier of powerhouse. Because of this, the ports are on the left and right of the machine: the RJ45, HDMI, 2x TB5, SD card, and smart card ports on the left, and the 2x USB-A, TB, and headphone jack on the right. For my testing and my use case, this layout is fantastic and has had no issues so far.

While Thunderbolt 5 is still pretty new, putting it in this kind of machine is a wise, future-forward move by Dell, putting the faster, newer, and more powerful ports in their top-of-the-line machines, knowing that people grabbing these are not swapping them out every few months or even years. Still, they have been running them hard for a while.

The last thing I’ll mention regarding design is the display. I understood the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus, as people aren’t really going to use that machine for display-first tasks. They’re not buying that kind of machine to have a great display. This one, though, has a beautiful 3860x2400 Tandem OLED with 120Hz refresh rates, though it’s limited to 500 nits.

While this is still not a machine that the average video editor would grab as their first choice, nor a pro-gamer or photographer, this can be a machine used by someone who either cares about having a high resolution display for the real estate on their screen, fitting more content, crisper, or it could be someone who is a bit of a generalist-specialist. I see this being perfect for engineers who also work in graphic design or UI design, or heavy CAD users, who want to make sure they see everything clearly.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: In use

I’ve had this laptop in my rotation of machines for a whopping 113 days at the time of writing this paragraph. I’ve run some heavy workloads on it, I’ve used it for a few days in my real day-to-day world, I’ve used it for odds and ends, and I’ve run benchmarks all to see if this machine is what it says it is. So far, it has held up wonderfully to everything I have thrown at it.

Proving its might as one of the best laptops for programming, it’s blasted through local dev environments I have run on it, it doesn’t sweat at DBeaver repos, or pulling up large codebases in VS Code, it doesn’t even flinch. I dabbled in some local LLMs to try it, and I haven’t even been able to make the Intel Core i9 even sweat.

I pulled up large building schematics as CAD Files, I opened every productivity app I could think of and ran an absurd number of draining Chrome tabs, I was processing files, converting videos, transferring on and off of drives, and still, it’s great.

Don’t get me wrong, this won't be the best business laptop for every professional, due to its heft and power consumption, but for those who cannot or will not compromise on power and still want the option to bring their primary machine with them everywhere they may go, this might be the way to do it.

Compared to the Dell Pro 14 Premium, the Dell Pro 14 Premium focuses much more on battery life and portability than the Dell Pro Max 16 Plus. Still, you’re also getting true desktop-class power, now with a spectacular display too.

My model has an Intel Core i9-285HX with 16 cores, 24 threads, and 5.5 GHz turbo. It’s an absolute animal of a chip. Paired with the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Blackwell with 24GB, 128GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD Storage, with the option of going up to 16TB on the device, which is truly absurd. I know of desktops drooling at these specs for productivity and performance. To get some numbers, I ran some 3DMark benchmark tests. For the CPU Profile Benchmark Tests, my max-threads test scored 11,717 points.

In everyday use, this machine has handled everything I have thrown at it, with room to spare. It’s got insane power for even the professional user, and gives power into the hands of the nomads without sacrifices.

The 16-inch size is great, offering excellent screen real estate without being too cumbersome, unlike the 18-inch counterpart.

Dell Pro Max 16 Plus: Final verdict

Few laptops offer this level of power while still fitting within a portable form factor. The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus is designed for the everything-fractional-developer who has to be able to do anything and everything at a moment's notice. It's designed for the generalist who dabbles in multiple high-demand areas of computing power.

The mobile workstation is designed to handle your day-to-day tasks without requiring you to hand off processing power to another companion device or even a dongle. It's self-sufficient for most tasks.

For those who need this class of workhorse, few are rating better than this one right now. Yes, it's not perfect, but it's a phenomenal option for those looking.

• Dell UltraSharp 52 supports dividing the screen into up to four desktops
• Each virtual desktop measures 1536 x 2560 when split into four sections
• The panel uses IPS Black technology and supports variable 120Hz refresh rates

At CES 2026, Dell unveiled the 52-inch UltraSharp Thunderbolt Hub Monitor (U5226KW), measuring 48.16 inches wide with a panel marketed at 6144 x 2560 resolution.

According to the company, the screen can be divided into up to four distinct virtual desktops, allowing separate content spaces on the same display.

The sheer size of the monitor means users may need to move their head and neck frequently to view the entire screen comfortably.

Pixel density below the standard 6K

Despite its advertised 6K resolution, the horizontal and vertical pixel counts do not fully meet a standard 6K format, meaning it does not deliver the exact pixel density of a true 6K display.

Its listed pixel density is 129 pixels per inch, roughly comparable to that of a 32-inch 4K monitor.

When divided into four virtual desktops, each section measures 1536 x 2560, and when divided into three, each measures 2048 x 2560.

The monitor uses an IPS Black panel with support for variable refresh rates and a 120Hz refresh specification.

It supports wide viewing angles of 178 degrees both horizontally and vertically, and has a curvature of 4200R.

Native contrast is rated at 2000:1, and peak brightness is specified at 400cd/m².

For color coverage, it supports 99% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of both the sRGB and BT.709 gamuts, with calibration accuracy rated at E < 1.5.

Anti-glare and low-reflection treatments are applied to the screen surface, and low blue light and flicker-free technologies are included.

The business monitor also carries certifications, including TCO Certified 10.0, EPEAT Gold, and Energy Star compliance.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.1 ports capable of 6144 x 2560 resolution at 120Hz, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and a Thunderbolt 4 upstream connection with 40Gbps throughput.

In addition, there are three USB-C upstream ports and four USB-A downstream ports, along with two USB-C downstream ports offering up to 27W power.

An RJ45 2.5GbE Ethernet port and an integrated USB hub and KVM switch are also included.

Its stand allows adjustments in height, tilt, slant, and swivel, and the panel is VESA mount compatible.

The operating power consumption of this large monitor is 63.6W, with a peak draw of 430W.

It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac, and ThinOS and includes a three-year limited service with advanced exchange and premium panel replacement.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Dell hosted a Q&A as part of its pre-briefing for CES 2026
• An exec said of the firm's laptops that "from a consumer perspective … they're not buying based on AI"
• This admission comes just as another Windows 11 AI fail is going viral, which is unfortunate timing for Microsoft

Dell is telling it straight as far as the contemporary world of PCs goes, with the computer maker bluntly explaining that consumers aren't buying laptops based on AI abilities.

PC Gamer reports (as flagged by The Verge) that Dell's execs were refreshingly frank on the topic of AI and the PC in a Q&A session that was part of the company's pre-briefing for CES 2026 this week.

First up, Dell's COO, Jeff Clarke, observed that there was an "expectation of AI driving end user demand" but also an "un-met promise of AI", hinting at some of the disappointment – or confusion – around AI PCs for the average consumer.

Then Dell's head of product, Kevin Terwilliger, went further and noted of the company's fresh product launches (which included the new XPS 14 and 16 laptops): "One thing you'll notice is the message we delivered around our products was not AI-first. So, a bit of a shift from a year ago where we were all about the AI PC."

Terwilliger continued: "We're very focused on delivering upon the AI capabilities of a device – in fact everything that we're announcing has an NPU in it – but what we've learned over the course of this year, especially from a consumer perspective, is they're not buying based on AI. In fact I think AI probably confuses them more than it helps them understand a specific outcome."

Analysis: it might be 'make or break' for AI in Windows 11 this year

In short, Dell is taking its foot off the pedal when it comes to pushing AI in its marketing, simply because it doesn't believe that consumers are that interested – and that it might even be a point of confusion for some.

While you could argue that the latter viewpoint is somewhat patronizing, I think it's a fair enough observation overall. I believe some consumers really don't care about AI, and do not see the benefit of the various abilities for Copilot+ PCs – those exclusive Windows 11 AI features – or how they might use them.

And in truth, there isn't that much to get excited about with these AI features to date, anyway – not beyond image-editing tricks (and let's face it, many folks don't do anything much with their photos) and additional search powers (some of which people may be very suspicious of on the privacy front, particularly the key AI piece of the puzzle here, which is Recall).

Many people probably don't use AI beyond queries posed to ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or whatever their favorite flavor of AI portal happens to be, using them as a kind of beefed-up Google search (other engines are available, etcetera).

Furthermore, with all the heat that Microsoft is taking over trying to crowbar more AI into Windows 11 – despite consistent cries from detractors who'd rather the software giant fixes what's wrong with its desktop OS, rather than putting in new features that 'no one asked for' at a rate of knots – the reputation of AI features is being tarnished considerably in terms of questioning Microsoft's motives here.

Is all this for show, riding the AI hype train and pushing as hard as possible with such features in Windows 11 in a bid to further impress shareholders and drive market capitalization?

Onlookers to the kinds of online bunfights that have been going on between anti-AI rebels and Microsoft's execs are no doubt absorbing messaging which, let's say, isn't leaving these AI features in the best light.

Especially not when you get videos like the one below on X, recently posted by Ryan Fleury (hat tip to Futurism for spotting this), which highlights an embarrassing fail by the AI agent in Windows 11's Settings app.

That clip has currently amassed well over four million views (at the time of writing), and as you can see, it shows the AI freezing up and failing to offer any reply to a basic query. Not just any basic query, mind, but the very one that Windows 11 suggested the user should try in order to show off the capabilities of the agent – so, you'd expect that it'd work well given that fact.

Okay, so this is a one-off example, but we've seen others. I can't help but recall (pun fully intended) the video from Microsoft's marketing department where the Copilot AI assistant makes rather a mess of trying to help a user change the text size in Windows 11. (That clip was eventually pulled, and I'm not sure how it was published in the first place). These are eye-opening cases of AD – artificial dumbness – a term I coined two minutes ago (one that, unsurprisingly, already exists, so Google – or should I say Gemini which provides the 'AI overview' – tells me).

With sentiment souring around AI in Windows 11 to a greater extent of late, is it any wonder that Dell wants to distance itself from the concept of AI PCs? At least for now, especially as we're moving into a tough sales environment for laptops and desktops (with the spiking costs of RAM, storage, and also GPUs in some cases).

And yes, Dell may remind us that despite its comments here, it's still pushing with AI in a way, as "everything that we're announcing has an NPU in it" – but it's not like there's a choice in that regard, is there? Away from budget laptops, all cutting-edge PC chips that are going to power modern laptops now have beefy NPUs, whether they are AMD, Intel or Qualcomm.

In fairness, the agentic AI functionality that Microsoft is now implementing with Windows 11 may be the piece of the puzzle that finally moves the needle with AI and grabs the attention of consumers more widely – but that remains to be seen. As do the potential security pitfalls or other nastiness that AI agents might bring in tow.

And with one of the major problems with AI being a lack of trust in these features, whether from a security or privacy perspective – or just 'hallucinations' (AI getting stuff plain wrong) – AI agents could possibly be the 'breaking', rather than the 'making', of Copilot and all its associated trappings in Windows 11.

2026 will be a very telling year for AI, I think, but for now, Dell gets credit for being frank about the current state of play with the AI features in Windows 11 PCs. Although arguably, this is the only sensible route to take with marketing PCs right now, given the circumstances as discussed above.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we've seen.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

Dell has been in the game for quite some time for the business professional, so when I got word of their newest 18-inch flagship, I knew I’d have to get my hands on it. Most of the high-powered laptops that get the flashy marketing are focused on video and photos.

But there is an entirely different type of power needed for coders, developers, engineers, QA teams, and those who have to be able to bounce in and out of all of this as a hands-on PM to make sure everything that needs to get done gets done. Not everyone lives in a wonderful world where they can have dedicated machines for everything they need to manage; some only get a single machine.

Still, there are others who prefer the single machine that can do it all method, myself included, as then anything I need to do at any given time is accessible with a few keystrokes.

That’s where the best mobile workstations like the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus come into play. One machine with remarkable power that can dive into whatever, whenever, wherever. It’s designed very clearly for business professionals working in the engineering and development space, but could be used by people with similar needs. Just know that this is not the laptop for everyone, but it is the perfect laptop for those that need sort of desktop performance in a portable frame.

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Price and availability

As with most computers, the pricing varies drastically between base or entry model laptops and higher configurations. The base model of the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus starts at around $3500, and jumps up to over triple that. It's available from Dell US and Dell UK.

My model specifically is priced at $9,245, boasting an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor, 128GB of RAM, a NVIDIA RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell with 24GB, 2TB of Storage, the 18-inch QHD+ 2560x1600 Display, and Wi-Fi 7, all with 96Whr battery life. It’s a tank.

If desired, you can upgrade even beyond what I have, with options to expand storage up to 16TB and 5G. I have pretty much every other feature in this setup, though.

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Unboxing and First Impressions

No matter how you slice it, 18 inches in a laptop is not a small machine. With most portable laptops measuring around 13 inches and the standard “large laptop” at 16 inches, this machine feels massive even next to my fleet of other workstations I have in for review.

The laptop, aside from its monstrous proportions, has a comfortable keyboard, a full-size numpad, a fingerprint reader, a robust port selection, and a full and helpful function row. The touchpad is responsive and easy to use, and the screen is sharp enough for all of the work I do.

The port layout is great as well. The Thunderbolt 5 ports are on the left, along with the RJ45, the HDMI, the Smart Card, and the SD Card slot. On the right, there is a Kensington Lock (not shocking with how valuable this laptop can be, not only in retail price but value of content being created and managed on the device), both USB-A’s, the other Thunderbolt Port and the Headphone Jack.

Personally, I really like how Dell doesn’t put any of their ports on the back of their machines, even their workstations. Making it easy to grab and go whenever needed.

The last thing I’ll mention is that it’s nice to see a physical camera shutter, which is always a mark of the best business laptops. In a world where I am getting increasingly paranoid, it’s nice to have a physical way to block that eye staring at me at all times.

All in all, the aesthetic is clean, professional, and business first. It’s a powerhouse but it looks like any other laptop at a quick glance. No RGB, no flashy or gaudy badging, no loud branding. Just a sleek machine that means business, and one you won’t be ashamed to bring to the board meeting.

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Design & Build Quality

The 18-inch display is the first thing that needs to be discussed with the Pro Max 18 Plus. It’s 18 inches for crying out loud. That’s not just a version number, that’s how big this thing is. It’s so big that it barely fits in my Nomatic Backpack. Meaning, that you’ll have to keep things like that in mind, most bags are designed to fit 16-inch laptops, not 18-inches.

However, with that added screen real estate, the odds of needing a portable monitor to bring with you probably drops, depending on what you do of course. Granted, you may still have a docking station at your main workstation with a monitor, but working on the go gets a lot easier with a screen like this always with you.

While this screen is good, even really good, it’s not great for photo editing or video editing. But, it’s not supposed to be. So, instead of Dell wasting engineering dollars and materials on making a nice screen for something this machine will most likely not be used for, they used those funds for making a more powerful, efficient, and power-hungry machine.

Perhaps that’s where they got the audacity to add not just one but two Thunderbolt 5 ports. And for that, I thank Dell. This display is more than enough for coding, project management, writing, database management, development, and related tasks. It’s spectacular for multitasking, and it’s snappy, really snappy.

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: In use

The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is not a laptop you casually use. It’s not one you “toss” in your bag or gingerly bring with you around the house. You can, but just as people are complaining that the 12.9-inch iPad, one of the thinnest technological advances in our computing history, is too large, cumbersome, and not portable enough, there is no way this computer will be considered ultra-portable. Portable, yes. But ultra portable or pleasant to carry around all day? Absolutely not. This is the kind of machine you bring to a place, and park it.

In real-world use, running large repos on GitHub, pulling up records in DBeaver, running projects in VS Code, working in Notion, responding to Slack, having an embarrassing amount of Chrome Tabs, PM’ing in Jira, Asana, Basecamp, and Trello, and taking virtual meetings all in sequence have not even made the fans spin up.

This machine is a beast. An absolute powerhouse. It’s got enough headroom that I don’t even think or wait for things to load anymore.

In my day-to-day, I wear many hats at the same time. In a given hour, I am working alongside four companies at a high level. I could be in a virtual meeting for one company, managing their data, responding to messages from a second, and physically talking to a third. All while loading data or a project for a fourth.

The Dell Pro 18 Plus is the kind of machine that can not only take on a massive project but also several at a time if needed. Again, I wouldn’t pick this as my laptop to carry around one-handed while walking between in-person meetings, but having a machine this powerful that could be brought out if needed is still mind-boggling to me sometimes.

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus: Final verdict

If you are the kind of person who needs a machine that can handle whatever codebase you’re working in, and you want it to be semi-portable, this is your machine. If you want a laptop that can tackle whatever project you throw at it, no matter how many projects at a time, this is your laptop.

If you are a graphics person, a video editor, a photo editor, or a 3D modeler, this machine could do it, but there are probably better options. If you are a commuter, I can say right now this machine is perhaps not one you want to tote around more than necessary, for many reasons.

But if you want high-powered desktop-level power in a laptop, then step right up and swipe that card.

For more models, we've tested the best Dell laptops.

• Dell commercial laptops and desktops will see prices jump significantly
• Memory and storage upgrades are the most affected across all enterprise models
• AI-enabled laptops with Nvidia RTX Pro GPUs face substantial price increases

Dell is set to increase prices on its commercial products starting December 17, affecting laptops, desktops, mobile workstations, and AI-enabled workstations.

Internal documents reviewed by Business Insider revealed models with higher RAM or SSD storage will see the largest increases.

Laptops and desktops with 32GB of memory will rise between $130 and $230, while top-tier 128GB configurations could cost an additional $520 to $765.

Memory and storage upgrades see the steepest price hikes

Notebooks with 1TB SSD storage will see price increases ranging from $55 to $135.

AI laptops equipped with Nvidia RTX Pro 500 GPUs are also affected, with a 6GB variant increasing by $66 and a 24GB model by $530.

Dell attributes the increases to global shortages of DRAM and NAND chips - AI demand from hyperscalers has accelerated purchases, leaving fewer components available for enterprise devices.

Analysts project DRAM prices to rise 30% in the final quarter of 2025, adding to earlier gains of 50% throughout the year.

Dell’s internal memo described the rate of change in memory costs as “unprecedented,” emphasizing that it cannot fully absorb the increases.

Analysts expect supply-chain pressures to persist through 2026, impacting pricing across all major workstation manufacturers, including Lenovo and HP.

Dell’s commercial division, responsible for 85% of its client sales, has been instructed to act quickly to secure deals.

The company stated, “ordering today for future delivery does not lock in current prices,” but acting now will help mitigate anticipated memory cost increases.

“It’s impacting everyone, and there’s no way around it currently, so customers will just have to pay more if they want the products,” a Dell sales employee said.

Sales teams are asked to prioritize large accounts, close multi-quarter deals, and minimize discounts to maintain profitability.

Even standard business laptops will see cost adjustments, and the company is absorbing some price pressure internally through reduced margins.

Smaller contracts or incremental purchases may be disproportionately affected, as bulk discounts are limited.

Monitors and GPU upgrades, although less directly tied to memory shortages, are also part of the price increases, showing a broad impact on corporate IT procurement.

This increase means that organizations must weigh hardware needs carefully, balancing immediate procurement against potential future availability.

Reliance on business laptops, mini workstations, and high-performance workstations exposes companies to market volatility and uncertain enterprise technology costs.

• Dell and Lenovo are expected to increase pricing for PC hardware
• The purported price hikes are a result of increased demand for memory
• These changes are slated for mid-December and early 2026

With the AI boom sparking a trend of significant price hikes on memory (specifically RAM kits) and, eventually, SSDs, there are plenty of reasons for PC users and gamers to be concerned – and two major brands are the latest to be impacted.

As reported by TrendForce, Dell and Lenovo will reportedly deliver price hikes on PC hardware; it's stated to be a 15 to 20% increase from mid-December for Dell, and unknown increase from early 2026 for Lenovo. This is a result of increased demand for memory for AI servers and issues with supply chains globally, which has ultimately led to increased DRAM (and VRAM) pricing.

We're already seeing similar signs on both Nvidia's and AMD's end; both are reportedly considering discontinuing budget graphics cards due to rising VRAM costs, and other rumors suggest Team Red is gearing up to increase its Radeon GPU prices.

Dell and Lenovo are responsible for a wide variety of pre-built desktop gaming PCs and laptops, while the latter has multiple handheld gaming PCs on the market. While the purported 15 to 20% price hike estimate is specific to Dell, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a very similar increase for Lenovo's products.

Considering how expensive RAM kits are, with some costing almost $1,000, it's not looking very good for PC (and even console) hardware at this stage, leading into 2026.

Analysis: If you thought handhelds were too expensive, it's only going to get worse

I have been very critical of manufacturers and brands setting obscene prices for handheld gaming PCs, notably Microsoft and Lenovo for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Legion Go 2, respectively. If you share the same sentiment, I'm afraid that matters are only going to get worse.

While SSD price hikes haven't been ushered in just yet, they're expected to eventually rise at a similar rate to RAM price increases, which have already spiralled out of control.

Fortunately, I haven't yet spotted a major impact for RAM on pre-built PCs or handhelds' prices yet, but I worry that the recommendation to push for 32GB of RAM for gaming is where consumers may find issues.

When you combine both SSD and RAM price hikes, it's a duo that could lead to dark times for PC consumers. This goes for upcoming and current handhelds, as well as Valve's Steam Machine, which many gamers are already disregarding due to suggestions of an entry-level gaming PC price, and this will only worsen with RAM complications.

At this point, the only hope to reverse these price hikes will be a pop to the current AI bubble, which is seemingly impacting every region of technology. Will that happen though? At this stage, I don't think so.

• Windows 11 migration remains slow as companies continue relying on aging hardware fleets
• Dell sees flat PC sales ahead while server demand shows clear growth
• Memory prices rise sharply as manufacturers shift resources toward AI-focused components

Dell is warning the shift from Windows 10 to Windows 11 remains far behind expectations.

As part of its most recent financial results, the company revealed the current transition rate is ten to twelve points lower than the pace seen during the previous operating system phase-out.

For this reason, Dell expects flat PC sales next year, even though about 500 million PCs cannot run Windows 11 due to hardware limitations.

Slow upgrade cycle across the PC market

Many of these systems remain functional enough that organizations have delayed replacement, Dell says, a mood which seems to affect every segment, from desktops to smaller systems such as a mini PC.

Dell reported stronger results from its server and networking units as orders for AI-focused systems reached more than twelve billion dollars in the last quarter.

Revenue from servers and networking climbed thirty-seven percent year over year, with demand driven by buyers seeking denser hardware to consolidate aging fleets.

The company said increased memory and storage requirements are pushing up system costs at a time when RAM and NAND prices are high due to manufacturers prioritizing AI components.

Dell plans to rely on supply chain practices developed during the pandemic and during recent tariff changes to limit the impact of these shortages.

It told investors that its operational model allows it to adjust pricing, modify configurations, or direct buyers toward alternative products depending on supply conditions.

The company recorded $27 billion in quarterly revenue, an 11% annual increase, and said it expects revenue of $31.5 billion in the next quarter and over $111 billion in fiscal year 2026.

Dell said a large share of this growth will likely come from server replacements because many customers still operate fourteenth-generation systems.

Its current seventeenth-generation models will replace multiple aging devices, each carrying a higher selling price due to expanded memory and storage requirements.

Nutanix, one of Dell’s partners, reported year-over-year revenue growth and continued customer movement away from VMware.

Its leadership said many clients need flexibility in aligning licensing timelines with migration plans.

They also noted ongoing memory shortages could limit expansion efforts, although upcoming integrations with external storage are expected to support broader adoption.

Dell maintains it can withstand flat business laptop demand because of its strength in enterprise hardware.

Orders for AI servers reached more than $12 billion for the recent quarter, while revenue from servers and networking climbed 37%, suggesting demand for compute infrastructure remains strong even as some buyers hold onto older systems.

The situation shows businesses may be prioritizing infrastructure upgrades over operating system transitions.

Companies seem to be cautious about broad PC replacements until hardware shortages and cost pressures ease.

Via The Register

How to stay safe

• Limit personal information shared online.
• Monitor financial accounts for unusual activity.
• Use unique, complex passwords for all accounts.
• Verify URLs before logging into websites.
• Be cautious of unsolicited messages or calls claiming to be from financial institutions.
• Deploy antivirus software to protect devices from malware.
• Enable firewalls to block unauthorized access.
• Use identity theft protection to monitor personal information.
• Recognize that sophisticated phishing campaigns and AI-driven attacks still pose risks.
• Effectiveness depends on consistent implementation across devices and networks.

• Dell's COO dropped some interesting info in an earnings call
• Jeffrey Clarke noted that Windows 11 is lagging considerably behind Windows 10 for migration after the end of support deadline
• Windows 11 is off the pace by some 10% to 12%, but that isn't surprising for a couple of reasons

Dell has made it clear that Windows 11 isn't faring nearly as well as Windows 10 did when it comes to people migrating away from these respective Microsoft operating systems after their end of support deadlines.

The Register reports that Dell's Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jeffrey Clarke, commented on the lackluster progress of Windows 11 in this respect during an earnings call earlier this week.

Clarke said: "We have not completed the Windows 11 transition. In fact, if you were to look at it relative to the previous OS end of support, we are 10-12 points behind at that point with Windows 11 than we were the previous generation."

That's a fancy way of saying that compared to Windows 10 when Windows 7 went out of support – we can presumably discount Windows 8 as part of the transition to Windows 10, seeing as it never gathered much of a userbase in the first place – Windows 11 is a good distance behind following the cessation of support for Windows 10 itself (last month). In fact, Windows 11 is about 10% to 12% behind the migration levels seen to Windows 10.

Obviously there could be a number of reasons for that lack of progress relative to Windows 10, but the main stumbling block is that Windows 11 rules out a lot of older PCs with its more demanding system requirements (a topic that's been a source of frustration and controversy for some time now).

As Clarke pointed out, some 500 million PCs can’t run Windows 11, and while some of them might be upgraded to do so (with a new CPU, or a TPM module), the majority very likely won't (and in the case of laptops, it's likely impossible to upgrade anyway).

Dell's had a robust year for PC sales thus far in 2025 – as of Q3, sales were up 'mid-to-high single digits' we're told, so around 7-8% presumably – but Clarke notes that next year is going to be different.

The PC maker is forecasting that sales will be flat in 2026, while couching that as 'flourishing' – and while that may not make a lot of sense as a choice of word, the COO is viewing this through the lens of memory price hikes and related difficulties with the cost of components. (RAM and SSDs mainly, and also to some extent standalone GPUs which have video RAM).

As we've seen clearly over the past month, these supply woes and price increases are pushing up costs for PC makers currently – the rise in RAM pricing is extreme to say the least – and so it's inevitable that computers are becoming more expensive. Therefore, simply maintaining sales levels in 2026 is seen as a win, with extra incentives like the long-anticipated rise of AI PCs (Copilot+ laptops) not being enough to fight off the various component headwinds.

Obviously a slower migration to Windows 11 PCs doesn't help sales either, as folks stick with their Windows 10 machines, or perhaps choose another path entirely (like Linux, or indeed macOS).

Analysis: Some alarms but no surprises

In short, while Dell's sales figures are currently good, Windows 11 adoption isn't, and it's lagging considerably behind Windows 10 at the same stage of its post-support timeline going by Dell's stats.

That really isn't good news for Windows 11 – but it also isn't surprising. Why not? Firstly, because Windows 11's general lack of popularity – whether that's about people being prevented from upgrading because of the leap in the required hardware spec, or just that folks don't like it much – is nothing new. Windows 11 has been well off the pace of Windows 10 for relative adoption levels through its entire lifespan.

And secondly, Microsoft did something very different with Windows 10 when its End of Life rolled around last month, at least in the consumer sphere. Namely for the first time ever, extended support was offered to consumers for (more or less) free (there's a catch attached, but it's not a big deal in my opinion, and it isn't financial). With a free year of extra support available, this means Windows 10 users can get security updates through to October 2026.

And in turn that means any worries they might have about what to do with their Windows 10 computer that isn't compatible with Windows 11 can be put off to next year. In short, they've got another year to think about either buying a new Windows 11 PC to replace their existing system, or upgrading their current computer, perhaps, to support Windows 11 (or abandoning Microsoft's ecosystem entirely).

This surely must be a factor in Dell's observed migratory lag here, and given that, it may be the case that the pace of the transition to Windows 11 remains slow until October 2026 – which maybe factors into Dell's PC sales predictions for next year, too.

In theory, then, a bigger spike in migration might be witnessed this time next year. In practice, well, we shall see, and some of how this pans out may be wrapped up in how well Microsoft can push forward with its big drive with AI in Windows 11 – a direction which has proven to be quite controversial with the existing userbase of the OS.

Setting out for high school, college, or university, and looking for the best student laptop? It's not as simple as picking from the best laptops out there; you're going to need to consider what you need, rather than simply what makes a great laptop.

You'll want a laptop with good battery life, for starters. Unlike office or remote workers, students will often have to spend a full day in packed classrooms, potentially without easy access to a power outlet. So a device that can make it through the school day is a must – but preferably without sacrificing the necessary performance for the tasks you need it for, and without costing an outrageous sum.

Whatever level of education you're at, a new laptop is often one of the single biggest one-off expenses for students. To ensure you can buy with confidence, I've drawn on TechRadar's collective experience reviewing more than 1,300 laptops since our inception 17 years ago to help you find the perfect student laptop to suit your needs and budget.

The good news is that Apple has finally done the impossible and released a budget laptop, the new MacBook Neo, which is arguably the single best laptop on the market right from a pure price-to-performance perspective. It immediately rocketed to the top spot in the list below, as well as our ranking of the best budget laptops, so if you're an Apple fan, this is the definitive pick. Apple also has a student discount program, though if you're looking for a Windows laptop or Chromebook, many other retailers offer student discounts and back-to-school sales.

Every laptop featured in the list below has gone through our rigorous product testing and review process to ensure it deserves a place on our top laptop lists. This includes battery life testing, synthetic benchmarking, and real-world user experience – as well as gaming, since many students may want a laptop that can double up as a gaming device. When I decide to include a laptop in this list, it's because I'm 100% confident that it's a strong choice for any student looking for a new laptop.

If you don't need anything that flashy and would rather save some cash instead, look to the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, which is perfect for lighter coursework. Whichever laptop you choose, know that you're buying with confidence with TechRadar's expertise at your back.

The best student laptop overall

The MacBook Neo stands out as our top overall pick for students, delivering a tested 13.5 hours of battery life in our video rundown and launching at a student-friendly $599 / £599 / AU$899 – and you can save an extra $100 (or equivalent for your region) by utilizing Apple's own student discount function, making it even better value for money.

In daily use, the Neo’s A18 Pro chip handled note-taking, research, and multitasking without a hitch. We found it equally responsive for everyday tasks; the fact that you get the complete macOS experience, not a stripped-down OS, means you’re free to run all the software your courses demand. TechRadar's own Matt Hanson noted in his review that swapping between a half-dozen browser tabs, Zoom, and Word never slowed the Neo down, which was a big reassurance during finals week.

Compared to mainstream alternatives like Chromebooks or the Surface Laptop Go, the MacBook Neo offers a more polished build and smoother performance. While some Chromebooks are lighter, they can feel flimsy and are limited by ChromeOS. The Neo’s full macOS compatibility and reliable hardware make it a smarter long-term choice, especially if you want something that won’t hold you back as your workload ramps up.

There are trade-offs. The Neo isn’t aimed at gamers or those needing a premium display and advanced creative features, so serious gaming and heavy creative workloads are better served elsewhere. For most students, though, the balance of price, performance, and OS flexibility makes it a strong pick for campus life.

Read our full Apple MacBook Neo review.

The best laptop for students on a budget

Chromebooks can be an excellent choice for students working with a tight budget, as they're designed with affordable efficiency in mind. ChromeOS is a less resource-intensive operating system than Windows or macOS, meaning that a Chromebook can run smoothly even with a less powerful (and therefore cheaper) processor.

Still, the Intel Core 100U CPU at the core of the latest Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is leaps and bounds ahead of the feeble chips we've seen powering budget Chromebooks of yore. No, it's not going to run the latest triple-A games or handle complex scientific modeling software, but for straightforward tasks like writing assignments or researching online, our reviewer found it ran smoothly and efficiently, with enough battery life to see you through a full day of classes.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review

The best overall Chromebook for students

If you're already a ChromeOS lover or are looking to make the leap to Google's cloud-focused operating system, the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a solid choice. With strong productivity performance and a battery that gave us more than 11 hours of continuous use in our tests, this feels like a laptop for serious students.

Reviewing this laptop, our Reviews Writer Lewis Maddison praised its premium-feeling build quality - something of a rarity for a Chromebook, which can often feel a little cheap in the hands - along with its surprisingly good display and quiet cooling fans. He described using the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch to navigate ChromeOS as "a largely seamless experience" - although he did note that the keyboard can feel a little cramped at times, due to the inclusion of a numpad.

Of course, since it's a Chromebook, it's not going to be the right choice for students studying creative disciplines like graphic design or videography. If you're taking a course that doesn't require the use of intensive software, however - like Business Studies or Creative Writing - this laptop can definitely go the distance.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review

The best lightweight student laptop

In his review, my American counterpart John Loeffler described the new Surface Laptop 13-inch as "the Purple MacBook I've been begging for" - and trust me, he's been begging for that for quite a while now.

With 17+ hours of continuous battery life, strong performance across productivity workloads, and a wonderfully portable design (weighing just 1.22kg), Microsoft seems to have finally hit its stride with the Surface product line. This is a made-for-Windows Ultrabook with a premium-feeling chassis, offering a very comfortable keyboard along with a high-quality touch display.

John did note that in terms of performance-per-dollar it loses out to the latest M4 MacBook Air, but for users who prefer Windows to macOS, it's practically perfect. It's also one of the best ways to use Microsoft's fancy new Copilot+ AI PC features in Windows 11.

Read our full Surface Laptop 13-inch (2025) review

The best laptop for creative students

As I've already noted further up in this guide, some laptops that are great for the average student won't hold up against the workload of a student studying creative disciplines. Graphic design, photo and video editing, 3D art – all of these need a bit more power than even the best student Chromebooks can provide.

Enter the MacBook Air 15-inch with Apple M4 chip. A powerful system that packs an improved CPU (10 cores vs 8 cores) over the M3 model, plus a larger battery thanks to the 15-inch chassis, this is a solid choice for anyone who wants plenty of bang for their buck when it comes to running creative software. With the M5 MacBook Air now on the market, it's swiftly becoming easier to find the M4 model below retail price, especially if you shop sales and seek out student discounts.

Sure, you could opt for a MacBook Pro if you really want a ton of power at your fingertips, but frankly, the standard M4 chip in the MacBook Air is perfectly capable - and you won't have to worry about fan noise here, either.

Read our full MacBook Air 15-inch (M4, 2025) review

The best 2 in 1 Chromebook for students

While its lower-end internal specs might hold it back from achieving true greatness, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 nonetheless does an admirable job of what it sets out to be: a lightweight, compact, and flexible laptop.

With the smallest display size of any laptop on this list, it's easy to take with you on the go or hold in your hands when flipped into tablet mode - and despite its small size, the touchscreen is a rather impressive QHD+ panel that places it above many of its Chromebook siblings.

Granted, some sacrifices have been made here to allow that excellent display at the very reasonable $429 / £419 / AU$707 starting price (though you can often find it cheaper than that). In terms of its CPU and RAM, this Chromebook is admittedly one of the weaker devices on this list - but as long as you're just planning to do basic tasks like word processing and watching YouTube, you should be fine.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review

The best 2 in 1 Windows laptop

When John Loeffler, our US computing editor, reviewed the new Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 earlier this year, he was happy with its performance, design, and price point (models start at $649 / £849 / AU$1,498), though he did note that some of the things he was willing to accept in the regular Dell 14 Plus clamshell model to keep the price low are more problematic in a 2-in-1 form factor. Specifically, John notes in his review that the display on the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 can only be described as "decent enough".

On a 2-in-1 device, however, where notetaking and collaborating across a table with your classmates are common use cases, the quality of the display matters a lot more than it does on other laptops. That's not to say the 14-inch IPS panel on the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is bad, it's just not great, and it's a compromise that more than a few 2-in-1 fans might not be willing to make.

The other big issue John had with the laptop was its lack of high-end performance, but given the focus on a lower price point with the 14 Plus lineup, you really shouldn't be expecting more than a productivity and general computing laptop. In that regard, John found the performance more than up for the task, but he definitely recommends against trying to do any serious PC gaming or video editing work on this one.

Read our full Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 review

The best premium laptop for students

Looking for a laptop that just screams 'premium'? Look no further: students with some cash to splash who want a high-end device with some real staying power should absolutely spring for the 2025 Dell XPS 13 - perhaps the last XPS 13 we'll ever see, sadly.

See, Dell is switching up its naming conventions, ditching the XPS brand (a totally insane move, in my humble opinion) in favor of new Plus, Premium, and Pro tiers for its laptops. Despite this, the latest XPS 13 is still available from both Dell and third-party retailers, and it's still an absolutely gorgeous laptop.

When I reviewed it, I had nothing but praise for its excellent touch display, absolutely phenomenal 24-hour battery life, and strong productivity performance with its Intel Core Ultra processor. My only real criticism is the lack of ports; with just two USB-C ports and nothing else, you'll want to go fully wireless or invest in a USB hub.

Read our full Dell XPS 13 (2025) review

The best student gaming laptop

The Asus V16 stands out for students who want real gaming muscle in their backpack. Our lab tests saw it average 120 fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider at medium settings, a number that leaves most student laptops in the dust for smooth play.

Performance comes from an RTX 4050 graphics card, giving it the horsepower to tackle demanding schoolwork and AAA games alike. The V16 isn't a maxed-out desktop replacement, but it keeps up impressively with recent titles. Our reviewer described a session of Cyberpunk 2077 as "surprisingly smooth" for a laptop of this price, with only modest settings tweaks needed. That balance of classroom productivity and after-hours gaming makes it a compelling pick for students who want more than just basic performance.

Compared to our prime pick, the MacBook Neo, the Asus V16 is the obvious choice for anyone prioritizing gaming, thanks to its dedicated GPU. Chromebooks and the Surface Laptop 13 are lighter, quieter, and last longer unplugged, but can't come close to matching the V16's graphics power or real-world frame rates. If your school life includes projects, multitasking, and esports or AAA titles, the V16's value stands out, even if it isn't the cheapest option in the student lineup.

Like most gaming laptops, the V16 gets warm, and the fans spin up under load. This is noticeable during lengthy sessions, though not unusually loud. The keyboard is excellent for both gaming and essay-writing, but at nearly 2kg, it's heavier than typical all-day campus machines. For students who want the best gaming experience and can live with a bit more weight and a shorter unplugged runtime, the Asus V16 is easy to recommend. If portability, silence, or all-day battery life are your top priorities, you may want to look elsewhere.

Read our full Asus V16 review.

Other laptops we've tested

New laptops arrive on the market every single month, so anyone shopping for a laptop is usually spoiled for choice. Here, I've highlighted a few laptops we've recently reviewed that didn't quite make it into this ranking; consider them my honorable mentions.

• Dell Inspiron 14 Plus: A Windows laptop ideal for anyone who just needs a straightforward system to get through the day, the Inspiron 14 Plus from Dell is a no-frills system that can act as a solid MacBook Air alternative for those who prefer Windows to macOS.
  Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus review
• Dell 14 Plus: The non-hybrid version of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 found in the list above, this is essentially the same laptop but without the 360-degree hinge and touchscreen functionality. Still a great laptop, mind you!
  Read our full Dell 14 Plus review
• Acer Nitro 14: Fundamentally a bit overpriced (which is its main downfall), but still a solid choice of 1080p gaming laptop, offering good gaming performance and a well-designed chassis.
  Read our full Acer Nitro 14 review

FAQs: How to choose the best student laptop for you

The best student laptop is going to give you the right balance between sufficient performance for productivity tasks, affordability for a student's budget, and durability to handle the kind of wear-and-tear that a student can put their laptops through – and having it look good never hurts.

But that can be a hard thing for students and families to balance, especially if they aren't as familiar with computer hardware as they'd like to be. Fortunately, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to get the right student laptop for your needs and budget: check out these frequently asked questions to get an idea of what you might need to look out for (and ways to save money!)

How we tested these student laptops

We know that buying a new laptop can be a huge investment. Even more so with laptops for college students. That’s why we take our jobs seriously, and test every laptop recommended on this list extensively.

That process involves using them in our day-to-day lives to see how long their battery lasts, how robust they are – college kids have hectic lives, after all, and how cool they stay under pressure. We also look at their design, including how stylish they are, if they are thin and light enough to carry around with, and how comfortable they are to work on. Because the webcam and microphone in a laptop are also incredibly important, especially these days, we take time to test those out as well.

When it comes to performance, we use a mix of real-world tests and synthetic benchmarks to see how powerful (or not) these laptops are. This means using Windows 10 (or ChromeOS on Chromebooks and macOS on MacBooks) and running various apps and seeing how fast they load, noting down any problems.

Battery lives are also important, so we’ll keep track of how long we can use the laptop without needing to charge it. To get specific numbers, we also run our own battery life benchmark that plays a looped 1080p movie until the battery dies and the PC Mark 10 battery life benchmark, which replicates real-world usage, such as web browsing and document creation. These tests give us an excellent idea of how long the batteries in these laptops last.

When all is said and done, we then take everything we’ve learned about the laptop and compare it to its price, to see if it offers the best value to students.

Tested by

Today's best student laptop deals

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Two-minute review

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a hard computer to pin down just because its configurations vary so wildly. It’s almost like the Tower Plus is more of a concept than an actual model with the only thing really remaining the same are its most barebones aspects, such as its chassis and ports. There’s such variation in availability of CPUs, RAM, GPUs, and storage that you can configure this tower to be an efficient budget option or a robust gaming or creative content machine.

Despite the fact that you can end up on opposite sides of the desktop spectrum depending on the configuration you choose or customize, it has an argument for consideration among the best desktops. The flexibility in customization it offers is a point in its favor if you’re okay spending a little time picking out what exactly you need. But even if you get a lower-end build, it’s made to be expanded upon at a later date; so if you want to save up and get a discrete graphics card at a later date, you can.

I also appreciate the amount of ports on offer, particularly accessible on the front. Really, there’s not much to dislike with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). Sure, the wired keyboard and mouse Dell included are not much more than functional. But they work well enough and I expect most people to probably want to upgrade to one of the best keyboards or mice anyway.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Price and availability

• How much does it cost? Starting at $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Since Dell is one of the biggest brands in the world, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is available just about everywhere. The only real issue to keep in mind is that, while those in the US and UK have access to the full gamut of customizations, potential users in Australia only have a list of about eight more premium (in price and components) configurations. That means no budget machines for Oceania, at least for this model.

As far as the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)’s price, it’s all over the place since the customizations vary so wildly. The only consistent factor is that whatever configuration you get will be well-priced, if not quite a steal, for what you end up with. The cheapest configuration with an Intel Core Ultra 5 and integrated graphics has an MSRP of $949.99 / £849.01 (about AU$1,460), though it is discounted by $200 on Dell’s direct site at the time of writing (all the configurations are on the US site).

The maxed out configuration goes for $3,679.99 / £3,399.00 (about AU$5,630), but that gives you an Intel Core Ultra 9, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage. Backing off on the RAM from 64 to 32GB and the SSD from 4TB to 1TB, both still more than enough for the vast majority of people, gets you a lot closer to $2,500.

The review configuration with its slightly weaker CPU and GPU (both the Intel Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 are still quite robust) gets you a surprisingly decent price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,899.00 / AU$3,399.00 for what’s still a fairly powerful gaming machine.

For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at the NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) I reviewed not too long ago. It comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB SSD. This lineup targets more dedicated gamers and is on offer for $1,999.99.

So, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is priced right, though it’s not quite a knockout in terms of value. That is, unless you get it at one of Dell’s regular discounts - in which case it becomes a very tempting deal.

• Value: 4 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Specs

There are a lot of options to choose from with the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250). The CPU ranges from the Intel Core Ultra 5 255 10-core CPU to an Intel Core Ultra 285K 24-core option. The GPU offering is even wider as you can either stick with Intel integrated graphics or get a wide variety of Nvidia GeForce Now GPUs, starting with the RTX 3050 and 4060 Ti to just about every offering of the 5000 series except for the 5090 (the 5080 is the most premium option).

RAM ranges from 16 to 64GB, while the SSD goes from 512GB to 4TB in various configurations, such as getting two 1TB drives instead of one 2TB drive.

You can also upgrade the power supply (and you might be limited in choice depending on the other components selected), which is strangely paired with colorway, though the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) only comes in platinum or graphite. You can also upgrade, for a fairly nominal fee ($29), to the wireless Dell Pro Keyboard and Mouse combo.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Design

• Discreet office-style look
• Plenty of ports
• Future upgradeability is a big boon

Despite the fact that you can soup the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) into a gaming machine, it fits the aesthetic of an upscale office the same way that a Dell 14 Premium laptop does. It’s clean and minimalist looking with fairly neutral colors, either platinum or graphite (aka gray or black), and some well-placed venting to not only help with cooling efficiency but also keep it from looking too boring. It’s also just a bit on the smaller size for a regular ATX-style desktop tower.

As far as ports go, the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is fully stocked. There’s a plethora of USB ports as well as Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI (on top of the inputs on the graphics card), but more importantly, there are some easily accessible ones on the front including three USB, a USB-C, headphone hack, and a microSD card reader.

But none of that is unexpected. The one thing that the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) does that I only really see in gaming machines for enthusiasts is an eye toward expansion in its setup. Not only can you upgrade the RAM to hold up to two 32GB sticks of RAM, but there are two M.2 SSD slots along with two regular hard drive slots, as well as three PCIe slots for later additions or upgrades in the graphics card department.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Performance

• It can be as powerful as you want it to be
• Review configuration is a powerhouse
• Can handle demanding gaming and editing tasks

It’s hard to really pin down the performance of the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) just because computers are rarely more than the sum of their parts. A computer with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, 32GB or RAM, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU is going to perform similarly to any other computer with similar hardware.

Now, sometimes manufacturers do cut corners or have issues with cooling efficiency that can make a difference. The difference between the configuration I reviewed with those components I just mentioned and the most basic configuration is going to be night and day to the point of feeling like different computers (because they are).

That basic build is great for anyone who wants a working desktop that they want to upgrade at a later time or just want something cost effective to get them online and doing regular productivity work. Keep in mind that the most affordable model runs on Ubuntu Linux, not Windows (but all other Dell Tower Plus configurations run Windows).

The model I reviewed ran like a gaming computer, however. In fact, it did very well even running beautifully with a 120Hz 4K monitor. I never had any performance issues; there was no stuttering or screen tearing when gaming, and no noticeable slowdown during any other kind of use.

The difference between my review model and a regular gaming computer is simply aesthetics. It was able to get over 80 FPS in 1080p and almost 40 FPS in 4K when running Monster Hunter Wilds, for instance.

And its results in Cyberpunk 2077, specifically its almost 70 FPS in 1080p and 20 FPS in 4K (not including DLSS upscaling) give a good idea of the RTX 5070’s limitations more than anything else. For powerful gaming performance, you’ll probably want the 5080.

If you’re looking for a desktop that can handle other demanding tasks, the Dell Tower Plus is capable of doing that as well. Its benchmark of 2:06 in Handbrake represents how quickly it can convert video, for instance. And any horsepower that can be used for gaming does well for 3D design and video editing as well.

Lastly, I want to mention that when I tried to push this computer, mostly by running demanding games, it still operated fairly quietly. That’s not always the case with powerful computers.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)?

Buy the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If our Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review has you considering other options, here are two desktops to consider...

How I tested the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)

• Tested for a couple weeks
• Used it for productivity, streaming, gaming
• Played with the included accessories

I used the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) for a couple weeks to get a feel for it. I did some productivity work including researching and typing up most of this article. I also did a bit of streaming and played some demanding games, all while using the included keyboard and mouse for the majority of the testing.

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is interesting because it can be so many different things, like a budget productivity machine or a powerful gaming workhorse, that just happen to share the same basic building blocks and look. This computer seems to be ideal for someone who wants a discreet desktop, possibly for an office, that can be upgraded at a later date.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

• First reviewed October 2025

• Dell and HPE drive shift toward modular DC-MHS and 21-inch rack adoption
• AI systems benefit from wider racks enabling better airflow cooling and power capacity
• Cloud providers standardize on 21-inch Open Rack as demand for AI servers surges

New research has claimed data center operators are beginning to move away from traditional 19-inch EIA-310 racks in favor of wider 21-inch Open Rack designs.

A report from Omdia says the newer format could account for more than 70% of rack shipments by 2030 as AI and cloud operators continue to expand their infrastructure.

The change is being driven by server manufacturers and cloud service providers that have adopted Open Compute Project principles.

Hyperscalers leading the charge

Dell and HPE are among those supporting the modular Data Center Modular Hardware System, or DC-MHS, which is based on Open Rack architecture.

Omdia’s assessment of upcoming server designs shows that up to 90% of Dell’s future systems could move to this wider format.

The approach lets compute and storage modules operate at rack scale instead of as separate units.

The growing use of AI is, naturally, another key reason for the transition. Systems built for machine learning depend on dense cabling, liquid cooling and higher power delivery, all of which work more efficiently in a wider frame.

The 21-inch layout provides extra airflow and room for larger fans, improving cooling across heavier and hotter components.

This added space also makes it easier for engineers to install high-capacity power distribution and maintain internal cabling layouts without restricting airflow.

The design also leaves room for future improvements as processors evolve and server density continues to increase.

Hyperscalers such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, Huawei and Oracle are already adopting the 21-inch format as their main standard.

Suppliers to these companies report steady investment and clear order pipelines for AI-related hardware.

Wiwynn, one of the largest manufacturers serving cloud providers, has reported strong AI server demand and is expanding its production capacity to meet longer-term orders.

Omdia expects rack shipments to grow faster than server shipments for the first time in ten years, with overall revenue rising to about $4.1 billion by 2030.

The combination of higher-capacity racks and modular server designs is expected to redefine how future data centers are planned and scaled globally.

• Four brands now sell laptops powered by Intel’s Ultra 9 285HX processor
• Lenovo joins Dell, MSI, and HP in offering Intel’s fastest mobile chip
• Ultra 9 285HX laptops remain expensive but two are suddenly much cheaper

If you’re in the market for a new business laptop, and you want one that’s superfast and is going to age well, then a PC powered by Intel’s Ultra 9 285HX, its fastest ever mobile processor, is a no-brainer.

They aren’t cheap - but the problem is you won’t exactly be spoiled for choice when it comes to brands or models, as currently just four manufacturers make them.

If you’re after an absolute beast, then the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus Laptop with Windows 11 Pro is the one to look at. It includes an Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory, 128GB of DDR5 memory, and a 4TB performance SSD.

Price cuts!

At $9,458.02, Dell's monster workstation is comfortably the most expensive, but for professionals who need maximum computing power for demanding tasks, it’s got you more than covered.

If your budget won’t stretch to that, MSI’s Raider 18 HX AI is a more "affordable" choice. It uses the same Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor running at 2.1GHz, paired with 64GB of DDR5 memory and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of GDDR7 memory.

The 18-inch QHD+ 240Hz display, 2TB NVMe Gen4 SSD, and Wi-Fi 7 make it ideal for creative work and heavy multitasking.

It’s also the first of the four to enjoy a solid price cut. Microcenter is currently selling it for a bargain (relatively speaking) $2,699.99, down from $3,399.99, while at ExcaliberPC prices start at around $3,052.50.

If you want to feel like you’re getting an absolute steal, HP is having a sale you’ll appreciate.

The ZBook Fury G1i 16 Mobile Workstation PC is priced at $6,999, down from its usual $14,212. It features the same Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, an Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 GPU, 128GB of DDR5 ECC memory, and a 16-inch 2.5K IPS display.

It also includes a 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4 support.

Lenovo is late to the party, but the world’s largest laptop maker has quietly launched the ThinkPad T16g Gen 3 business laptop built around Intel’s Core Ultra HX series, including the flagship Core Ultra 9 285HX, with GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 laptop GPUs.

It comes with up to 192GB of DDR5-5600 memory and three M.2 PCIe drives totaling 12TB. There’s no word on pricing yet, but it’s fair to say you won’t be seeing a discount on that one any time soon.

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• Lenovo quietly launches a Thinkpad business laptop

• Lenovo widens its lead as Windows 10’s end fuels global PC demand
• IDC reports strong growth driven by large-scale enterprise and education hardware refreshes
• Organizations upgrade ageing systems to maintain security and compliance

Lenovo has extended its already sizable lead in the global PC market as businesses rush to replace ageing Windows 10 systems before Microsoft officially ends support for the beloved OS on October 13.

The latest preliminary data from IDC shows global shipments grew 9.4% year over year to reach 75.9 million units in the third quarter of 2025, marking yet another strong period of recovery for the PC industry.

Lenovo shipped 19.4 million units, taking 25.5% of the market and growing 17.3% from last year. HP followed in second with 15 million units for a 19.8% share, while Dell reached 10.1 million at 13.3%.

Japan leading buying

Apple and Asus round out the top five with 6.8 million and 5.9 million shipments respectively.

“While the entire market is continuing on a very strong year, fueled by Windows 11 transition and the need to replace an ageing installed base, the results by regions are telling different stories,” said Jean Philippe Bouchard, research vice-president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.

“In particular, the North American market continues to be impacted by the US import tariffs shock and by macroeconomic uncertainties. While existent, the demand for newer PCs ready for Windows 11 is likely to push well into 2026,” he said.

Asia Pacific led the growth with double-digit gains.

“The demand was driven largely by Japan’s hardware refresh linked to Windows 10 end-of-support and the GIGA education project,” said Maciek Gornicki, senior research manager with IDC.

“Growth outside Japan was more modest - hindered by macroeconomic and political challenges and slow Windows 11 adoption - though there were pockets of opportunity from hardware refreshes of devices purchased during and before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Much of the new demand IDC is seeing for modern PCs comes from lifecycle management rather than any great enthusiasm for the latest AI-capable devices.

With Windows 10 end-of-life within touching distance, organizations are simply scrambling to ensure their systems are replaced or updated before support expires and security risks increase.

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• These are the best laptops for programming
• Take a look at our pick of the best laptops available
• US PC shipments fall as firms upgrade ahead of Windows 10 End of Life deadline

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint falsely flags outdated BIOS on Dell devices due to logic bug
• Microsoft confirmed the issue and issued a service alert; fix is ready but undeployed
• Community awaits details on affected regions and customer impact

If Microsoft Defender for Endpoint keeps saying your computer’s BIOS firmware is out of date, and keeps prompting you to update it - it’s not you, or the device - it’s a bug.

The endpoint protection tool has a bug that manifests itself only on Dell computers, and is caused by a logic flaw.

"Microsoft have identified that a code bug in the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint logic that fetches vulnerabilities for Dell devices is causing impact," the company said. "Your organization is affected by this event, and some users receiving Microsoft Defender for Endpoint alerts for the BIOS version of their Dell devices are impacted."

What is Defender for Endpoint?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an enterprise-grade security platform - an extended detection and response (XDR) tool - designed to protect endpoints across organizations.

It combines next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat and vulnerability management, and attack surface reduction into a unified solution.

The XDR is built primarily for businesses, and especially for those with complex IT environments. It integrates with Microsoft 365 and Azure services, and uses behavioral sensors, cloud-based analytics, and threat intelligence to detect sophisticated attacks and reduce response time.

It supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices, making it suitable for hybrid and remote workforces. As of recent estimates, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint protects hundreds of millions of devices globally, with widespread adoption across government, healthcare, finance, and other critical sectors.

The patch is already fixed, but not yet deployed, with users now waiting for Microsoft to share more details about the regions where this bug manifested, and the number of customers that were affected by it.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Microsoft Defender is getting a useful upgrade to help stop endpoint attacks
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

• Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are now available, priced at $229 / AU$245
• The product has ANC, Transparency and Adaptive Audio, backed by AI
• Teams and Zoom certification is standard, as it remote admin management

Dell has revealed work-focused earbuds designed for video conferencing calls, but with a price to almost match the AirPods Pro 3, are the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds worth the cash?

An overview suggests the two models could be about on par, with Dell Pro Plus offering Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Transparency Mode and Adaptive Audio, as well as touch controls, a charging case and four separate ear tip sizes.

Apart from Bluetooth 5.3 with multi-host connectivity for up to eight devices, there’s also a compact USB-C wireless audio receiver that stores inside the case to support additional device types.

Dell Pro Plus Earbuds launch to rival the AirPods Pro 3

Unique to the Dell model is that cloud-based management via the Dell Device Management Console allows admins to configure devices, update firmware and have a general oversight over fleets, making them very much targeted at business users.

More importantly, they’re perfect for hybrid workers, because they’re the first earbuds with Microsoft Teams Open Office Certification as well as Zoom certification, with voice isolation modes to refine audio in noisy environments like shared office spaces or headsets for working from home.

Battery life stands at up to eight hours of audio playback with ANC enabled, or 33 hours including the charging case - which reduces to 5/16.5 hours for calls.

Dell boasted that its AI-powered noise-cancelling has been trained on over 500 million noise samples, and it also has a personalized sound profile option within the Dell Audio Mobile App.

So while the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds might not be here to take away consumer customers from the likes of Apple, it’s certainly heading in the right direction at work, with enterprise-grade certifications for video conferencing platforms, cloud management options and multi-device connectivity.

The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds are available now, priced at $229 / AU$245 directly from Dell.

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• Trump says TikTok deal “puts America first”
• Oracle will be responsible for data management in the US
• Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Lachlan Murdoch could all be involved

President Trump has claimed he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had “approved the TikTok deal” following months of negotiations, with several heavyweight American investors would be at the forefront of the US-China deal.

Speaking with Fox News following Trump’s declaration, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed: “We are 100% confident that a deal is done… A deal that puts America first.”

Leavitt acknowledged the importance of the platform, noting the nation’s small businesses had benefitted from TikTok’s ecommerce opportunities, hence the importance that a deal be struck up.

America has reached a TikTok deal, finally

Although details of the deal remain under wraps as the two nations finalize details and sign agreements, Leavitt did confirm that Oracle will be responsible for the platform’s data in the US.

American investors are also said to be integral to the deal, with Trump indicating the likes of Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Dell’s Michael Dell could both be involved.

Trump also alluded to the potential involvement of Lachlan Murdoch, who has huge influence over much of the world’s media including Nova Entertainment, News Corp and Fox Corporation.

The deal ensures TikTok’s US entity will be majority US-owned, with six of the seven board seats held by US citizens. It would also comply with US laws requiring TikTok to be sold to a US buyer amid security concerns.

This comes after lawmakers and intelligence agencies worried that TikTok could allow the Chinese government to access US user data, and that China could influence what content Americans see via algorithmic manipulation. Leavitt confirmed the US would retain control over UT users’ algorithms.

The White House has not yet confirmed the closure of the deal, but we expect to hear details very soon.

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Dell 14 Premium: One-minute review

The Dell 14 Premium is finally here, and it is definitely worth the wait.

The 14 Premium is the latest Dell laptop to launch as part of its rebranding, replacing the fan-favorite Dell XPS lineup of laptops, which ranked among the best laptops year after year for as long as I've been reviewing laptops for TechRadar.

Like the Dell 16 Premium, the Dell 14 Premium essentially carries on the XPS formula with little changed beyond the branding, but that's not a bad thing at all. The Dell XPS 14 (2024) was one of the best Dell laptops I've ever reviewed, and the 14 Premium is even better still.

Starting at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,598.20, the 14 Premium matches the starting price of the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) that it is competing with, though the 14 Premium does max out a bit cheaper than the MacBook Pro 14.

Obviously, you won't get the same kind of performance from the base-spec 14 Premium as you do if you go the discrete graphics, non-OLED route, which starts at $1,999.99 / £1,999 / AU$3,097.60. Content creators, or those who want one of the best displays you're going to find on a laptop right now, will want to check out the RTX 4050/OLED configurations, which start at $2,199.99 / £2,199 / AU$3,397.90.

If performance is what you're after, the Dell 14 Premium beats out the MacBook Pro 14-inch, overall, in my testing, but it's not a total knockout. Given the performance I've seen from the MacBook Pro 14-inch base-spec, the 14 Premium really can't keep up on the low-end, and those looking to keep things within a tighter budget will likely be better off with a MacBook Pro (as much as it pains me to say it as a diehard Windows user).

If you're looking for high-end performance, however, the MacBook Pro 14-inch's M4 just can't keep up with the 14 Premium's RTX 4050 discrete graphics. It makes a huge difference in some workloads, like 3D modeling, and especially when it comes to gaming.

One other thing the 14 Premium has over the MacBook Pro 14-inch is the option for an OLED display, which looks gorgeous. The rest of the laptop is solid and has a much more premium feel to it than the 14 Plus, but there are some design quirks that keep it from truly laying out its competition on the mat.

While the discrete graphics and OLED upgrades do push the price considerably higher, there's no question that the upgrade is worth it, especially the upgrade to the RTX 4050 GPU, which unlocks a lot of power necessary for high-end applications.

This, of course, considerably impacts the device's battery life, dragging it down below nine hours in my testing. But for a laptop this compact with a high-end display and discrete graphics, it's definitely a worthwhile compromise.

So, bottom line: does the Dell 14 Premium defeat the current MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4? Yes, but it's down to the judges rather than a KO, and so your mileage may vary depending on your needs and budget. If you're going with high-end specs, the Dell 14 Premium is probably the best Windows laptop going right now, but if you're not going to go with the RTX 4050 GPU, the MacBook Pro 14-inch is probably the better bet for those looking to stay on budget.

Dell 14 Premium: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? Starts at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,598.20
• When is it available? It's available now
• Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.

The Dell 14 Premium is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,499.99 / £1,499 / AU$2,598.20, respectively.

This puts it a bit cheaper than the starting price of the MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4), and is roughly in line with where the XPS 14 (2024) launched last year, though the 14 Premium is cheaper to start in the UK and Australia than its predecessor.

Given its premium status, this isn't really that bad a price for a laptop like this, and its high-end configurations are cheaper than a comparable MacBook Pro 14-inch, which definitely can't be overlooked. Still, it's expensive, especially in an era where everyone is a bit less free with their spending than they were even a year ago.

• Value: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Premium: Specs

• Up to RTX 4050 GPU
• Wi-Fi 7
• Only Thunderbolt 4

The specs for the Dell 14 Premium are pretty much identical to the Dell XPS 14 that preceded it, with some important differences.

This is not an Intel Lunar Lake laptop; it's an Arrow Lake H laptop, so while the processor model numbers might look very similar, they are two different architectures.

This allows the Intel Core Ultra 255H chip to be paired with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, something last year's model wasn't capable of due to the limitations of the Lunar Lake chip design.

The 14 Premium is also configured with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, though it only has Thunderbolt 4 ports rather than the newer Thunderbolt 5 that the top-spec Dell 16 Premium has.

The base specs are fairly modest, though you do start out with at least 16GB LPDDR5x RAM and a 512GB SSD, which is necessary if you're planning on using Windows 11's Copilot+ AI features. There's also no difference in starting configuration between the US, UK, and Australia.

On the top-end, the Dell 14 Premium configurations are nearly identical, save that in the UK, you can opt for a slightly more powerful Core Ultra 7 265H chip rather than the Core Ultra 7 255H in every other configuration.

For this review, I tested out the top US configuration listed above.

• Specs: 4.5 / 5

Dell 14 Premium: Design

• Gorgeous OLED display
• Excellent port selection
• Trackpad and function key row still controversial

From the outside, the Dell 14 Premium is identical to last year's XPS 14 (save for the new logo on the lid), and that's not a bad thing. The 14 Premium's construction and minimalist aesthetic definitely make it look like it's all business, something you'd expect from a company like Dell, renowned as it is for its business and enterprise market dominance.

That doesn't make it ugly, though. It's a good-looking laptop, somewhat undercut by its two colorways, Graphite and Platinum, which are honestly rather boring at this point.

With the new Surface Laptop 7 coming in a gorgeous Sapphire colorway and even Apple adding a Sky Blue option for this year's MacBook Air models (not to mention my beloved Microsoft Surface Laptop 13-inch having a Violet option), laptops are starting to finally have more personality than the design deadend that Apple pushed us all into with its MacBook Silver and Space Gray colorways in the 2010s.

In this regard, I hope Dell catches up next year, but one thing at a time, I guess. Dropping the XPS branding and introducing a splash of color in one release might have pushed some Dell fans over the edge, so steady as she goes, design-wise.

I've spilled enough ink over the past couple of years about my mixed feelings when it comes to the borderless trackpad (and loss of the delightful carbon-fibery palm rests), so I'll let that critique go. Finally.

I've yet to fully embrace the solid strip beneath the keyboard, as it does take some getting used to for finding out exactly how to right click on something, but it's easy enough to pick up and soon becomes second nature. It's still an accessibility nightmare, as is the lack of physical function keys along the top of the keydeck. On the plus side, there are top-firing speakers, which isn't always a sure thing on a 14-inch laptop.

The keyboard itself is decent enough, though these aren't my favorite keys to type on. I'm very used to mechanical keyboards, so the travel and tactile responsiveness of the 14 Premium's take getting used to, and I'm not sure I ever will. If this is going to be your only or even just your primary laptop, however, you'll get used to it just fine.

Some are going to complain about the lack of USB Type-A ports on the 14 Premium, but frankly, it's 2025. At some point, older, slower interfaces will be retired, and it's time, honestly. There are plenty of adapters out there to convert USB-A to USB-C, and you can even add the option for a mini-hub dongle with USB-A and HDMI ports that can plug into one of the three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the device. All three provide power delivery and DisplayPort out, with up to 4 monitors supported overall.

You also get a microSD slot, which is great for creative pros who work with SD cards alot, and a dedicated 3.5mm combo jack. All in all, a solid port selection for a device this small.

One other knock I have to give the 14 Premium though is its webcam. The 1080p IR webcam itself is perfectly good, and gets up to 30 FPS 1080p video, which is great for video calls and meetings. My problem, though, is the lack of a privacy shutter. It's 2025, and this should be the default on a 'premium' laptop.

The overall aesthetics of the 14 Premium are as good as its XPS pedigree, but it could use some freshening up in the next couple of years, in my opinion. It's built solid and won't be embarrassing to whip out in the office in five year's time, but we are kind of coming up against this design's shelf life, and I hope we see something new next year.

• Design: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Premium: Performance

• Powerful creative chops
• Decent 1080p gaming
• Falls a good bit behind Apple's MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) on some benchmarks

So, when it comes down to it, performance really is the most important factor in a laptop like the Dell 14 Premium. It's competing against one of the best MacBooks ever made in the recent MacBook Pro 14-inch, and given its pricing, the 14 Premium has to deliver on something other than cost.

It's a bit of a mixed bag, ultimately. The CPU performance for the M4 chip outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 255H in all tests but Geekbench 6.4 multicore performance, where they are very close, with the Dell 14 Premium in the lead.

That said, the Intel Core Ultra 255H is mostly competitive with the M4 in CPU computing tasks, and the difference is such that you'd be very hard-pressed to notice the M4's faster performance in actual use. The 14 Premium falls behind quite a bit on single-core performance, which is important for running some high-impact creative apps like Adobe Photoshop or Pro Tools, but that's only part of the story.

The very strong single-core performance for the MacBook Pro 14-inch is offset quite a bit by the relatively slow SSD performance I saw in my Blackmagic Disk Speed Test benchmark. The Dell 14 Premium clocked in with an impressive 4,235 MB/s read speed to the MacBook Pro 14-inch's 2,900 MB/s. That's a nearly 50% faster read speed for the 14 Premium, and that translates directly into faster load times for programs and opening files.

The MacBook Pro 14-inch might beat the 14 Premium in single-core performance, but when it comes to system and app startup, downloads, and other file operations, that extra sluggishness on Apple's part will noticeably cut into its advantage here. That doesn't mean the 14 Premium will somehow eek out a win when it comes to video encoding or processing photos in Photoshop. What it does do, however, is help keep the 14 Premium in the hunt when its Intel chip is being outclassed by the M4's processing power (ironically, last year's Dell XPS 14 scored the highest in my storage benchmark tests).

Swing things around to GPU performance, though, and things fall apart for Apple pretty quick. There just isn't a way for an integrated GPU to compete with even a budget discrete Nvidia GPU like the RTX 4050.

There are only a few cross-platform GPU tests that I can use for both the Dell 14 Premium and the MacBook Pro 14-inch, but in all cases, the RTX 4050 just outclasses the M4 10-core GPU, especially in ray-tracing workloads like Solar Bay

Meanwhile, in areas like video and photo editing, the MacBook Pro 14-inch might have an advantage over the 14 Premium, but it's not earth-shattering.

The 14 Premium encoded a 4K video into 1080p about 22% slower than the MacBook Pro 14-inch, which is definitely something for video editors to consider (who are we kidding, we know y'all are just going to buy a MacBook Pro. Your entire industry is built around macOS). In my PugetBench for Creators-Adobe Photoshop tests, the Dell 14 Premium came in about 29% slower. For video and photography pros, this will absolutely be a dealbreaker and push you firmly back into the Apple camp, and that's understandable if that's what you're looking to use your next laptop for.

However, compare those results to the MacBook Pro 14-inch's Blender Benchmark 4.3.0 performance, which is about 60% slower, overall, than the 14 Premium's.

When it comes to machine learning workloads, the situation will be similar, since Pytorch, the software framework that drives pretty much all AI development right now, is deeply tied to Nvidia's tensor core hardware. We don't have any good cross-platform AI benchmarks right now to give quantitative numbers, so giving a percentage of which laptop is better isn't really possible yet (I'm working on it, I promise).

That said, I've spent the better part of a decade studying computer science to earn my Master's degree in the field, and I can tell you that not a single person I know uses anything other than Nvidia hardware for this kind of work, and the Dell 14 Premium will be able to run AI inference and GAN workloads far better than the MacBook Pro 14-inch.

Finally, when it comes to gaming, none of these laptops are making it onto our best gaming laptop list, but the RTX 4050 GPU in the 14 Premium I tested made it much easier to play modern AAA PC games, with reasonable adjustments made to settings.

At 1080p on the highest settings in those games where I can compare results across devices, the Dell 14 Premium averaged about 75% faster FPS on average overall compared to the MacBook Pro 14-inch.

Of course, there's also the issue with whether or not the game you want can run on a Mac, which isn't a guarantee, while Windows is the default for all PC games on major platforms like Steam or GOG. I wouldn't go out of your way to buy the 14 Premium to play games on, but it's nice to know that you can effectively game if you're on the road for work and you're tired of writing up reports or designing work presentations in your hotel room.

Of course, all of this is contingent on similarly-specced devices. The MacBook Pro 14-inch can be configured with an M4 Pro or M4 Max chip, which is substantially more powerful than anything the Dell 14 Premium can offer. For that, you might want to look at the Dell Pro Premium and Dell Pro Max Premium models, respectively.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Dell 14 Premium: Battery Life

• How long does it last on a single charge? 8 hours, 16 minutes
• How long does it take to charge from empty to full? It takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to charge to full with a 100W AC adapter

For battery life, the Dell 14 Premium doesn't have spectacular longevity, especially compared to something like the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, which run about 55% longer than the 14 Premium, but there are costs involved in using discrete graphics and more power hungry OLED displays.

Overall, I think the tradeoff is worth it, but if batter life is a major concern for you, sticking with an LCD display and integrated graphics are the way to go here, and should get you a good bit more juice on a single charge.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Dell 14 Premium?

Buy the Dell 14 Premium if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Dell 14 Premium

• I spent about two weeks with the Dell 14 Premium
• I used it for everyday work and creative tasks
• I ran it through our standard battery of benchmark tests

I spent about two weeks working with the Dell 14 Premium, putting it through my typical battery of benchmark tests, and using it for everyday productivity and creative work.

I used standard benchmarking tools like 3DMark, Geekbench, PugetBench for Creators, and in-game benchmarks for PC gaming performance analysis.

I also used the laptop as my everyday device, including some light gaming in addition to working with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

I've been reviewing laptops for Techradar for more than five years, and I've tested more than a hundred laptops in that time, both for reviews and for investigative testing to support special computing features and content in that time, so I know better than most when a laptop is hitting the mark and when and where it misses.

• First reviewed August 2025

• Critical security vulnerabilities have been identified in Broadcom chips
• These flaws leave Dell devices containing the chips at risk
• The resulting attack has been dubbed 'ReVault', and users should patch now

A host of critical security flaws in Broadcom chips could mean tens of millions of Dell laptops and other devices are at risk of possible attack.

The serious vulnerabilities have been found in over 100 models of Dell laptops with Broadcom chips, Cisco Talos has revealed, and are therefore at risk of an attack the researchers dubbed ‘ReVault’.

A ReVault attack could be used ‘as a physical compromise to bypass Windows Login and/or for any local user to gain Admin/System privileges’, allowing a hacker to steal sensitive information and credentials, as well as biometric data like fingerprint information.

Dell laptops at risk

These flaws could have a ‘significant’ impact on victims, and Cisco Talos reports two primary attack scenarios; a physical attack, and a post-compromise pivot.

As the name suggests, the physical attack refers to a local attacker with access to the victim’s device gaining direct access to the USH board over USB with a custom connector.

From there, the vulnerabilities become ‘in-scope for the attacker without requiring the ability to log-in into the system or knowing a full-disk encryption password’. If a system is configured to be unlocked with biometric data, it could be possible to adjust the CV firmware to allow any fingerprint rather than just legitimate users.

In a post-compromise pivot, users without administrative privileges can use the CV firmware to trigger Arbitrary Code Execution, and potentially leak ‘key material essential to the security of the device’ and then gain the ability to modify the firmware permanently.

Dell confirmed that customers have been notified about available updates that address the vulnerabilities; “Working with our firmware provider, we addressed the issues quickly and transparently disclosed the reported vulnerabilities in accordance with our Vulnerability Response Policy.”

“Customers can review the Dell Security Advisory DSA-2025-053 for information on affected products, versions, and more. As always, it is important that customers promptly apply security updates that we make available and move to supported versions of our products to ensure their systems remain secure.”

It’s not yet clear if these vulnerabilities have been exploited in the wild, but users are of course advised to patch urgently to address them, as well as to regularly rotate passwords and use MFA where possible.

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Dell 16 Premium: One-minute review

The Dell 16 Premium is Dell’s newest flagship machine for professionals, creatives, and developers who demand a blend of portability, performance, and polish, and it has a pretty high bar to clear.

Its predecessor, the Dell XPS 16, was consistently one of the best laptops produced in every year it was available, and a lot of XPS fans were disappointed to hear about its rebranding. But, at the end of the day, that’s really all it is, as the 16 Premium is everything people loved about the XPS 16 in recent years along with some fancy new tricks.

Starting at $1,799.99 / £1,699 / AU$4,379.10, the Dell 16 Premium isn’t necessarily cheap, but it is fairly in line with similar creative-focused laptops like the MacBook Pro, and given how often Dell has sales on its laptops, you can often find it for much cheaper than the competition.

There are a few configuration options available, but you do start off with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H CPU with Intel Arc 140T graphics, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 16.3-inch non-touch 2K display. From there, you can add in RTX 5050, RTX 5060, and RTX 5070 GPUs, depending on the region, and configure it up to 64GB memory and 4TB SSD storage (though these options will limit which GPU you can pick).

What truly sets it apart, though, is the outstanding 16.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen with 120Hz refresh rate, perfect for high-res content creation, editing, and media consumption, though the OLED display will substantially cut into the device’s battery life.

With premium build quality, great speakers, and modern I/O, this laptop nails almost everything it sets out to do, though its borderless touchpad and keyless function bar design remain controversial.

All that said, chances are you’re really looking for performance with this laptop, and here, the unit I reviewed often ran circles around the competing MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro, especially in creative workloads where the MacBook Pro’s strong industry reputation does a lot of heavy lifting. In this regard, the Dell 16 Premium is easily the best laptop for creative pros who want MacBook Pro performance on a Windows 11 device.

Dell 16 Premium: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? Starts at $1,799.99 / £1,699 / AU$4,379.10
• When is it available? It's available now
• Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.

The Dell 16 Premium is available now in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s official website and major retailers. Prices start at $1,799 in the US, £1,699 in the UK, and AU$4,379.10 in Australia.

Upgrading the configuration can significantly increase the price, but even when the price is maxed out, the highest level configuration is still substantially less than a competing MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro, much less one with an M4 Max chip.

• Value: 4 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Specs

• Up to RTX 5070 GPU
• Up to Thunderbolt 5
• Wi-Fi 7

Dell offers multiple configurations of the Dell 16 Premium laptop across different regions. The starting models include a Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, 512GB SSD, and integrated Intel Arc graphics (Australia starts with an RTX 5050 GPU), as well as a 2K IPS non-touch display.

The max spec on the 16 Premium vary by region, with the US topping out at an RTX 5070 GPU, which also comes with three Thunderbolt 5 ports rather than the three Thunderbolt 4 ports on RTX 5060 models and lower. In the UK and Australia, there are no RTX 5070 configurations available yet, but they do max out with a 4TB PCIe SSD. All models max out at a UHD+ (2400p) OLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage.

All configurations come with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, a substantial boost over the rival MacBook Pro 16-inch, as well as a microSDXC 7.1 slot.

The configuration I tested for review is the maximum configuration available in the US.

• Specs: 5 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Design

• Gorgeous OLED display
• Excellent port selection
• Trackpad and function key row still controversial

Design-wise, there is little difference between the Dell 16 Premium and the Dell XPS 16 it replaces. The same borderless trackpad and keyless function bar remain from the XPS, and for the most part, the form factor is essentially unchanged.

The touchbar is definitely one of the more controversial design choices of the Dell 16 Premium, held over from the earlier XPS redesign from 2023. It's a bit of an accessibility challenge for those who struggle with low vision, as the only thing that indicates where a given function key is is a backlit label on a completely smooth and flat glossy surface.

Even if you don't have limited vision though, if there's an especially bright light (say, a sunny day outside), finding any given F-key might be challenging.

Likewise, the borderless trackpad isn't great either, and for similar reasons. It takes some time to learn and figure out where exactly the trackpad is, but once you do, it works pretty well.

The keyboard is ok. It's never been the best feature on the Dell XPS line, but it's not terrible and functions well enough.

For ports, you get at least three Thunderbolt 4 Gen 2 ports, a MicroSD card slot, and a 3.5mm combo jack. This is about as much as you can expect on a chassis this size, and while it would be nice to have a USB-A port, there is an adapter dongle that you can buy while configuring your laptop (about $35) that lets you get HDMI 2.0 and USB-A 3.0 connectivity if your have a mouse and monitor that require it.

The audio is pretty good on the 16 Premium, largely thanks to the top-firing speakers, but it's not spectacular. If you plan on working on audio projects, a headset would be advised.

The webcam is a 1080p IR camera, meaning that it's compatible with Windows Hello, and it's fairly good for video conferencing and the like. That said, it lacks a physical privacy shutter, which isn't really acceptable in 2025, so I have to take some points off for that.

While it might seem like I have a lot of complaints about the design of the 16 Premium, I only highlight the above issues because they are somewhat controversial in some corners, as is the rebranding away from XPS to Premium.

I get those concerns, but in my estimation, this is an exceptionally built laptop, and the issues I have with it don't detract that much from the overall quality of the device. If you opt for the OLED panel rather than the base IPS, pretty much every other consideration feels like nitpicking for a device that looks and feels great—better than the MacBook Pro in many ways.

• Design: 4 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Performance

• Often outperforms the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro
• Discrete RTX GPU embarrasses the MacBook Pro in several workloads
• Not a bad gaming laptop either

Ultimately, if you're paying this much for this laptop, performance is going to be front of mind, especially since this is really targeted toward the MacBook Pro creative crowd.

In that regard, the 16 Premium might even be a better creative laptop than the MacBook Pro 16-inch, despite the strong performance of the MacBook Pro 16-inch in some areas.

In terms of synthetic CPU performance, the MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro greatly outperforms the Dell 16 Premium in workloads like GeekBench 6.4.

However, once you start adding in real-world tests that actually test its performance in workloads creatives and gamers are actually interested in, the MacBook Pro only wins out in our PugetBench Photoshop benchmarks. Otherwise, the RTX 5070 GPU in the 16 Premium wrecks the MacBook Pro 16-inch just about everywhere else.

Now, the MacBook Pro 16-inch can be configured with an M4 Max chip, which might substantially change the comparative assessment, but it would add more than a grand to the price you'd pay compared to the best Dell 16 Premium.

Plus, even though the MacBook Pro 16 can now play Cyberpunk 2077 natively, Macs just aren't serious PC gaming devices. They've come a long way in recent years, but you simply don't have anything concerns about that with the Dell 16 Premium. If a game is on Steam, the Dell 16 Premium will be able to play it, something that even the best MacBook will never be able to claim.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Dell 16 Premium: Battery Life

• How long does it last on a single charge? 5 hours, 18 minutes

So, there is a major caveat when it comes to battery life on the 16 Premium unit I tested. OLED displays are notoriously unforgiving toward battery life. Add in the power-hungry RTX 5070 GPU, and we are really talking about battery life that is just slightly better than you'd find with the best gaming laptops.

With a max battery life of about 9 hours, according to Dell, the OLED configuration cannot keep pace with the MacBook Pro 16-inch, which can make it about 20 hours on a charge in our testing. In my testing, the Dell 16 Premium only gets about 5 hours in mixed use, and at best, about 2.5 hours under heavy load.

Of course, the MacBook Pro 16-inch isn't going to make it 20 hours if it's playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider or rendering a 4K video overnight on battery power, so the difference between the two laptops is probably closer than my tests show. But there's no getting around the fact that the MacBook Pro 16-inch is going to last far longer than the Dell 16 Premium, and that's something to consider.

• Battery Life: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Dell 16 Premium?

Buy the Dell 16 Premium if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Dell 16 Premium

• I spent about two weeks with the Dell 16 Premium
• I used it for everyday work and creative tasks
• I ran it through our standard battery of benchmark tests

I used the Dell 16 Premium for everyday work and creative tasks for about two weeks, including writing this review and editing all the photos therein on the device.

I put it through our standard battery of benchmark tests, as well as used it for everything from creative work to gaming to really push it to its limits.

I've tested several dozen laptops for TechRadar over the past several years, so I am very familiar with what makes a laptop a great value for its market, and my extensive experience gives me insight that lets me better assess its benchmark results.

• First reviewed August 2025

• Dell’s $250 laptop beats its own entry-level desktop and rivals more expensive models
• The cheapest Dell desktop lacks Windows, while next options start at $599.99
• At under half the price, Dell's laptop offers full PC experience with modern specs

Desktops used to be the default for affordable computing, offering more power, easier upgrades, and better value.

Components can be swapped out, memory increased, and parts repaired when needed - which is much harder to do with laptops, which typically have elements like memory soldered in place.

But if you’re in the market for a budget PC, then you might not want to be considering a desktop -case in point, Dell is now offering a 15-inch laptop for just $250.

Far cheaper than a desktop

The Dell 15 laptop is currently $130 cheaper than its usual $379.99 asking price. That’s nearly half the price of Dell’s least expensive desktop, the $439 OptiPlex 3000 Thin Client. It’s not just about cost either.

The default laptop configuration comes with Windows 11 Home, an AMD Ryzen 3 7320U processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It also includes a 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz screen, Wi-Fi, and ports for basic connectivity, including one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB 2.0 port, and a universal audio jack.

The OptiPlex desktop doesn’t run Windows, rather it uses Dell’s ThinOS, only has 64GB of onboard storage, and lacks Wi-Fi entirely.

It’s meant for narrow business environments, not general use, so for the average buyer, it’s hard to recommend unless they’re locked into a specific setup.

Looking beyond that, Dell’s next Windows-ready desktops start at $599.99. The Dell Slim Desktop includes a Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 512GB SSD. It does offer more power but also costs more than twice as much as the laptop.

The Dell Tower Desktop at $749.99 bumps things up with a Core Ultra 7 chip, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. But again, that’s triple the price.

For most users, especially students, small business owners or casual users, those upgrades may not be needed anyway.

The $250 Dell 15 Laptop delivers a full experience that covers everything from web browsing to light productivity.

Desktops still make sense for users who need expansion or maximum performance of course, but on the low end, the gap is closing fast. In some cases, it may already be gone.

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The Dell Pro 14 Plus is the portable version of Dell's new line of Pro Plus monitors, following their recent name change.

The Pro 14 Plus features a 14-inch display, making it one of the smaller portable monitors I have tested, and it's probably the simplest in all respects. It's highly portable, easy to use, with no frills and no extra mess. It's sturdy, well-built, and offers a respectable price. It's a clear market for those who need more screen space on the go, without needing anything fancy or power-hungry.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Pricing and Availability

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is typically available for just over $300, and it's currently listed on Dell's site for $323.74. For this price, you get a standard 3-year warranty on a WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 14-inch display with two USB-C ports, a built-in multi-functional stand, and an easy-to-use package.

Dell ships these products worldwide, so they are available anywhere. Better yet, due to its compact size, you can also take it almost anywhere. It can slip into a backpack, briefcase, suitcase, or even just along in your arms without adding much bulk.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

At this point, I've tested several portable monitors. This one functions much like the others, except it feels simpler. The other portable monitors I have tested have cooler features or nicer displays, but what they cannot top is this one in terms of simplicity and ease of use. The Dell Pro 14 Plus comes with only two USB-C cables and a fold-out stand, so you're good to go. You plug in, and it works. Nothing fancy, no setup time, no wondering which port to plug into - nothing like that. It's plug-and-play in the best way.

Amidst all the other portable displays, what makes this one so interesting is that it provides more screen real estate when needed. You don't need 4K, you don't need OLED, or a fancy stand; you don't need something with ports, speakers, or any other features. This display checks those boxes of simplicity very easily.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Design & Build Quality

There isn't a whole lot to say about design -- and that's a good thing. This is a simple panel with a fold-out stand. It features two USB-C ports, one on either side of the stand, for easy use. The shell is constructed from slim aluminum with a plastic casing and rubber edges for enhanced grip and protection against scratches.

The bottom of the monitor, when used in landscape mode, features a slight chin with minimal branding, nothing too elaborate or complicated. The top of that same orientation view has a smaller chin, but still retains a slight bezel.

Due to its design, this monitor can be easily rotated to a vertical or portrait orientation, making it a more functional stand by far. This also explains why they placed one USB-C port on either side, allowing for a spot to plug the monitor into your computer from any angle.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: In use

This has been a fantastic little display to keep in a lightweight backpack for a trip, to use when working away from my desk, or even to add just a bit more screen space to my main desk. One thing to note right off the bat is that yes, this is only a 1080p display. It's nothing brilliant, and it's not overly impressive, but that's also what makes it great for certain things. I think of it like why I love my iPad Mini 7. It's not the best by any means, but the size and simplicity help me realize that it's not supposed to replace my primary machine. This display is unapologetically secondary; it's meant to enhance, not replace or become primary. Some of these other portable displays have become my primary workspace when I use them, for better and for worse. But the Pro 14 Plus stays secondary in every situation.

With that in mind, it's fine that it's not the best in terms of graphics, colors, or size. The ergonomics with the fold-out kickstand make it easy to set up, the anti-glare screen helps reduce distractions, the easy USB-C port means that I won't try to use it as a dock too, or try to run anything through it, I'll remember that all this is used for is expanding my workspace just a tad. There are no speakers, no high refresh rate, no mics, and no cameras. No frills, just a simple 14-inch addition to my screen.

The simplicity of this screen is what makes it special, just like the iPad mini. I can throw this in my bag and forget it's there, except when I want to be able to throw Notion, Slack, Spotify, Jira, Basecamp, Asana, metrics, or my email up on a dedicated screen to keep an eye on it while I knock out my work on my laptop. It's great for that, and for some, that's exactly what they want.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Final verdict

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is simple, easy to use, easy to move, and easy to remember its purpose. It's got okay specs, but what makes it great is that it knows what it is and isn't. And that's a lot more than what some tech these days can say.

For more screen options, we've tested and reviewed the best business monitors.

• IT decision-makers see upgrading as a chance to get the latest AI PCs
• Advanced security and boosted productivity are especially attractive
• 62% would now consider an AI PC over a regular PC

New research on Windows 11 and AI PC Readiness says the timing couldn't be more perfect – Windows 10 end of life has coincided with a surge of AI PCs available on the market, making now the perfect time to upgrade for two reasons.

The study from Dell found with 80% of UK businesses migrating or having already migrated to Windows 11, they're seeing it as a strategic opportunity to adopt AI-ready PCs rather than just a simple OS update.

Nearly three-quarters (71%) of IT decision-makers agree they've been presented with an opportunity to upgrade to more powerful AI PCs at the same time.

Windows 11 upgrade is causing many to consider AI PCs

Nearly half agreed AI PCs bring advanced security features (47%) and greater employee productivity (44%), with around two-thirds (64%) considering AI-capable hardware critical for future operations.

Those additional security features are much-needed, too, with a similar number (46%) citing security breaches as the main driver for refreshing PC fleets – more than the number of businesses refreshing due to the Windows 10 EOS (42%).

However, some factors continue to hold businesses back, and they're the same ones we see time and time again. Software compatibility (45%) was the most frequently cited concern, with many also concerned about hardware compatibility (34%) and operational disruption (32%).

That leaves 20% of the businesses surveyed not yet having started transitioning, even though the deadline is now less than four months away.

"Adding the context of the Windows 11 transition means the AI PC isn't just a new product to sell; it is a gateway to higher-value services like strategic deployment, security hardening and workflow integration," Dell UK Channel and Distribution Lead Ian Heath explained.

Looking ahead, it's clear that AI PCs are gaining in popularity. Three in five (62%) IT decision-makers would choose a Copilot+ PC over a regular one, based on the promises of longer battery life, better performance, local AI processing and integrated productivity tools.

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• Dell Pro Max 18 Plus workstation already supports up to 128GB of CAMM2 RAM
• 256GB configuration is expected soon for data-heavy or AI-driven work
• Oddly no AMD support despite clear AI and performance-focused design goals

Dell is planning to offer a high-end workstation laptop with a massive 256GB memory option later this year.

The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus is already available to buy now and sits at the top of Dell’s mobile workstation lineup, as we predicted it would last year.

It’s powered by up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor, paired with up to an Nvidia RTX Pro 5000 Blackwell GPU, and supports up to 4TB of SSD storage, making it one of the best business laptops around.

But no AMD option?

Memory configurations start with a single 16GB 6400MTs DDR5 CSoDIMM and users can upgrade to 32GB or 64GB using dual modules.

There’s also the option for 128GB of 6400MTs CAMM2 dual channel memory, although you’ll pay a premium for it – an additional $1,895 to the total price in fact.

And if 128GB still isn’t enough, Dell plans to offer a 256GB CAMM2 RAM option later in the year.

While 256GB will be well beyond what most users need, it could appeal to engineers, researchers, and developers who regularly work with demanding datasets and compute-heavy workloads.

Dell has made thermal improvements to the Pro Max 18 Plus to keep performance consistent under load. It claims up to a 44 percent increase in graphics performance compared to the previous 18-inch model.

The system also features better serviceability, with a modular USB-C port and an easy-access upgrade panel.

Combined with Dell’s manageability tools and security features, it is clearly built for enterprise environments.

One noticeable omission is AMD support. Dell’s Pro Max 14 includes Ryzen AI processors and is part of the Copilot+ lineup, which makes it all the more unusual that the 18 Plus, positioned as the most capable model, doesn’t offer AMD options.

With Ryzen processors widely praised for their NPU performance and strong efficiency, their absence may be something of a deal breaker for users looking for AI-focused alternatives.

We can only hope that Dell sees the error of its ways and brings AMD options to future Pro Max models.

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• Dell confirmed reports of a break-in by apparent hackers
• World Leaks claimed responsibility, and is demanding payment
• However Dell says the threat actors apparently stole fake data

Dell has confirmed recently suffering a cyberattack which saw threat actors steal of its data, but has added it isn't too concerned by the incident.

The hackers, going by “World Leaks”, are now asking for ransom in exchange for deleting the stolen files.

However, Dell says the stolen files were all fake, signaling that it has no intention of paying the criminals for their troubles.

Synthetic data

In a statement, Dell confirmed the breach, saying the attackers accessed a platform used to demo new products to customers.

"A threat actor recently gained access to our Solution Center, an environment designed to demonstrate our products and test proofs-of-concept for Dell's commercial customers," Dell told BleepingComputer. "It is intentionally separated from customer and partner systems, as well as Dell's networks and is not used in the provision of services to Dell customers."

The statement goes on to explain that the data used in the solution center is “primarily synthetic”, meaning it’s all made up and fake.

It also includes “publicly available datasets used solely for product demonstration purposes or Dell scripts, systems data, non-sensitive information and testing outputs,” Dell added.

“Based on our ongoing investigation, the data obtained by the threat actor is primarily synthetic, publicly available or Dell systems/test data."

World Leaks might be a new name in the ransomware scene, but the actors are rather experienced. The group came as a spin-off from Hunters International, an infamous ransomware player that breached more than 200 organizations during its active years.

Hunters International worked as the usual double-extortion group, first stealing the sensitive files from the victims, and then encrypting their systems to prevent access. World Leaks, on the other hand, ditches the encryption part and focuses solely on data exfiltration.

Many ransomware groups stopped deploying the encryptors lately, as they seem to be expensive to develop and maintain, while simply stealing files brings the same end result.

Via BleepingComputer

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Ever since I moved my Tribesigns Mobile Height Adjustable Desk to the second story of my house, I have had the Dell Pro 32 in the dead center of the desktop. I didn't expect to like this monitor as much as I do. It would be an entry-level option with the technical specs of 4K, but it wouldn't be something I would want to use.

However, what I have discovered is that this display has quickly become one that I have come to love using. I expected to rotate this monitor out with the others I am testing, but instead, I have set those monitors up in other areas for now, so I could conduct a full review with this display.

The Dell Pro 32 Plus, in short, is a massive, yet affordable 4K USB-C hub monitor that is perfect for productivity. It's a business monitor. That's clear. And while it could be integrated into a larger setup relatively easily, this monitor screams simplicity, as in that scenario, it can do it all and do it well.

Dell Pro 32 Plus: Pricing and Availability

Dell's new naming structure with the Pro monitor can mean various things, but this P3225QE model is specifically a 32-inch 4K UHD (3840x2160) USB-C Hub Monitor.

You can purchase one for just $599.99 from Dell's website, or you can find it at a handful of third-party retailers as well. I've seen this monitor drop well below the MSRP for deals, so be sure to keep an eye out for them if you're in the market for a monitor.

Dell Pro 32 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

The packaging for Dell is always pretty straightforward. They have recently adopted a more sustainable packaging style, which is a nice change. Still, I am always concerned about the reliability, as companies continue to move in that direction. Regardless, my monitor arrived in one piece, and I was able to set it up in a matter of seconds. Then, I took it to the Tribesigns desk, and that's where it has stayed for over 100 days.

This display is sleek. The base is still just alright, nothing fancy, but nothing wrong with it either, it's just not my favorite. The ports are easily accessible on the back; there are two ports within a pop-up on the left-hand side of the monitor for easy port access, and the buttons are off to the right. The bezels are minimal, with the Dell branding positioned small and centered on the bottom bezel. However, outside of that, this display is clean and sleek.

Dell Pro 32 Plus: Design & Build Quality

This display is classic Dell in my mind. A great basic monitor. Nothing overly flashy, nothing that's going to give out in a few years, but something that works, works well, looks clean and straightforward, and will work with just about any device.

Yes, Dell updated its naming conventions, but this is just Dell continuing to do what Dell does well.

The build quality is solid. Over the last 100+ days, nothing has broken, worn down, seemed loose, or damaged; nothing has malfunctioned. It's been a fantastic companion during this time.

Dell Pro 32 Plus: In use

As I mentioned above, I initially grabbed this display for a quick working session on the Tribesigns desk. However, that was over 100 days ago, and I have used this monitor extensively since then. When I say a lot, I'll admit that I have put in some intense late nights, working from home while my kids play, on this floor of our house, and even quite a few early mornings where I didn't want to go all the way down to my basement office to get some work done. It's been a busy season for me, and this monitor has helped me navigate it as the near-perfect 4K display, and a truly impressive competitor in the budget or basic tier of 4K displays.

In my time using this display, the picture and clarity have been spectacular. I have my MacBook Pro scaled all the way to "More Space", pushing every single pixel to the maximum so that I can fit the most content on my monitor. Since I work on a 13-inch MacBook Pro throughout the day, I take full advantage of a bigger display when I can. I haven't had any issues with scaling, with blurred text, or any other visual problems. Everything has scaled beautifully with macOS; everything is sharp and clear.

Directly behind my left shoulder, while I work at this desk, is a lamp. If this monitor weren't matte, I'd be blinded by the reflection of the light. However, because of the matte finish, I can work with very little distraction, and most of the time, I can work without even noticing the lamp.

Since probably the second week, maybe the first week of having this desk setup I have had the front ports visible and I have used it to plug in a USB-C cable to charge my Logitech MX Keys Mini, Logitech MX Anywhere, my iPad mini 7, or any other device I have that needs a quick charge. On the back, I have a cheap lightbar from Amazon plugged into one of the USB-A ports and then the lightbar is sitting atop the monitor shining down on the workspace, though I'm contemplating adding my BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 from my office up here. Beyond that, I have a USB-C cable running to my MacBook Pro, which is sitting in one of my favorite vertical laptop stands of all time, the Grovemade Wood MacBook Dock in Walnut. If I am running another laptop from this desk, I'll plug it into the same port, which is part of what makes a USB-C monitor so wonderful.

In these 100+ days I have had only one complaint, which is that on a super sunny day, if the sun is hitting the screen I have wished it would get a little bit brighter. However, outside of that, this display can do just about everything else needed and then some in the realm of business. I've even done some light gaming on this to see how it was and everything felt fine. But, in the professional space, this monitor can get just about everything you need done in a minimalist workspace, or as a part of a larger workspace if needed.

It's worth noting that this display is USB-C and not Thunderbolt, but then again, I have yet to notice a situation to where I would need Thunderbolt bad enough to expet my monitor to have it, especially not a basic monitor that is designed for business productivity work.

Dell Pro 32 Plus: Final verdict

The Dell Pro 32 Plus knocks it out of the park with the essentials in what I'd expect in a 4K monitor as a whole, let alone one that is also at a reasonable price. This display has great color, crisp text and images, decent ports, great resolution, a clean and modern look and okay brightness. Truly, what more could you ask for in a USB-C monitor for that money? If you're in the market for a 4K USB-C display, as long as you're trying to work on it, rather than game, this display is one that should be considered in your research.

2025 has already been a banner year for laptops, and with some of the best laptops we've seen in ages hitting the scene in recent months, it can be hard to figure out which one is right for you. Dell has a new and improved iteration of its powerful Dell XPS 13, while Apple is fighting for the laptop crown with its latest M4 MacBook Air 13-inch - but which one is the better device?

To help you make an informed decision, we’re pitting the 2025 editions of both devices against each other, comparing them across all the most important areas. From price to performance, from design to display, we’re covering it all. Which one will win? Read on to find out.

Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Price

Although at first glance both laptops are aimed at the same demographic, the MacBook Air is a fair bit cheaper than the Dell XPS 13. With a starting price of $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, it's a decent chunk more affordable than Dell’s asking price of $1,099.99 / £1,299 / AU$2,797.30, particularly in regions outside of the US.

It’s worth noting that these prices are for the lowest specification of each model with the Dell XPS 13 - our current top pick of the best Dell laptops - going up to a whopping $2,249.99 / £2,348.98 / AU$3,898.40. Meanwhile, the MacBook Air 13-inch effectively maxes out at $2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,229 for relatively similar specifications, so the price gap closes a bit at the higher end of configurations; this is because Apple aims to keep the base package price of its MacBooks as low as possible, but charges a lot more for add-ons like extra storage or RAM.

Regardless, the MacBook Air wins this round - its tightly controlled hardware ecosystem means you're simply getting a bit more bang for your buck with Apple's lightweight laptop.

• Winner: MacBook Air

Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Design

As we've come to expect from high-end laptops, both of these devices are absolutely stunning from a design perspective. The Dell XPS 13 comes packed into a lightweight, ultra-thin chassis that looks fantastic and is easy to take with you anywhere - without having to worry about your shoulders slowly starting to collapse under the weight of your laptop.

In our review, we found that the keyboard felt great to type on, but one notable downside our Computing Editor Christian Guyton highlighted was the ‘invisible’ touchpad - this poses an issue with accessibility for blind or partially-sighted users, as you can’t feel the difference between the palm rest and the actual touchpad. There's also a distinct lack of physical ports on the XPS 13, with only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports - you’ll likely be relying on Bluetooth if you want to connect any peripherals.

In comparison, the MacBook Air also comes with a sleek chassis, which again looks breathtaking. It’s super light, weighing almost exactly the same as the XPS 13, making it a similarly great option to pop in your backpack and take on the go. The MacBook Air is actually thinner than the XPS 13, measuring in at 1.13cm to Dell’s 1.48cm - and while that sounds marginal, it's enough that you can notice the difference.

In testing, we found that the MacBook's keyboard was amazing to type on, with great key travel and responsiveness for such a thin device. The MacBook Air does suffer from a similar issue to the XPS 13 regarding its lack of ports, with only two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe 3 for charging. However, that's enough to ensure that the MacBook Air just barely wins this round; after all, you don’t have to sacrifice a USB-C port for charging.

• Winner: Macbook Air

Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Performance and display

When we reviewed the Dell XPS 13, we were absolutely blown away, with it performing admirably across multiple areas throughout its entire testing period. It was great for real-world usage, easily coping with countless Chrome tabs, and also held up well when being put through its paces during our synthetic benchmarking process. While the fans did get a little noisy during the 3DMark graphics tests, this is to be expected, and it remained silent during all other usage.

We'll take a brief aside here to talk about on-device AI, since it's the current hot topic. Here, the XPS 13 is indisputably the winner, packing a 2nd-gen Intel Core Ultra chip with a superior neural processing unit (NPU) to Apple's M4 Neural Engine. You also get a more developed and fleshed-out AI experience in Windows 11 with Copilot, since Apple Intelligence arrived on the scene a lot later than Microsoft's AI helper.

The screen on the Dell XPS 13 is undeniably the standout feature. You get a top-spec 3K (2880 x 1800) InfinityEdge OLED touch display, which provides excellent picture quality and color reproduction. Even when conducting graphics benchmarking, which often results in some choppy framerates, it still looked fantastic.

Similarly, the MacBook Air performed exceptionally well, from everyday productivity usage to intensive benchmarking. No matter what we threw at it, it ran smoothly and silently, even running some triple-A games - something which would have been unimaginable on a MacBook Air even just a few years ago. Performance-wise, the base configuration edges out Dell's laptop thanks to its superior onboard graphics, but it's a close fight.

The MacBook Air display features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel (Apple's signature display type, found on most of the best MacBooks and Macs) with a 2560 x 1664 resolution and 500 nits of sustained brightness. It is brilliant for everything from gaming to content creation or even watching movies - but the XPS 13's OLED panel is certainly the better screen, so this one ends up coming out as a draw.

• Winner: Tie

Dell XPS 13 vs MacBook Air: Battery life

While both devices deliver great battery life, there's a decisive winner here. The Dell XPS 13 comes with a bold promise of 24-hour battery life - and in our review, we found that it delivered just that, giving us a whopping 23 hours and 26 minutes of usage in our TechRadar movie test. This laptop will easily see you through a full workday (or two, or three) and also charges super fast, going from empty to 80% in an hour while not being used.

On the other hand, Apple claims that the MacBook Air offers up to 18 hours of battery life when it comes to movie playback, but it delivered under 15 hours in our active web surfing benchmarking. Granted, that's still pretty darn good, but it's frankly dwarfed by the best-in-class battery life of the XPS 13. Again, this device will easily last you a full workday and then some, but it just doesn’t quite live up to the competition here. Another downside is that this device doesn’t charge as quickly either, taking 90 mins to reach 50% charge.

• Winner: Dell XPS 13

Which one should you buy?

Although the MacBook Air technically won more categories, it’s hard to determine a clear overall winner between these two laptops. While the Dell XPS 13 decisively takes home the crown when it comes to battery life and display quality, the MacBook Air does offer very similar performance at a significantly lower price point while also offering more ports and a thinner chassis.

One key factor we haven't discussed here - since it largely comes down to personal preference - is operating system. Windows and macOS are hugely different, and if you're already accustomed to using one of them, switching to the other will be difficult and potentially confusing. It's also worth noting that the XPS 13 also offers somewhat better software compatibility than the MacBook Air, since it uses an x86-based Intel processor rather than an Arm-based M4 chip seen in the Air. If you have specific software needs, be sure to confirm that the required programs are compatible before making a purchase.

While both of these devices are absolutely fantastic options for those looking for a new laptop, which one you pick up should ultimately be based on your needs and how much you’re willing to spend. If you prefer Windows and want something that will last you days without needing a charge, then the Dell XPS 13 is likely the one for you. On the other hand, if you’re hoping to save some money where you can but still need a high-end device, then the M4 MacBook Air 13-inch will probably suit you better.

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1: One-minute review

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is the latest hybrid laptop from the venerable Windows laptop maker, marking its first 2-in-1 since the company's major rebranding earlier this year, which replaced the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 2-in-1.

Fortunately, as with the clamshell Dell 14 Plus, Dell's latest 2-in-1 offers very solid performance at a fantastic price. But given that this is a 2-in-1, typically a form factor where the display takes center stage, the dim, lackluster panel makes this a less attractive option as a 2-in-1 than its clamshell sibling.

Starting at $649.99 / £849 / AU$1,498.20, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 does earn its place among the best 2-in-1 laptops this year thanks to its affordable starting price, especially in the US and Australia where the AMD Ryzen AI 300 configurations are available. When these configurations make it to the UK, the prices there ought to be much cheaper to start as well.

Performance-wise, the 14 Plus 2-in-1 isn't much different than the standard 14 Plus, so what you're really looking for here is the versatility that comes with a 2-in-1.

Unfortunately, this versatility is undermined by the display quality, which is much more important on a 2-in-1. So while I found the rather dim FHD+ display on the 14 Plus to be an acceptable compromise to keep the price down, it's a much bigger negative on the 14 Plus 2-in-1.

That's not to say the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is necessarily bad, or even that its display is an absolute dealbreaker. Given its price and level of performance, the display doesn't keep it from being one of the best student laptops on the market right now, and it also remains one of the best Dell laptops on offer currently. Just be prepared to look past a couple of flaws if you decide to pick one up.

Dell 14 Plus: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? Starts at $649.99 / £849 / AU$1,498.20
• When is it available? It's available now
• Where can you get it? You can buy it in the US, UK, and Australia through Dell’s website and other retailers.

Easily the best feature of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is its excellent pricing. Starting at $649.99 / £849 / AU$1,498.20, there aren't going to be many Windows laptops with solid entry-level specs at this price point. For those who are more price-sensitive (such as students, general users, and enterprise fleet managers), the 14 Plus 2-in-1 really should be at the top of your list if you're in the market for a 2-in-1.

Even better, of course, is that Dell regularly runs sales on its products, so it should be fairly easy to find this laptop for even cheaper (especially around holidays or other major sales events like Amazon Prime Day).

• Value: 5 / 5

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1: Specs

• Configurations vary considerably between the US, UK, and Australia
• Options for both Intel Core Ultra 200V and AMD Ryzen AI 300 processors
• No discrete graphics options

The starting specs for the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 feature 16GB DDR5 RAM, 512GB PCIe SSD storage, and a 16:10 FHD+ (1200p) IPS touchscreen display with 300-nit max brightness. The only difference between the US, UK, and Australia is that the US and Aussies start off with an AMD Ryzen 5 AI 340 processor with Radeon 840M graphics, and the UK starting configuration comes with an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V chip.

This also means that while the US and Australian starting configuration only has two USB-C Gen 3.2 ports, the UK swaps one of these out for a full Thunderbolt 4 port.

For the max spec, the US and UK can configure the 14 Plus 2-in-1 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V processor with Intel Arc Xe2 (140V) graphics, while Australia tops out at an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with Radeon 840M graphics. The US config also maxes out at 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB storage, while the UK and Australia max out at 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB and 1TB storage, respectively.

The configuration I reviewed is much more in the middle of the pack, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V chip, 16GB LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This specific configuration isn't available in the UK and Australia, but the UK can get close enough (though with half the storage capacity).

• Specs: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1: Design

• Thin and light
• Trackpad can feel 'sticky'
• Display isn't great for a 2-in-1

The design of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is nearly identical to the standard 14 Plus, with the major difference being its 360-degree hinge. Otherwise, it sports a functional design language that, while not premium, doesn't necessarily look or feel cheap either.

The keyboard on the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is functional, if not incredible, but for most people it'll do the job just fine. The trackpad occasionally felt somewhat 'sticky' to me, however, and it's something that kind of gives away the laptop's price point, if I'm being honest. I've felt similar trackpads on much cheaper Chromebooks in the past.

The webcam is a solid 1080p at 30 frames per second, which is pretty much standard nowadays. It does feature a physical privacy shutter though, which is excellent.

For ports, you have a good mix, especially for a laptop this thin, and if you're using an Intel-based configuration, you get a Thunderbolt 4 port, which is very handy. Regardless of the processor brand, though, with USB-C Gen 3.2 ports available, you can display out using DisplayPort 1.4, and all USB-C ports support power delivery.

Where this laptop was more of a letdown than its clamshell cousin is the display. At 300 nits peak brightness and just 67.5% of the sRGB color gamut and only 47.8% DCI-P3 (according to my testing), the color quality and brightness on the display just isn't very good.

It's one thing when the display on a cheap clamshell isn't great, but if you plan on taking notes or maybe even do some sketch work on your 2-in-1, this display is not going to give you the best experience. If you plan on using this laptop for school, try to avoid using it outside on a sunny day, or else you're really going to struggle to see things clearly.

• Design: 3 / 5

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1: Performance

• Solid performance
• Can do some modest gaming
• Not the best for creative work

The performance of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is going to vary quite a bit depending on your configuration, but like the clamshell 14 Plus, the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is a very solid performer when it comes to everyday computing and general productivity tasks that are typical of laptops at this price point.

To be clear, this isn't a professional mobile workstation like the MacBook Pro 14, and definitely isn't one of the best gaming laptops, but if what you're looking for is a laptop that does its job, does it reasonably well, and doesn't try to do too much beyond the everyday, then the 14 Plus 2-in-1 is a very solid pick (especially if you're on a budget).

Thanks to the integrated Intel Arc Xe2 or Radeon 840M graphics (depending on your configuration), you'll also be able to get some casual to moderate gaming out of this laptop, though you'll definitely want to keep things at or below 1080p and reasonable graphics settings.

In my testing, Civilization VII (one of the more graphically demanding sim games out there) managed to get close to 60 FPS on average on medium settings, which is more than enough for a thin and light laptop like this.

This is a 2-in-1, though, and the focus really is on note-taking, drawing, and the like, and for that the responsiveness of the display was good enough for the price, though nothing spectacular.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1: Battery Life

• How long does it last on a single charge? 15 hours and 14 minutes
• How long to fully charge it to 100%? 2 hours and 36 minutes

I haven't tested one of the AMD Ryzen AI 300 models of this laptop, but the Intel Core Ultra 256V in my review unit is a very energy-efficient chip, so this laptop's battery life is good enough to rival many of the best laptops of the past few years, though it's not in the top five or anything like that.

It ran for just over 15 hours in my battery test, which involves using a script and custom server to simulate typical web browsing behavior. This is more than enough for a typical work or school day, and with the included 65W charger, it took about two and a half hours to recharge the 64WHr battery to full from empty (though higher wattage chargers will likely get you there faster).

• Battery Life: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1?

Buy the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 if...

Don't buy it if...

• First reviewed June 2025

With AI now a common sight in businesses across the world, the focus now switches to getting the most impact and use from the technology.

At the recent Dell Technologies World 2025, this idea was prominent, with the company keen to demonstrate how it is helping customers of all sizes across various industries get the most out of AI.

To find out how tangible the effects of AI can really be, I sat down with some key Dell spokespeople at the event to dig deeper.

"Turned everything on its head"

One of the biggest announcements at Dell Technologies World 2025 concerned the expansion of Dell’s AI Factory platform, built with Nvidia, which has received some significant updates.

Initially launched at Dell Technologies World 2024, this new Dell AI Factory with Nvidia 2.0 encompasses client devices, servers, storage, data protection and networking, alongside the similarly newly-announced Dell Managed Services for the Dell AI Factory with Nvidia platform, which looks to simplify AI operations with the management of the full Nvidia AI stack.

Such announcements understandably put Dell in a position of great confidence, as Scott Bils, Vice President – Professional Services, notes, "Our goal has always been to provide end to end services to support customers on their AI transformation journey."

"The whole objective is really, via services, to provide that easy button for customers, whether it's to develop their initial use case strategy and prioritization, implement their use case, or managing the environment on an ongoing basis,” says Bils, "everything we're doing is focused on meeting the customer where they're at in their AI journey, and enabling and providing that easy button for on-prem enterprise AI."

“AI factories can be all sizes, and there’s a big role the AI PC will play in this journey for customers,” adds Varun Chhabra, SVP, Product Marketing, noting that as some smaller businesses become entirely centered around AI, this transforms the whole professional services pyramid for Dell.

“It’s turned everything on its head a little bit,” he says.

"An existential opportunity"

In his keynote at the event, Dell founder and CEO Michael Dell noted how around 3,000 customers are using the Dell AI Factory platform, and Chhabra highlights that all of these are at a different stage in their journeys, so Dell’s need to stay at the forefront of the technology.

“Dare I say, this is an existential opportunity,” he laughs , “you’ve got to get it right…if you’ve not started yet, you’re late.”

“Many of the enterprises we see have taken the first steps…where it gets exciting is where they take the next step to figure out how to really drive fundamental business transformation using AI,” Bils adds.

The AI Factory is a multi-faceted platform, and I ask Bils and Chabra how easy a sell it is to businesses at the early stages of their AI journey.

Chhabra notes it is often more about business value and use cases, so Dell’s public work on how AI can be used to benefit organizations is vital.

“We’re honest and transparent about this,” he notes, “we really take the time to talk to customers about what they need to do, why they’re unique.”

“It’s not just going in and having a general conversation,” Bils notes, “there’s lots of different sizes and scales, we can offer configurations for all kinds of organizations.”

“Customers know they need the help, the technology, and are actively looking for the help from service providers…as they navigate their AI journeys” he adds.

I ask the pair how prepared their customers are to deal with the potential overload offered by a system such as the Dell AI Factory - are smaller businesses in particular ready for this?

“Some are pretty far down the line,” Chhabra notes, but a lot of customers are in early explorations - and the question for them is not so much what can Dell do for them, I think it's even more basic - there's a lot of energy and enthusiasm within organizations for AI, and no shortage of ideas of what AI can do for organizations - but the question is which of these hundreds of ideas do I move forward with?”

He adds this position of Dell being a trusted advisor means customers find value in both the company’s existing AI journey, but also the mistakes it made - “helping solve the next generation of issues,” Bils notes - including passing on the learnings Dell gains from working with major companies such as xAI on to smaller firms.

“We do eat our own dog food,” Chhabra laughs, “there’s been a massive internal focus on using AI to make our team members productive across disciplines, to make our customers more successful, and give them a better experience.”

Working with a company the size and scale of Nvidia on the AI Factory is also a major advantage for Dell, and I ask how important having those kinds of partners is.

“It's there because we made a lot of effort,” Chhabra notes, “we’ve always been a company that prides itself for building an open ecosystem on customer’s behalf…and our goal is always to enable that.”

• "The real danger is staying still” - Dell CEO Michael Dell claims AI is "the new electricity"

• Dell reveals new technology aimed at boosting cooling
• eRDHx promises more effective cooling for systems
• Technology can lower cooling costs and reduce reliance on ineffective services

As demand for AI continues unabated across the world, serious questions are being asked around the environmental effect the technology is having on the world around us.

Dell is doing its bit with the launch of a new system it says can lead to lower cooling costs and reliance on expensive or ineffective current services.

At the company's Dell Technologies World 2025 event, it revealed Dell PowerCool Enclosed Rear Door Heat Exchanger (eRDHx), its alternative to standard rear door heat exchangers, which promises to redefine cooling systems as we know them.

Better cooling all round

Dell says the technology behind the new system is an industry-first, and can capture 100% of IT heat generated with its self-contained airflow system, meaning it eRDHx can reduce cooling energy costs by up to 60% compared to currently available solutions.

This includes saving costs and removing reliance on expensive chillers, as the eRDHx can operate with water temperatures warmer than traditional solutions (between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius).

This also means customers can deploy far more racks of dense compute without increasing power consumption, helping maximize their data center capacity.

The system can also help spot leaks or issues due to advanced detection systems, real-time thermal monitoring, and can work with the Dell Integrated Rack Controller service for unified management of all rack-level components.

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• Dell Pro Max Plus laptop is the first to feature an enterprise-grade discrete NPU
• It features a Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card with 32 AI-cores and 64GB memory
• This offers the opportunity to carry out high-intensity AI tasks, even on the move

Dell has unveiled an AI PC with a never-before-seen feature it hopes will spur on the next levels of productivity.

Revealed at Dell Technologies World 2025, the new Dell Pro Max Plus laptop is the first to feature an enterprise-grade discrete NPU, offering the opportunity to carry out high-intensity AI tasks even on the move.

The mobile workstation features a Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card with 32 AI-cores and 64GB memory, which Dell says should be more than enough to handle the needs of AI engineers and data scientists deploying large models for edge inferencing.

Dell Pro Max Plus

Speaking at the event, company CEO Michael Dell addressed the upcoming Windows 10 end of life, hinting that for many users, the ideal solution is to buy an AI PC such as the Dell Pro Max Plus.

“Personal productivity is being reinvented by AI,” Dell said, “the install base of a billion and half PCs is ageing, and it’s being replaced with AI innovation.”

“The Windows 10 end of life is coming, and we are ready - Dell is the leader in commercial AI PCs, and we’re further distancing ourselves from the competition.”

The CEO highlighted the new Dell Pro Max device during his keynote address, noting it would be ideal for developers and scientists, offering up to 20 petaflops of performance due to embedded Nvidia GB300 hardware, and up to 800GB of memory - enough to run and train models with a trillion parameters.

“Today’s PCs are becoming AI workstations - blazing fast, all-day battery life powered by NPU and GPU innovation," Dell declared.

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Dell S3225QC: two-minute review

The Dell S3225QC offers a unique value proposition. I want to say that it’s the best value 32-inch all-rounder if you want awesome 4K OLED picture quality and epic integrated sound, backed up by a serviceable 120Hz refresh rate and a satisfying contrasting figure of 1500000:1, but there are a handful of things holding back my praise.

Dell has positioned the S3225QC as an all-rounder, claiming that its mix of features is “perfect for play, school and work” when it was announced back at CES 2025 in January. At first principles I think this monitor is capable of shifting between these different use cases quite well – the 5 x 5W speakers that run across the bottom of the display output brilliant audio, the screen itself doesn’t blur text and is perfect for a mix of writing documents, viewing content and playing games, and the 32-inch size is definitely a boon for blowing up whatever task you're performing.

Backed up by a design that’s fairly inoffensive and doesn’t take up much space on a desk, the S3225QC may be the perfect multitasking display for your home or office. The addition of two USB-C ports on the back and an accessible USB-C port on the front is also very welcome, especially for quickly charging a phone or mouse, or for transferring data to your computer in a pinch. One port pops in and out of the monitor, allowing it to be tucked away when not used.

Additionally, unlike some OLED monitors, the display doesn’t have annoying care programs – shortly after the monitor is turned off following a lengthy period of use, it’ll automatically shift into refreshing mode, which will take between six and eight minutes. Dell recommends refreshing the pixels every four hours, but I wasn't bugged once about doing this.

However there’s one big thing that’s holding Dell’s new OLED monitor back – its severe lack of ports.

I’m annoyed that the only inputs for displaying audio and video are HDMI and a Display Port-capable USB-C, and my particular use case, as somebody who bases everything they do in their home around a monitor, kind of underscores this as a weakness (so please excuse my incoming tangent). Most streaming services don’t show video in the highest resolution when functioning through a browser, and to watch Andor on Disney+ in all its glory, I wanted to connect my Google TV streamer to the S3225QC.

But the Google TV Streamer, as you’d expect, uses HDMI to connect to a display – I couldn’t use the Display Port-capable USB-C connection, as the TV Streamer doesn’t output audio and video through its USB-C port, and so my only solution was to physically swap the HDMI cord between my PC and the Streamer.

It’s not the end of the world and indeed the monitor displayed 4K streaming content brilliantly, along with all the things I played, but it begs the question: why are there only two audio/video inputs in the first place? This will surely be an issue for folks in similar positions looking for a more encompassing all-rounder solution, and this lack of connections is anomalous among similarly priced screens.

For people that might have one primary computer connected via HDMI and, separately, a laptop via the DP-Alt USB-C, this is unlikely to be a problem – but still be ready to factor in purchasing a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to Display Port cable to get over these hurdles depending on what you’re doing at your PC. A quick and easy solution may be an external HDMI splitter.

Dell S3225QC: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $849.99 / £879 / AU$1,299.10
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Dell's website in the US, UK and Australia

For a monitor that comes with high-quality integrated audio, an OLED panel and a massive 32-inch size, the Dell S3225QC is priced quite competitively. There are very few monitors on the market that are offering this particular combination of features, which makes it difficult to compare, but the feature set is pretty impressive.

The price is slightly undermined by a couple of factors, the foremost being a lack of input ports, with only HDMI and a USB-C (DP-Alt) available. Another is the comparatively low refresh rate for an OLED panel, limited to 120Hz at a maximum 4K resolution. There is, however, a built-in USB hub, so keyboards, mice and other peripherals are able to connect directly to the PC via the monitor’s USB-C ports.

If you’re shopping for an alternative, I’d recommend the MSI MPG 271QRX (a 27-inch gaming OLED monitor with a higher refresh rate) or the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE (a non-OLED 32-inch monitor with similar specs, more ports and a lower price).

• Value: 5/5

Dell S3225QC: specs

Dell S3225QC: design

• Inoffensive design with white colorway
• Speakers across the entire bottom
• Nice USB-C placement

The Dell S3225QC is designed to be an all-purpose monitor, and so it has a neutral design without anything too jarring. The monitor is only available in a white colorway with an anti-glare matte OLED panel, sitting atop five integrated speakers.

While this speaker system appears at first glance to have a webcam inbuilt, it’s actually a proximity sensor that detects the user’s distance from the screen and adjusts sound quality accordingly. More on that in the Features section.

The stand has a coarse texture to it and is completely white. It doesn’t take up much room, with the stand consisting of a long cylindrical pole and the monitor footing being a flat rectangle. The monitor doesn’t take up too much room on a desk and has a fair amount of height, tilt and swivel adjustment to it.

One of the USB-C ports physically moves in and out from underneath the monitor, allowing for quick access. It’s an interesting aspect of the monitor that seems a little overdesigned – while popping a component in and out is convenient, I’m confused as to why this needs to move at all.

Surely an immobile USB-C port pointed downward would have achieved the same goal without the risk of getting stuck or broken? The rest of the ports are located around the back, while the monitor’s joystick and power button can be found to the bottom right of the screen’s backside.

• Design: 4/5

Dell S3225QC: features

• In-built speakers across the bottom
• Handy USB-C port on the front with upstream/downstream support
• Only two audio/video input ports (HDMI/DP via USB-C)

The Dell S3225QC is aimed at being an all encompassing display, capable of switching between work and play without a problem. It has a gorgeous screen and a handful of useful USB-C ports across the back and front, though there's a crippling lack of audio/video ports.

The main feature propping up the all-rounder goal is the sound system running across the bottom of the display, which offers enhanced surround-sound audio made possible thanks to its spatial tracking camera. The end product is frankly the best audio I’ve ever heard from a monitor, though I did find that two red lights would often appear on the soundbar, indicating that my head couldn’t be seen by the tracking tech – meaning sound wasn't always able to be optimized for my position. As someone whose home entertainment setup is based around their computer desk, I love monitors with inbuilt audio, so this focus on high-end audio is a win for me.

There’s a USB-C port on the front and the two USB-C ports around the back, one of which doubles as a Display Port alternative for audio/video (AV) signals, meaning you can plug your monitor in with a USB-C port and use it as a second screen. Those regular USB-C ports can serve as sockets for your laptop and keyboard while still using the DP-capable USB-C port for AV. It’s a great alternative to a dedicated USB hub, and that DP-capable USB-C port can even double as a 90W charger, meaning you won’t need a separate power cable for most connected laptops (beastly gaming models excepted).

I liked how well laid-out the inbuilt operating system was, and how easy it was to quickly change settings using the joystick on the back. It’s so fast and responsive that I would often adjust things like audio directly through the monitor.

What burned me the most about the monitor was its lack of any additional HDMI or Display Port sockets. All that’s on offer is a HDMI port (4K@120Hz) and the aforementioned DP-capable USB-C port. Somebody that’s merely switching between a laptop and a desktop PC likely won’t have any issue with the ports that are in use, but for my purposes (I tend to have a Chromecast connected to my screen), the arrangement resulted in an awkward dance of unplugging and plugging in cables constantly. For a monitor billed on versatility and being able to fulfill so many needs, it’s absolutely baffling how limiting it is in its design.

• Features: 4/5

Dell S3225QC: performance

• Epic OLED, 4K panel @ 120Hz
• Deep, rich spatial sound
• Ideal for productivity, fine for games

It’s tempting to say that the Dell S3225QC makes compromises to service a broad appeal, but I personally don’t think the specs reflect that – the hardware set here is solid.

Dell has sourced its 4K OLED panel from Samsung, and with the Korean tech giant so good at making such screens, it’s a win on all fronts. Colors pop perfectly and as it's OLED, blacks are perfect as they aren’t lit by pixels. A contrast rate of 150,000:1 keeps picture quality accurate, though brightness is limited to a maximum of 250nits/1,000nits HDR peak (a fairly standard figure for an OLED, but low compared to high-end non-OLEDs).

I think the OLED panel is fairly inconsequential when you’re using the monitor for stuff like writing up documents, editing things together or simply when casually browsing the web – and you’ll be better off purchasing a much cheaper display if these are the only things you’re doing. There’s no haziness around typed characters to be seen, but these days you don’t have to go up-market for a clear monitor to do work on.

It’s with stuff like gaming and streaming video that the S3225QC can really pull out the stops. The 120Hz refresh rate might seem a little low for PC gaming, but let me be clear – it’s perfectly fine, and unless you're an especially demanding (or competitive) gamer, 120Hz is more than enough for fast and fluid gameplay. I use a fairly high-performance gaming PC and though in many games I can far exceed a 120 fps framerate, I’ve never been left wanting more.

As we've previously mentioned, the audio system is fitted with a spatial camera that detects how close you are to the screen. With that detected, it then adjusts the sound profile to best suit the distance. In my experience it worked brilliantly, though the sensor certainly suffered when there wasn’t much light (and I tend to keep lights off in my office... I’m a bit of a caveman).

The S3225QC will still deliver rich sound without detecting your distance from the panel, however when the sensor isn’t capable of making that measurement, it displays two dark red lights beside the camera (appearing in the image below as purple). It’s a tad annoying when watching something cinematic in the dark, as the sensor is quite reliant on being in a well-lit environment, but ultimately when it doesn't completely work the results are harmless.

Should I buy the Dell S3225QC monitor?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Dell S3225QC monitor

• Tested over a couple of weeks
• Productivity software used include Canva, Photoshop, Google Docs, ClipChamp and Google Sheets
• Also used for a mix of streaming content and playing video games

During my time with the Dell S3225QC, I tried to use the monitor as a hub for everything I did. This included using it to get work done on my laptop by connecting a MacBook Air to the display via USB-C, but also connecting my gaming computer to it for video games and my Google TV Streamer for movies and TV shows.

Most of my time with my monitor was spent using it for entertainment, playing games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Counter-Strike 2, Wreckfest, Forza Motorsport, R.E.P.O, Marvel Rivals and Star Wars Outlaws, but I also took time to watch plenty of Disney+, Netflix and YouTube content on the display. I also used it for music streaming via Spotify.

Of course the monitor was also used for more casual things – doomscrolling on Bluesky, browsing websites on Chrome and messaging friends on Instagram and Messenger for example.

First review May 2025.

• "AI is here", Jensen Huang tells Dell Technologies World 2025
• Speaking to Michael Dell, Huang once again extols virtue of AI tech
• Nvidia and Dell combine to launch "AI Factory 2.0"

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has once again looked to highlight the huge potential AI can offer companies of all sizes in the coming months and years.

Speaking at the recent Dell Technologies World 2025 event, Huang noted “AI is here - this is unquestionably the single biggest platform shift.”

In conversation with Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, Huang added how, “from a technology perspective…we’re now in perception to generative to now reasoning AI models, and that’s at the raw technology level.”

"The biggest reinvention"

Huang highlighted how Nvidia and Dell are teaming for enterprise AI, which he called, “one of the largest opportunities ahead of us”.

“These are companies that are essentially building a digital workforce of AI agents, which can be working in cybersecurity, software engineering, marketing and sales operations, and forecasting, and supply chain management - all these different AI agents are being created now, that can augment our human workforce with a digital workforce.”

One of the biggest announcements at Dell Technologies World 2025 concerned the expansion of Dell’s AI Factory platform, which has received some significant updates thanks to Nvidia.

Initially launched at DTW 2024, the next iteration of the Dell AI Factory, unsurprisingly called Dell AI Factory with Nvidia 2.0, encompasses client devices, servers, storage, data protection and networking

The new iteration includes six new servers, including the air-cooled PowerEdge XE9780 and XE9785, and the liquid-cooled XE9780L and XE9785L, all of which support up to 192 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs with direct to chip cooling.

These new releases can also be customized with up to 256 Nvidia Blackwell Ultra GPUs per Dell IR7000 rack, which Dell claims can deliver up to four-times faster large language model training than its predecessor.

The two companies also announced Dell Managed Services for the Dell AI Factory with Nvidia, which looks to simplify AI operations with the management of the full Nvidia AI stack, and 100-times faster token generation per second for distributed AI inferencing, with more than 80% reduction in latency, to help support the growth of agentic AI.

Noting that he and Huang had known each other “for some 30 plus years”, Dell asked the Nvidia CEO if he wanted to give any advice to the Dell Technologies World audience.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity - in the last 60 years, this is the biggest reinvention that you and I have seen,” Huang noted.

“This is incredibly exciting technology - you want to engage it. The impact to your company is incredible. And you want to be an early adopter.”

“This is the beginning of a decade of transformation. But you don't want to be second - this is the time, and you want to be first.”

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• New environments can be set up in 2.5 hours

Dell has introduced a new platform that allows customers to create private clouds using VMware, Natanix or Red Hat stacks, but instead of being a single private cloud, it acts as a unified system to manage multiple cloud stacks across Dell hardware.

Centralized management allows customers to take care of diverse deployments, and while different private clouds can't share a single node, they can co-exist across a shared fleet of servers and storage.

The company noted that customers deploying private clouds using its Dell Automation Platform could now be subject to 90% fewer steps, marking considerable efficiency improvements.

Dell unveils unified private cloud platform

The Dell Automation Platform is described as a "software platform designed to simplify how customers deploy and operate disaggregated solutions with secure, zero touch onboarding and centralized management."

Dell claims that new environments can be set up in just 2.5 hours, with the company supporting both bring-your-own-license and its own licensing.

Only VMware vSphere (not Cloud Foundation) will be supported to begin with, but more templates are said to be coming later this year.

The company said in an announcement: "Organizations can protect their investment with reusable infrastructure, simplify operations with full lifecycle management and support customer choice with a catalog of validated blueprints."

Referring to early adopter Nature Fresh Farms, Dell cited its VP for IT and Security, Keith Bradley: “The flexibility to transition between cloud ecosystems and the ability to repurpose hardware is a game-changer for us by providing investment protection and enabling us to respond to evolving business needs quickly."

“Our disaggregated infrastructure approach helps customers build secure, efficient modern data centers that turn data into intelligence and complexity into clarity," Dell's President for Infrastructure Solutions Group Arthur Lewis said.

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