Dell 14S review

Dell 14S is the cheapest Windows laptop we compared, with a Dell Price of $649.99 and a student offer of $549 on Dell's US site. The base configuration lists a Series 3 Intel Core 5 320 processor with 6 cores and a 16 TOPS NPU, Intel graphics, 8GB of LPDDR5x memory, a 256GB SSD and a 14-inch non-touch 1920 x 1200 screen at 60Hz and 300 nits with 100% sRGB coverage. It ships with Windows 11 Home, with Windows 11 Pro available, and Dell sells it in several colors. Dell's configurator lists 16GB memory for $200 more and storage up to 1TB. That 8GB base memory is single-channel and onboard, so it cannot be added later; buyers who plan to keep the laptop for several years should pay for 16GB at checkout. Dell describes long-lasting battery life but does not give an hours figure on the page. For browsing, email and documents it does the job, but MacBook Neo costs $50 less and Apple lists up to 16 hours of battery.

Who it is for

light Windows users on a tight budget

Price

Dell Price $649.99 for the base model ($549 for students).

Dell Price $649.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Series 3 Intel Core 5 320 processor with a 16 TOPS NPU and 6 cores
• 14-inch non-touch 1920 x 1200 display, 60Hz, 300 nits, 100% sRGB
• 8GB LPDDR5x memory and a 256GB SSD in the base model
• Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro
• Several color options

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Lowest Windows price on this list at $649.99
• Strength: Dell advertises $549 for students
• Strength: Display covers 100% sRGB
• Weakness: Base model has 8GB of single-channel onboard memory that cannot be upgraded later
• Weakness: 256GB of storage in the base model
• Weakness: Dell's page does not list a battery hours figure

Key facts

• Starting price: $649.99
• Processor: Intel Core 5 320
• Memory: 8GB onboard, 16GB option
• Storage: 256GB, up to 1TB
• Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1200, 300 nits

Where it ranks

Dell 14S is No. 9 in our Best Laptops verdict.