Dell XPS 14z review

Even with a full-size keyboard, Dell has still managed to squeeze in a speaker at either side – they produced reasonably loud audio, enough to avoid having to reach for headphones when watching YouTube videos or streaming catch-up TV, but for watching films or listening to music you’ll probably want to use some external speakers. Despite a clear mid-range and surprisingly crisp high-end notes, there was a definite lack of bass compared to the excellent 15z.

We always expect good things from Dell’s laptop displays, and the XPS 14z delivered – the excellent WLED panel once again helped images look incredibly bright and vivid, with accurate colours and excellent contrast. Viewing angles were only average, however – there’s enough screen tilt that you should still be able to find the right angle to suit your preferred working position, but the glossy screen finish still makes light reflections and working in direct sunlight rather difficult. It’s also a shame that the 14in display has a relatively small 1,366×768 resolution, as we’ve seen 13in laptops with higher resolution screens – however, without a noticeable screen bezel, it’s a larger display than we’re used to in a laptop of this size.

The 14z has a reasonable number of connectivity options, including two USB ports, gigabit Ethernet, headphone and microphone inputs and a multi-format card reader, as well as a slot-loading optical drive. In order to avoid the cramped feel of the XPS 15z, most of the ports have been moved to the back of the chassis – this is great if you plan on leaving the 14z chained to a desk, as you’ll be able to hide most cables out of sight. Even so, we would have preferred both USB ports to support the faster USB3 standard, rather than the one Dell has included here.

It’s impossible to look at the XPS 14z and not see the influence of the Apple MacBook Pro 13in – the metallic chassis, slot-loading optical drive, backlit keyboard and speaker grilles at either side of the keyboard tray are all reminiscent of Apple’s high-end design, but Dell has still managed to make the 14z stand out on its own merits. Fitting a 14in display into a 13in chassis, even one with a relatively low resolution, makes a massive difference in everyday use. There’s enough power for almost every task, including gaming, but this doesn’t come at the cost of battery life. It’s also cheaper than the equivalent MacBook – with an RRP of £800 for the base model, you’ll save almost £200 by choosing the Dell over Apple.

No, it’s not quite as well made or desirable as an Apple, but the XPS 14z still one of the best portable machines we’ve seen. If you’re looking for something to take on the move, but want more power than an Ultrabook can provide, this should definitely be high on your list.