Latest news with #DellPro
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Dell Pro 14 Premium review: Business done with style
Dell's rebranding spree has transformed the familiar Latitude lineup into something called the Dell Pro series, and the Pro 14 Premium sits at the top of this new hierarchy. It's essentially what would have been a Latitude 9000 in another timeline. Now, think of Pro 14 Premium as the Dell's attempt to bring XPS-level polish to the boardroom, complete with a sleek magnesium chassis and Intel's latest Lunar Lake processors. But rebranding is easier than reinventing, and the Pro 14 Premium finds itself caught between Dell's premium aspirations and the practical realities of corporate computing. At Rs 1,77,593, this isn't a machine that's asking for your casual consideration. It's positioning itself against the likes of Lenovo 's ThinkPad X1 Carbon and HP's EliteBook Ultra series, laptops that have spent years refining their formula for executive-level computing. The question isn't whether Dell can build a competent business laptop (they've been doing that for decades), but whether they can justify the premium price tag with genuinely premium experiences. Modern aesthetics, featherlight presence by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Book Your Daily Profit By 11 AM With This Superclass By Mr. Bala TradeWise Learn More Undo The Pro 14 Premium immediately impresses with its 1.14-kg weight and 0.71-inch thickness. Dell's switch from aluminium to magnesium has paid dividends in the portability department, making this one of the lighter 14-inch business laptops you can buy. The chassis feels modern and sophisticated, with clean lines that wouldn't look out of place in a design studio. But here's where the premium branding starts to show its cracks. The magnesium construction, while effective for weight reduction, doesn't inspire the same confidence as the aluminium builds found on higher-end XPS models. There's noticeable flex when you grasp the screen corners, and the overall build quality feels more like a well-executed mid-range laptop than a premium business machine. Although, don't mistaken it for being fragile. Dell has embraced the zero-lattice keyboard design that debuted on XPS laptops, creating a seamless surface where keys flow into each other without gaps. It looks undeniably sleek and modern, but the typing experience tells a different story. The keys feel shallow and somewhat mushy, lacking the satisfying feedback that makes long typing sessions comfortable. If you're coming from a traditional keyboard, the adjustment period will be noticeable. The fingerprint reader is built into the power button and provides Windows Hello option. While trackpads on Windows machines are as forgettable they could be, Dell's Collaboration Touchpad (it's just a fancy corporate name for the trackpad) deserves a mention for its creative approach to video conferencing. During Zoom calls, camera and microphone controls appear directly on the touchpad, allowing you to mute or disable video without hunting for on-screen controls. The limitation is compatibility, it only works with Zoom and Microsoft Teams , leaving Google Meet and other platforms out in the cold. The port selection strikes a reasonable balance between modern connectivity and legacy support. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports handle charging and high-speed data transfer, while a USB-A port ensures compatibility with older peripherals. The inclusion of HDMI 2.1 and a 3.5mm audio jack shows Dell understands that business users still need these connections, even if they're not the flashiest options available. The placement is thoughtful too, power ports on both sides mean you can charge from either direction, which is surprisingly convenient in cramped airplane seats or crowded conference rooms. The security lock slot acknowledges the realities of corporate IT policies, even if it looks decidedly old-school next to the sleek Thunderbolt ports. Screen gets the job done The 14-inch FHD+ display (1920x1200) represents the most conservative choice Dell could have made. In an era where even mid-range laptops are shipping with higher resolution screens, the Pro 14 Premium's display feels like a step backward. The 16:10 aspect ratio is welcome for productivity work, offering more vertical space than traditional 16:9 panels, but the pixel density leaves something to be desired. Colour accuracy is decent, covering 100% of sRGB and around 75% of Adobe RGB, which is adequate for business applications but uninspiring for any creative work. The 400-nit brightness is sufficient for most indoor environments, though you'll struggle with outdoor visibility. The anti-glare coating helps reduce reflections, but it also gives the screen a slightly washed-out appearance that becomes more noticeable when placed next to glossy alternatives. Dell also has Tandem OLED options in the store, but they're yet to come, and while they'll surely be a visual treat, the OLED options will also cost a lot more than over this, so that's something to think about. It's all about being dependable The Intel Core Ultra 7 266V is Intel's thoroughbred for power efficiency race, and it largely wins that. It's a 17-37W processor with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, designed to sip power during light tasks and ramp up when needed. This is a processor designed for all-day computing rather than workstation-level performance, and it holds for its own. Single-threaded performance is respectable, with the chip hitting up to 5GHz under boost conditions. For typical business applications, email, web browsing, Office suite work—the Pro 14 Premium feels snappy and responsive. The integrated Intel Arc graphics are surprisingly capable, handling casual gaming and media consumption without breaking a sweat. But the efficiency focus comes at a cost. Multi-threaded performance lags behind what you'd expect from a premium business laptop. Tasks that can utilise multiple cores, like video encoding, complex Excel calculations, or running multiple virtual machines, will expose the limitations of Intel's current architecture. The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, while fast, feels limiting for power users who might want to run memory-intensive applications. The 512GB SSD provides decent storage performance, though the capacity feels stingy for a premium machine. The lack of upgradability means you're stuck with what you buy, which makes the storage decision more critical than it should be. The Pro 14 Premium also knows how to keep its cool. The thin profile doesn't lead to excessive heat buildup, and the fan rarely becomes intrusive during normal use. Even under sustained load, the laptop remains comfortable on your lap, and the fan noise stays at reasonable levels. This is particularly important for video calls, where sudden fan noise can be disruptive. If there's one area where the Pro 14 Premium truly justifies its premium positioning, it's battery life. The 60Wh battery, combined with Intel's efficiency-focused Lunar Lake architecture, delivers genuinely impressive endurance. Real-world usage consistently yields 7-8 hours of productivity work, with lighter tasks stretching even further. The ExpressCharge capability means you can quickly top up during short breaks, and the fact that you can charge from either side of the laptop adds practical convenience. For road warriors who spend long days in meetings or working from various locations, the battery life alone might justify the premium price. Power management is intelligent too, the laptop automatically adjusts performance based on whether you're plugged in or running on battery, maximising efficiency without requiring manual intervention. It's the kind of transparent optimisation that makes the laptop feel more premium than its spec sheet might suggest. Practicality for the pros Dell has fitted the Pro 14 Premium with an 8MP sensor that has HDR support and delivers remarkably sharp and well-lit video calls, putting many laptops to shame. The 4K still capture capability is genuinely useful for quick document scanning or impromptu headshots. The sliding privacy shutter is positioned on the top edge of the screen rather than the front, which is both more secure and less visually intrusive. The camera also supports presence detection, automatically locking the screen when you walk away and waking it when you return. It's a subtle feature that becomes surprisingly useful once you get used to it. Windows Hello facial recognition works reliably, though the backup fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button provides a nice alternative. As a Copilot+ PC, the Pro 14 Premium gets access to Microsoft's latest AI features, though the practical benefits remain limited. The 48 TOPS NPU can handle local AI processing, but most users will find cloud-based solutions more capable. Windows 11 Pro brings enterprise-grade features like BitLocker encryption and domain joining, which are table stakes for business laptops. The AI-powered features that do work well include improved Windows Search with semantic indexing, allowing you to search for files by description rather than just filename. It's a small quality-of-life improvement that adds up over time. A solid professional choice The Dell Pro 14 Premium succeeds in most of what it sets out to do, delivering a portable, efficient business laptop with dependable performance, excellent battery life, and professional features. The design is modern and appealing, the build quality is adequate for business use, and the feature set addresses real business needs. The webcam quality alone makes it worth considering for anyone who spends significant time on video calls. While everything seems to be tipping in favour of the Pro 14 Premium, one thing that isn't is its merely adequate screen. The complaint isn't that it lacks an OLED panel, but rather that it's fairly under-specced for the price. Competing products offer similar or better screens at lower prices. Though that entirely doesn't write off the Dell Pro 14 Premium. It does make for a solid choice rather than an obvious one. For business users who prioritise peace of mind above all else, the Pro 14 Premium makes sense. It's a competent professional tool that will serve most business users well. Our rating: 3.5/5 AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Web Release
20-06-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Dell Technologies Boosts Business Productivity and Readiness with AI PCs in the UAE
Earlier this year at CES, Dell Technologies unveiled an impressive range of AI-powered PCs designed to transform both personal and professional computing. Now available in the UAE, this cutting-edge portfolio includes sleek laptops, high-performance workstations, and adaptable desktops, all designed to drive collaboration and enhance productivity. Dell has introduced three simple product categories to simplify customer choice based on core business needs: · Dell: Designed for play, school and work. · Dell Pro: Designed for professional grade productivity. · Dell Pro Max: Designed for maximum performance. Dell has also made it easy to distinguish products within each of the new product categories, with a consistent approach to tiering that lets customers pinpoint the exact device for their specific needs. Above and beyond the starting point (Base), there's a Plus tier that offers the most scalable performance and a Premium tier that delivers the ultimate in mobility and design. In addition, as the AI PC market evolves and businesses prepare for the end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025, the importance of AI in modern organizations has been highlighted by its rapid adoption rate, with over 70%1 of businesses already incorporating GenAI into their workflows. 'Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace, and staying ahead is essential for businesses looking to sharpen their competitive edge. With Generative and Agentic AI becoming board-level priorities, and data inferencing shifting closer to the edge, the PC is once again at the center of productivity and innovation. The upcoming end of support for Windows 10 and the shift to Windows 11 mark a pivotal opportunity for organizations to modernize their workplace with future-ready solutions. Dell's cutting-edge portfolio of AI-powered PCs is purpose-built to boost performance, enhance security, and help businesses confidently seize the opportunities of tomorrow,' said Haidi Nossair, Senior Director, Client Solutions Group, META at Dell Technologies. Dell: PCs Ideal for Multitaskers Dell launched four new Copilot+ devices from the Plus tier, which introduces the most scalable Dell PCs with a balance between versatility and productivity. With a brand-new design, the devices are powered by Intel® Core™ Ultra (Series 2, V SKUs) processors and offer up to 39% longer battery life, up to 14% thinner modern profile and provide on-device AI to boost efficiency. The Dell portfolio is now expanded to include not only Snapdragon® X Series processor but also AMD options. Dell will also introduce new devices in the base tier, which offers everyday devices that provide effortless use and practical design, and the Premium tier, which continues the XPS legacy loved by consumers and prosumers alike. Dell Pro: Timeless Design and Quiet Productivity The new Dell Pro laptop portfolio brings a fresh, clean and timeless look for the business professional. These PCs are some of the smallest and lightest laptops in their class, featuring durable and reliable materials designed to handle the demands of a busy workday. In fact, they withstand three times as many hinge cycles, drops and bumps from regular use as competitor devices helping ensure they stand up to the rigors of daily use. The Dell Pro lineup includes Intel® Core™ Ultra (Series 2, V and U SKUs) and AMD Ryzen™ processor options, featuring an NPU, CPU and GPU. They offer exceptional battery life, powerful on-device AI, Copilot+ PC experiences and dependable productivity in the office, at home or anywhere in between. The Dell Pro 14 Premium will also be the first commercial notebook with a Tandem OLED display. It's 24% more power efficient and 49% lighter than traditional OLED displays while offering bright and vibrant color for editing presentations or taking conference calls. Dell Pro Premium features 90% recycled magnesium in the chassis for an elegant, light and long-lasting experience. Dell Pro Max: Performance in Versatility Designed for demanding applications, the new Dell Pro Max portfolio offers a range of high-performance PCs. The Dell Pro Max with GB10 and Dell Pro Max with GB300, at the top end of the high-performance PC range, packs exceptional performance in a compact and power-efficient form factor. In a category where performance is key, the new portfolio features greater performance generation-over-generation through Dell's new, patented thermal design. The devices include Intel® Core™ Ultra (Series 2, U SKUs) and AMD Ryzen and AMD Threadripper processor options and professional graphics. Users can power intensive workloads, from animation to video rendering, run AI inferencing and fine-tune large language models (LLMs), while maintaining security and managing costs. Rooted in Sustainable Design Building on Dell's circular innovation leadership, the new portfolio focuses on innovative modular design and the increased use of recycled, low emissions and renewable materials in products and packaging. Dell Pro and select Dell Pro Max are the world's first commercial notebooks built with a modular USB-C port. New technology innovations in battery chemistry also allow the new Dell Pro and Dell Pro Plus batteries to use up to 80% less cobalt and reduce dependence on critical minerals. A Seamless Ecosystem Built for Performance and Well-being From desktops and laptops to displays, the Dell product ecosystem is engineered to seamlessly connect tools, boost productivity, and enrich everyday experiences for users everywhere. Reflecting Dell's commitment to innovation, user well-being, and environmental responsibility, the product displays are designed to enhance customers' experience. With advanced low blue light technology, they help reduce eye strain—ideal for long workdays, creative projects, or immersive gaming sessions. To further streamline the user experience and simplify device management, the Dell ecosystem is unified through a powerful and intuitive interface. With Dell Display Peripheral Manager (DDPM) and Dell Client Device Management (DCDM), users can control all connected devices from one convenient platform. This seamless integration enables effortless adjustment of settings, performance monitoring, and workflow optimization.
