Dell made the wrong move in ending its XPS laptop line in favor of a lineup with branded models In addition, Premium and iRO. It admits that as many and announced last month that it makes the loss of XPS a short one. Just a year after killing them, Dell pulled a face and resurrected the most popular laptop brand.

Dell is so excited about the return of XPS that it sent me not one but two XPS 14 models to review. And I’m excited to dig into these machines, but I don’t want to wait until they’re fully tested to share my thoughts. So, here are my first observations as I got this pair of Dell XPS 14 laptops set up for testing.

XPS is back after a year away

The XPS line returns with the XPS 14 and XPS 16 (with an XPS 13 to follow later this year). Dell sent me a pair of XPS 14 laptops. Each is based on Intel Panther Lake processorswith the biggest differences being the CPUs (the integrated GPU in each, specifically) and displays (IPS LCD on one, touchscreen OLED on the other).

Here’s what I got:

Dell XPS 14 model no. 1

• CPU: 8-core Intel Core Ultra 7-355
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5-7467
• Graphics: Intel Arc with 4 Xe cores
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Display: IPS LCD with 1,920×1,200-pixel resolution
• Price: $1,700 (starting February 19)

Dell XPS 14 model no. 2

• CPU: 16-core Intel Ultra X7-358H
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5-9600
• Graphics: Intel Arc B390 with 12 Xe3 cores
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Display: tandem touchscreen OLED with 2,880×1,800-pixel resolution
• Price: $2,200

the Dell XPS 14 starting at $1,600 with a Core Ultra 5-325 CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and an IPS LCD. Dell told me that the Core Ultra 7-355 offering is expected to hit next Thursday, February 19.

Recognizing XPS

The Premium models are the direct replacements for the XPS, and they’re the worst of the new bunch. Overdesigned and overweight, they have many pinings for the old days of XPS laptops. The XPS 14 corrects two of the most glaring flaws of the Dell 14 Premium: the XPS 14 is much lighter, and the touch-sensitive icons in the Function row (which no one likes) are gone, replaced by physical keys.

the Dell 14 Premium a tank on a laptop. It tips the scales at 3.8 pounds, making it one of the heaviest — if not the heaviest — 14-inch laptops on the market. I mean, it’s very heavy. Dell says it’s for “creators on the go,” but I imagine it’s only for creators who go to the gym regularly. Tidying up is a chore. I traveled with it last year to test it, and it felt like I was carrying lead bricks in my laptop bag. When I gave it to my brother-in-law to pick up, he asked, “What did they put in this thing?”

The XPS 14 slides in closer to 3 pounds, which is more typical weight for a 14-inch laptop. Each model weighs just under 3.2 pounds. (The lower-end model with the IPS display weighs 3.18 pounds, and the touchscreen OLED model is slightly lighter at 3.15 pounds.) Dell made the XPS 14 lighter without sacrificing build quality, either. It feels just as solid as the Dell 14 Premium.

The XPS 14 is made from CNC-machined aluminum with virtually no flex. The laptop pulls off the neat trick of actually looking sturdier than the 14 Premium while being thinner and lighter. The XPS 14 ditches the tapered design of the 14 Premium for a more consistent, slab-like appearance, and looks more like a MacBook Pro now. It’s slightly thinner and a few ounces lighter than the 14-inch, 3.5-pound MacBook Pro.

One way Dell has cut some weight is by reducing the size of the display. The XPS 14 has a 14-inch screen, up from the 14.5-inch panel on the Dell 14 Premium. It’s also slightly smaller than the MacBook Pro’s 14.2-inch display. On the side, the XPS 14 display is smaller than the MacBook Pro, but part of the reason is that the XPS 14 has thinner bezels than the MacBook Pro. For a more compact package and lighter weight to carry, I think I’m willing to trade the 0.2 inch screen size. (I still wouldn’t trade MacOS for Windows, but that’s a whole other story.)

After the shocking, shoulder-shattering, my least favorite part of the Dell 14 Premium is the touch-sensitive icons that make up the Function row. When I want to raise or lower the volume or screen brightness, I want to do it with a simple tap or two on a physical key — not with an icon that has no feedback to let me know if my intent is correct. I’m also relieved to know that I have a functioning Esc key at all times. With the XPS 14, there’s no more guessing in the Function line. The actual Function keys are back, and they shouldn’t have left in the first place.

Fortunately, the excellent haptic touchpad is back on the XPS 14, but it’s no longer limitless. Dell added etched lines on either side of the touchpad so you can see and feel where its active surface ends. The lines are very subtle, so if you’re a fan of the minimalist look of the 14 Premium, you’ll appreciate the look of the XPS 14.

The latticeless keyboard is also back, but the keys feel firmer than ever with snappier feedback. The port selection is the same, with a trio of Thunderbolt 4 ports and an audio jack, but the microSD card slot from the 14 Premium is missing here.

And there you have it, the XPS 14 is back and better than, well, the 14 Premium before it. It is slightly smaller but lighter while correcting the error of the touch-sensitive strip on the Function row icon. So far, it has made a good first impression. Check back soon for my full performance review and battery test. And for the OLED model with the Intel Core Ultra X7-358H chip and Arc B390 graphics, I’ll run our gaming benchmarks to see how it handles AAA titles.