(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Tom's Guide)
Laptops are in a pretty unique place in 2026. On one end, we have companies pushing performance to the absolute maximum, with new flagship laptops soon to be powered by chips like Nvidia's RTX Spark. On the other hand, we have brands going directly after Apple's MacBook Neo, pushing prices lower while still trying to deliver as much value as possible.Dell is jumping on the latter bandwagon at IFA 2026 with its new Dell 14S. The company already has the XPS 13, which sits as its more premium MacBook Neo competitor, but the Dell 14S is targeting a slightly different buyer.Dell tells me this laptop will sit one tier below the XPS 13, aimed primarily at pre-college and high school students who want something sturdy and capable without spending too much money.
(Image credit: Sanuj Bhatia / Tom's Guide)On first inspection, the Dell 14S feels extremely similar to the more expensive XPS 13 in the hand. You get an all-aluminum build that feels premium, and unlike some other thin-and-light laptops I've tried here at IFA, there isn't much flex in the keyboard deck when you press down hard. The display lid doesn't feel flimsy either.It's certainly not the lightest laptop I've used at IFA this year, but I'll happily take some extra weight when the trade-off is a machine that feels this solid.I also really like what Dell is doing with the colors. Similar to Apple with the MacBook Neo, Dell isn't sticking with the usual dark finishes. The 14S comes in four much more playful colors: Linen (beige-silver), Dusty Rose (pink), Washed Denim (light blue), and Velvet Green.Washed Denim (the one on the top in the image below) is easily my favorite of the bunch, although all four look much better in person than their names might suggest.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
