Dell's new 14S laptop takes aim at the MacBook Neo with Intel Wildcat Lake
Dell has a new laptop aimed squarely at students and everyday users looking to avoid spending MacBook money. The Dell 14S, announced at IFA 2026, runs on Intel's new Wildcat Lake processors, weighs just 1.13kg, and is priced "close to" the XPS 13's $700 starting point — putting it in direct competition with Apple's MacBook Neo, which starts at $599.
The look
The 14S comes in an aluminum chassis 13.5mm thin, available in four colors: Linen, Dusty Rose, Washed Denim, and Velvet Green. It's clearly designed to appeal to the same crowd chasing the MacBook aesthetic without the Apple price tag. The 14-inch display uses a 16:10 aspect ratio — taller than the standard widescreen, which helps with reading and productivity. Two panel options are available: a 1920×1200 60Hz screen at 300 nits, or a sharper 2.8K (2880×1800) 120Hz panel at 450 nits with full sRGB color coverage.
The Dell 14S in Dusty Rose — one of four color options for the slim aluminum chassis.
The hardware
Under the hood, buyers choose between an Intel Core 5 320 or Core 7 350 (both Wildcat Lake, integrated graphics only). RAM is 8GB or 16GB LPDDR5x — soldered to the board, so no upgrades later. Storage runs from 256GB to 1TB via PCIe NVMe SSD.
Battery life is where Dell is making its biggest claims: up to 21 hours streaming video or 27 hours of local video playback from a 61.2Wh cell. Those numbers are marketing figures, so expect real-world use to land noticeably lower — but even half that would be competitive.
The ports — and one trade-off
Connectivity includes two USB-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery, HDMI 1.4, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E. There is no USB-A port at all, which will frustrate anyone still using older peripherals without a hub. Biometrics, a 1080p webcam, dual far-field microphones, and stereo speakers round out the package.
Up against the Neo
The MacBook Neo has reshaped the budget laptop market since its launch, earning praise as one of the best-value laptops available at $599. Wildcat Lake machines are already shipping in China from as low as $449, per TechPowerUp, so Dell's pricing signals a slightly more premium positioning. Whether the 14S can match the Neo on real-world performance and battery remains to be seen — Tom's Guide has flagged the XPS 13 as a serious Neo rival, and the 14S sits a step below that.
The Dell 14S goes on sale in fall 2026, starting in North America. Exact pricing and full configuration options will be confirmed closer to launch. UK availability and pricing have not been announced yet.
