Dell 14" Plus 2-in-1, Core Ultra 9 288V, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Midnight Blue

A business 2-in-1 with flagship RAM and storage at a mid-range price. Great for multitasking, terrible for gaming.

The Core Ultra 9 288V surprised us. It's not the fastest CPU in our database, sitting around the 68th percentile, but the 48 TOPS NPU and 32GB of LPDDR5X make everyday multitasking feel snappy. The integrated Arc 140V graphics are fine for light photo work and streaming, but the gaming score of 19.7 out of 100 tells the real story. Don't expect to run anything demanding beyond casual titles. The 1TB NVMe SSD is a solid inclusion at this price, and boot times are quick.

Against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro, the Dell gets destroyed on GPU performance and display quality, but it costs way less and gives you a touchscreen. The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is a closer rival for business users, with better reliability and a more proven track record, though you'll likely pay more for similar RAM and storage. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 are in a different league for gaming, but they're heavier and pricier. If you want a thin 2-in-1 for work, the Dell holds its own. If you want any gaming muscle, go ASUS or HP.

At $1,289 USD, this is a strong value for business users and developers who need RAM and storage headroom. You're getting specs that usually cost hundreds more. But if you want a laptop that can game or handle heavy creative work, this isn't the deal it looks like. For pure productivity, it's worth it. For anything else, keep looking.

The Dell Plus 2-in-1 is a weirdly compelling package. You get a Core Ultra 9 288V, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD in a slim convertible for $1,289 USD. That's a lot of hardware for the money, especially if you care more about AI features and multitasking than gaming. The one thing to know? This is a business and productivity machine wearing a 2-in-1 costume, not a performance laptop for creators or gamers.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop or a machine for heavy video editing, this isn't it. Go get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or HP OMEN Transcend 14 instead. And if long-term reliability is your top concern, the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is the safer bet.

The Dell Plus 2-in-1 is a smart buy for office multitaskers and AI-curious professionals who want 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD without spending MacBook money. Just don't mistake it for a performance machine. The weak gaming score and mediocre reliability hold it back, but for the right user, this is a lot of laptop for $1,289 USD.