Dell Pro 14" 1K04G Platinum, Gray 2025

The Dell Pro 14 is a solid business ultraportable with a strong CPU and useful ports. The 512GB SSD and mediocre display hold it back. Worth buying if you find it near the USD 1,270 low end.

The Core Ultra 7 255U handles everyday productivity without breaking a sweat. 16GB of DDR5 keeps dozens of browser tabs and Office apps running smoothly, and the 512GB SSD boots Windows 11 Pro fast. The integrated Intel Graphics are fine for video calls and light photo edits, but the gaming score of 19.2 out of 100 tells you everything. Don't expect to play anything beyond solitaire. The 55Wh battery should get you through a workday, and Wi-Fi 6E plus Thunderbolt 4 are nice future-proofing touches.

Against the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, the Dell Pro 14 wins on ports and repairability but loses on display quality and battery life. The MacBook Pro M4 Pro is in a different league for performance and screen, but it costs way more. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i are gaming machines that embarrass this thing on GPU power, though they're heavier and pricier. For pure office work, the Dell holds its own. For anything else, look elsewhere.

Pricing is all over the place. US listings run from USD 1,270 to USD 1,965, and the cheapest option is your best bet. At the low end, this is a reasonable deal for a business ultraportable. At the high end, you're paying MacBook money for a laptop with a worse screen and less storage. Canadian buyers face a similar spread, CAD 2,129 to CAD 2,712. Shop around before you commit.

The Dell Pro 14 (PC14250) is a business-first ultraportable that nails the basics. You get a Core Ultra 7 255U, 16GB of DDR5, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch 1920x1200 display in a 1.36kg chassis. It's built for spreadsheets, email, and meetings, not for gaming or creative work.

Our database puts it in the 84th percentile for compactness, which tracks. It's light, easy to carry, and the port selection is genuinely useful. But the storage and reliability scores are mediocre, and the display is just okay. This is a work laptop, full stop.

Skip this if you need more than 512GB of storage, since the reliability score is already shaky and upgrading later is a hassle. Also skip it if you care about screen quality. The 45% NTSC panel is a letdown for anyone who watches videos or edits photos. Gamers and creative pros should look at the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or MacBook Pro instead.

Buy this if you need a light, no-nonsense Windows laptop for work. The Core Ultra 7 and 16GB of RAM handle business tasks easily, and the port selection is better than most thin laptops. Just don't expect a great screen or any gaming ability. It's a tool, not a toy.