AJ is a journalist from New York City. He's covered a variety of consumer tech topics throughout his career, with his work published on media outlets including CBS, FOX, and NBC.
In May 2026, Dell released its 14S laptop, an all-aluminum tank of a laptop featuring a 14-inch OLED display and up to 32 GB of RAM, designed for those who have heavy video editing and processing needs. But the laptop manufacturer is doubling down on its 14S lineup by releasing the new 14S (Model: DS14270), a budget-friendly version of the original with a starting price substantially lower than that of the MacBook Neo.
The MacBook Neo has been dominating the budget-friendly laptop market, but that could all change with the new Dell 14S, which offers premium features at a starting price under $700. It also has a similar target demographic to the Neo: students and everyday users who want a premium-looking laptop without spending a fortune. But before we declare this new Dell device superior to the Neo, we have to take a closer look at the specs and make sure this isn’t just a Neo clone.
The new Dell 14S laptop starts off at $649
That is $50 less than the MacBook Neo
This recent fall edition of the 14S features a similar all-aluminum exterior, decent screen size, and you have the option to select up to 1TB of storage, nearly twice as much as Apple’s budget laptop. The starting model also features an Intel Core 5 processor that won’t be able to handle heavy video editing but can tackle regular everyday tasks at faster speeds than the Neo, which runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip, primarily designed for the iPhone 16 lineup. However, even though the A18 may not be as strong as the Intel Core 5, it helps keep the Neo cooler and potentially saves more battery than the 14S.
The Neo is also designed to run various AI apps and Apple Intelligence with the A18 Pro chip, whereas the 14S can’t run on any Intel Core Ultra processors, which are ideal for AI-related tasks. Maybe not coincidentally, the new 14S features very similar color options to its Apple rival, but has the edge in display size, being one inch bigger than the Neo’s 13-inch screen. Both devices also share aluminum frames, where Apple utilizes more recycled aluminum for the Neo, which may matter to those who are more environmentally focused.
The new Dell 14S may not be enough to knock the MacBook Neo off its throne just yet
The Apple influence may be too strong
The budget-friendly 14S has potential, but it’s too early to tell whether it could become the top budget laptop on the market. Having a $ 50-less price tag is a great start, and it’ll be interesting to see how sales do during the upcoming holiday shopping season.
There’s also another budget laptop on the market that’s picking up steam: the Asus Zenbook 14. Although its $799 starting price is $200 more than the Neo’s, it has some additional premium features that neither the 14S nor Neo could touch, including a ceramic shell, OLED display, and a USB Type-A port, one of the few new laptops to still carry one.
From the visuals, the Zenbook 14's ceramic shell definitely gives it a more premium look than the other two. Nonetheless, a $200 difference may be a bit much for those on a strict budget. The Zenbook also features a Snapdragon X X1-26-100, which, similar to the Neo’s A18 Pro chip, is a lighter chip that can offer better battery life compared to the Dell laptop.
But didn’t Dell just release another budget laptop earlier in 2026?
Don’t confuse the 14S with the XPS 13
In mid-2026, Dell also released the XPS 13, which the company called its thinnest XPS laptop ever. It has the same Intel processor as the 14S but features a touchscreen and nearly double the minimum storage at 512 GB. This could suit those who want a thinner, touchscreen, budget-friendly laptop. But overall, Dell has to be careful not to oversaturate the market with budget laptops. It could lead buyers to get confused between laptop models, especially when the names become confusing and start to sound similar.
Apple does have the advantage of distinctive, more remarkable names, such as MacBook Neo, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. And speaking of those last two models, older and refurbished MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros could increasingly become competitors and be worth the money in the long run for those wanting a quality laptop at a not-so-steep cost.
Google also has more distinct names across its laptop lineup, and Chromebooks remain one of the top budget laptops on the market, consistently featuring touchscreens. Although Google made things more confusing with its new Googlebook laptop release this Fall, which sounds too similar to the Google Chromebook, the Google Pixelbook, or the Googlebooks app.
Nonetheless, the race for the top budget-friendly laptop continues, and we’ll see how this new Dell 14S sells this upcoming winter season.