If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop, the Dell XPS 14 9440 might have caught your eye—especially with its recent price drop. Originally pegged as an underwhelming buy due to its steep pricing, this 2024 model’s entry-level configuration used to start at $1,499 and could climb past $2,000 if you opt for premium features like an OLED display and an RTX 4050 GPU. For everyday users, shelling out that much cash for a daily driver seemed impractical.
But here’s the kicker: Dell has just slashed the price of the base model by a whopping $500, bringing it down to a much more manageable $999.99. This drastic cut makes the XPS 14 9440 a much more attractive proposition, especially for those not looking to break the bank for solid performance. And if you’re a first-time Dell customer, you can grab an additional 10% discount by signing up for their emails—talk about a deal sweetener!
So, what’s under the hood? The on-sale version of the XPS 14 9440 comes packing an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5x RAM, and a 512 GB replaceable storage drive. Up front, you’re looking at a 14-inch FHD+ IPS panel, which Dell dubs “InfinityEdge” due to its impressively slim bezels. This screen refreshes at a smooth 120 Hz, covers 100% of the sRGB color gamut, and shines bright at up to 500 nits.
Connectivity-wise, the laptop includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 69.5 Wh battery, and Wi-Fi 6E capabilities. However, it falls short in port variety—only offering a microSD slot and a 3.5 mm jack. If you need a full suite of ports like Type-A, Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet, you might have to look elsewhere.
In our usage tests, the XPS 14 delivered solid performance across the board. It managed to keep cool even during intensive tasks, ensuring it never became uncomfortable to hold or use.
Battery life is another strong suit. Our measurement showed that the device lasts for approximately 7 hours and 45 minutes in a Wi-Fi-heavy workload. Given that this particular model doesn’t have the power-hungry 3.2K OLED panel, you can expect it to last even longer.
All things considered, the Dell XPS 14 9440, now on sale for $999.99, stands out as a sleek and competent laptop. While it has its shortcomings, this discounted price point significantly elevates its value, making it a compelling option for anyone in the market for a new machine.
