In May 2026, Dell released its 14S laptop, an all-aluminum tank of a laptop with 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 maker 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 significantly lower than that of the MacBook Neo.
The MacBook Neo has dominated 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 for the Neo: students and everyday users who want a premium-looking laptop without spending a fortune. But before we declare this new Dell device over the Neo, we need to take a closer look at the specifications and make sure that this is not just a Neo clone.
The new Dell 14S laptop starts at $649
That’s $50 less than the MacBook Neo
This recent fall edition of the 14S has a similar all-aluminum exterior, decent screen size, and you have the option of choosing up to 1TB of storage, almost twice as much as Apple’s budget laptop. The launch model also has an Intel Core 5 processor that is not able to handle heavy video editing but tackles regular everyday tasks at a faster speed than the Neo, which runs on Apple’s A18 Pro chip, developed mainly for the iPhone 16 lineup. However, while the A18 may not be as powerful 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, while the 14S cannot run on all Intel Core Ultra processors, which are ideal for AI-related tasks. Perhaps not coincidentally, the new 14S has very similar color options to its Apple rival, but has the edge in display size, one inch larger than the Neo’s 13-inch screen. Both devices also share aluminum frames, with Apple using more recycled aluminum for the Neo, which is important for those who are more environmentally focused.
The new Dell 14S may not be enough to knock the MacBook Neo off its throne
The Apple influence can be too strong
The budget-friendly 14S has potential, but it’s too early to tell if it can become the top budget laptop on the market. having a price of $50 less is a great start, and it will be interesting to see how sales go in 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, it has some additional premium features that neither the 14S nor the Neo could touch, including a ceramic shell, OLED display, and a USB Type-A port, one of the few new laptops to still carry.
From the visuals, the Zenbook 14’s ceramic shell definitely gives it a more premium look than the other two. Still, a $200 difference can be a bit much for those on a strict budget. The Zenbook also has a Snapdragon X X1-26-100, which, similar to the Neo’s A18 Pro chip, is a lighter chip that offers 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 has a touch screen and almost double the minimum storage to 512 GB. This might suit those who want a thinner, touchscreen, budget-friendly laptop. But overall, Dell needs 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 get confused and start to sound similar.
Apple has the advantage of different, more notable names, such as MacBook Neo, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. And speaking of the last two models, older and refurbished MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros could become more and more competitors and in the long run will be worth the money for those who want a quality laptop at a not so steep cost.
Google also has more different names across its laptop lineup, and Chromebooks remain one of the top budget laptops on the market, consistent with 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.
Still, the race for the top budget-friendly laptop continues, and we’ll see how this new Dell 14S sells this coming winter season.