In our review of the Dell XPS 14 9440, we remarked that the laptop offers an underwhelming price-to-performance ratio mainly because the machine is quite expensive. The 2024 XPS 14 9440 normally starts at $1,499 and can go north of $2,000 when configured with an OLED display and an RTX 4050 laptop GPU. So, for the average buyer who is just looking for a daily driver, the XPS 14 9440 is not a good deal at full retail.
Fortunately, Dell has now discounted the entry-level configuration of the XPS 14 9440 by a massive $500. The machine now costs only $999.99, a price that considerably transforms the value proposition of the notebook for the better. Additionally, if you are a new customer, you can also sign up for emails from Dell to get a further 10% discount.
Starting with the specs, the Dell XPS 14 9440 on sale packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5x RAM, and 512 GB of replaceable storage. Around the front, the laptop features a 14-inch FHD+ IPS panel that Dell likes to term “InfinityEdge” due to its narrow bezels. The screen refreshes at 120 Hz, covers 100% of the sRGB gamut, and boasts up to 500 nits of brightness.
Other notable details include three Thunderbolt 4 ports, a 69.5 Wh battery, and Wi-Fi 6E. Sadly, the Thunderbolt 4 ports are only accompanied by a microSD slot and a 3.5 mm jack. So, folks who want a healthy selection with Type-A, Type-C, HDMI, and ethernet ports will have to look elsewhere.
When it comes to day-to-day use, we found the XPS 14 to have solid system performance. The notebook also keeps temps under control and never becomes a pain to hold or use even during intensive tasks.
Finally, we also measured the Dell XPS 14 to have satisfactory battery life with the device lasting for 7 hours and 45 minutes in our WLAN test. Since the SKU on sale lacks the power-hungry 3.2 K OLED panel of our review model, we can expect the notebook to last measurably longer.
All in all, the Dell XPS 14 9440 is a sleek laptop that, although not perfect, has a lot to offer for the $999.99 sales price.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
Source(s)
slickdeals, Dell (linked above)