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Say goodbye to Dell’s Inspiron and XPS branding for consumer laptop and desktop PCs. And say goodbye to the Dell Vostro, Latitude, Precision, and Optiplex brands of business PCs.
Dell is simplifying its branding with three new names: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max… although things aren’t quite as simple as that because there will be three different tiers within each brand: Base, Plus, and Premium.
Dell PCs are Dell’s new consumer PCs
All of Dell’s new consumer PCs will be simply branded as Dell computers moving forward. You won’t have to navigate the confusing mess of Dell Inspiron, Inspiron Plus or XPS systems or worry about whether you’re looking at a 3000, 5000, or 7000 series system.
But Dell will still offers a PC lineup that consists of entry-level, mid-range, and premium devices.
Essentially you can think of the new Dell laptop as the equivalent of an entry-level Dell Inspiron 3000 or 5000 series notebook. The Dell Plus is the equivalent of a Dell Inspiron Plus. And the Dell Premium will be the new name for the premium laptop and desktops that Dell has been selling under the XPS brand for decades.
You’ll have to wait until later this year for the Dell Premium to hit the streets though. Dell isn’t ready to show us those models yet.
Instead, the first new consumer PCs to launch under the new naming convention will be the new Dell Plus laptops. Dell is starting with two models: the Dell Plus 14 and Dell Plus 16, and I got a chance to take a closer look at the smaller model.
These relatively thin and light laptops will be available with Intel Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake processor options at launch, and include some semi-premium features like high-density batteries that take up less space inside the chassis, Thunderbolt 4 ports.
The Dell Plus 14 I got a chance to check out features a set of ports that includes:
- 1 x Thunderbolt 4
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
- 1 x HDMI 2.1
- 1 x 3.5mm audio
It features a 14 inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio that comes in 1920 x 1200 pixel glossy touchscreen or 2560 x 1600 pixel matte non-touch options, and the notebook is available with Intel Lunar Lake processor options ranging from Intel Core Ultra 5 226V to Intel Core Ultra 9 288V.
Other features include support for up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 memory, up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe storage, and either an Intel AX211 WiFi 6E or BE201 WiFi 7 wireless card. The laptop has a 64 Wh battery and comes with a 65W USB-C power adapter.
The Dell Plus 14 measures 314 x 226 x 17mm (about 12.4″ x 8.9″ x 0.7″) at its thickest point and has a starting weight of 1.55 kg (3.42 pounds).
The laptop should be available in mid-February for $1099 and up.
Dell’s new business PCs: Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max
While the company’s new consumer laptops will be marketed under the Dell, Dell Plus, and Dell Premium brands, its business-class notebooks will be split into two lines.
Dell Pro laptop and desktops will be entry-level and mid-range models, while Dell Pro Max is covers premium models.
One of my favorite moments during Dell’s press event announcing the new branding was during the Q&A session when a Engadget’s Devindra Hardawar, said it makes sense for Dell to simplify its branding, but why not choose something original? Why copy Apple’s branding?
Dell’s response was that nobody owns the “Pro” name and that this is just how customers are talking about product segments these days. Windows Pro existed before the MacBook Pro or iPhone Pro, for example. As for “Pro Max?” That just means “really good performance.”
In other words… ¯_(ツ)_/¯ .
Anyway, the company says its Dell Pro lineup will kick off with new models including a Dell Pro Premium 13 inch laptop with Intel Lunar Lake that weighs just 2.36 pounds thanks to a reinforced magnesium alloy chassis, as well as a 2.52 pound model with a 14 inch display and a chassis that’s only a little larger.
Despite the compact size, Dell says these laptops offers up to 20 hours of battery life, have improved airflow thanks to a new dual-fan system, and run quieter than previous-generation models. They also has a tandem OLED display that’s 25 percent more power efficient, 12 percent thinner, and nearly 50 percent lighter than a standard OLED display, and features an 8MP IR camera.
The Dell Pro Premium 13 is available with 1920 x 1200 pixel non-touch or 2560 x 1600 pixel touchscreen IPS LCD display options, support for up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 processor, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533 on-package memory, and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage.
The 14 inch model has similar options, but comes with a choice of 1920 x 1200 pixel IPS LCD non-touch or 2880 x 1800 pixel touchscreen OLED display options.
Both laptops feature 8MP webcams, support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, optional support for a 5G modem, and 40 Wh or 60 Wh battery options. Both also have two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and an HDMI port.
I also got a chance to go hands-on with a new Dell Pro Max 14, which is an upcoming mobile workstation with a compact design that starts at just 4.04 pounds but features support for up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 (Series 2) processor, NVIDIA RTX 500-class graphics, and a 72 Wh battery.
The notebook has a 16:10 display with support for resolutions up to QHD+, and an 8MP IR camera. This model is expected to be available in March or April and pricing will be announced closer to launch.,
While most of the new laptops Dell is introducing during CES are powered by Intel processors, Dell also plans to launch new models with the latest AMD and Qualcomm Snapdragon processors later this year.