AllYouCanTech

Dell 14 Premium Evaluation: Outstanding Performance Despite Lackluster Title

The Dell 14 Premium is crafted for high performance, and it certainly lives up to that expectation. This laptop is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor, paired with either 16GB or 32GB of RAM. The base version includes integrated graphics, but it can be upgraded to a discrete GPU, specifically the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050. Our review model boasts 32GB of RAM alongside that RTX 4050 GPU.

The laptop excels in performance, which comes as no surprise. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255H is a robust chip, and while it may not match the performance of Intel’s Core Ultra 9 or HX workstation processors, it handles the tasks one would expect from a thin-and-light laptop — and more — while maintaining efficient power consumption.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 enhances the Dell 14 Premium for both gaming and creative endeavors. In simpler terms, without this GPU, you could still accomplish basic creative endeavors such as light photo editing — but integrating the GeForce RTX 4050 allows for a machine capable of managing heavier creative tasks like video editing and gaming. To clarify, the laptop features an RTX 4050 laptop GPU, and while desktop systems provide superior graphics performance, what you receive in a slimmer laptop today regarding GPU capability is quite remarkable.

Indeed, Intel and Nvidia are not the sole innovators producing impressive silicon. Apple significantly shifted the market with the introduction of its M-series chips, and these have continually improved. The Apple M4 surpasses the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H in single-core performance and performs nearly as well, if not equally, in multi-core scenarios. The M4 is included in the $999 MacBook Air. Additionally, the MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro competes with the Dell 14 Premium’s price when configured with the GeForce RTX 4050. The M4 Pro significantly outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H while consuming less energy — plus, it competes effectively with the RTX 4050 in graphics capabilities in its base version. For $2,000 on a laptop, the MacBook Pro remains the best performance option available.

However, most potential buyers of the Dell 14 Premium are not considering the MacBook Pro — they are inclined towards using Windows. When it comes to Windows laptops, the price-to-performance value here is quite favorable. This doesn’t guarantee it will remain advantageous indefinitely, but many similarly priced devices currently provide less value for more money.

Apple Working on Sophisticated Response Engine to Improve Siri’s Functionality

Bloomberg reports that Apple’s objective for Siri is to offer users a more engaging conversational experience while enhancing Siri’s capability to respond to general knowledge inquiries. Apple is currently focused on creating an “answer engine” that will search the internet for relevant and precise answers to user questions. This update is certainly encouraging for those who have experienced frustration with Siri’s performance in promptly and accurately addressing even basic queries.

Notably, Apple’s enhancements in AI may not only be incorporated in Siri but potentially in a distinct chatbot application as well. “A separate application is presently being examined,” states the report, “in conjunction with new backend infrastructure designed to boost search functionalities in upcoming iterations of Siri, Spotlight, and Safari.”