Dell Plus 2-in-1 Business 14" 2026, Core Ultra 9 288V, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Midnight Blue

The Dell Plus 2-in-1 Business packs 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, Wi-Fi 7, and Intel's new Core Ultra 9 288V into a 1.61kg convertible for $1,293. It's a multitasking beast for business users, with Copilot+ AI features and all-day battery potential. Just don't expect to game on it, the integrated graphics score a weak 21.4 out of 100. If you need a portable Windows workhorse with tablet mode, this is a great buy.

The Core Ultra 9 288V is an 8-core chip running at 3.3GHz, and it's built on Intel's new Lunar Lake architecture. The headline here is the NPU, which Intel rates at 48 TOPS for AI tasks. That's enough to qualify for Microsoft's Copilot+ PC program, so features like Recall and Click to Do (both in preview) are available. In our database, the CPU lands at the 71st percentile among 2-in-1 laptops. That's solid, not spectacular. For everyday business workloads, spreadsheets, video calls, and light photo editing, it'll feel snappy. But it's not going to outmuscle a high-end H-series chip in sustained heavy lifting.

The integrated Arc 140V graphics sit at the 69th percentile, which is actually pretty good for an iGPU. You can do light creative work, stream 4K video, and even dabble in older or less demanding games at low settings. But the 21.4 gaming score tells the real story. This is not a machine for modern AAA titles. The 32GB of LPDDR5X at 8533 MT/s is a standout, landing in the 92nd percentile. That's more memory than most laptops in this class, and it's fast. The 1TB SSD is also strong at the 79th percentile, giving you plenty of room for files and fast boot times.

The Apple MacBook Pro M5 is the obvious alternative. Apple's silicon is faster in single-core tasks and the display is dramatically better, with higher brightness and ProMotion. But you'll pay more for comparable RAM and storage, and you lose the 2-in-1 flexibility. The MacBook is the better choice for creative pros who live in Final Cut or Logic. For Windows-centric business users who need a touchscreen and tablet mode, the Dell makes more sense.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 are gaming-focused machines with dedicated GPUs. They'll absolutely crush the Dell in gaming and GPU-heavy tasks, but they're heavier, run hotter, and typically have worse battery life. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a desktop replacement, not really a competitor for someone who wants a portable 2-in-1. If you need gaming performance, skip the Dell and look at the ASUS or HP. If you need a business workhorse with tablet mode, the Dell is the better fit.

At $1,293, this Dell is priced like a premium business laptop, and for the most part it delivers. The 32GB of RAM alone is a big deal. Most laptops in this range ship with 16GB, and upgrading to 32GB usually costs a few hundred more. The 1TB SSD is also generous. When you factor in Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and the Copilot+ capable chip, the value proposition starts to look pretty good.

But there's a catch. The display is a 60Hz panel with 300 nits brightness. That's fine for indoor office work, but it's not going to wow anyone. And the lack of a dedicated GPU means you're paying for CPU and RAM headroom that some users won't fully utilize. If you don't need 32GB of RAM or AI features, you could save money with a less expensive config. But if you do need that memory and want a future-proof business machine, this is a reasonable deal.

Dell's Plus 2-in-1 Business laptop is one of those machines that sounds almost too good on paper. Intel's new Core Ultra 9 288V, 32GB of LPDDR5X, a 1TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, and a touchscreen in a 1.61kg chassis. For $1,293, that's a lot of hardware. But the spec sheet hides some interesting choices, and a few compromises that matter depending on what you actually do all day.

This is a business machine first. The 2-in-1 hinge means you can flip it into a tablet for presentations or note-taking, and the 300-nit touchscreen gets the job done indoors. The Core Ultra 9 288V is Intel's newest Lunar Lake chip, built for efficiency and AI workloads rather than raw gaming muscle. The integrated Arc 140V graphics are surprisingly capable for an iGPU, but this is not a gaming laptop, and our database agrees. Gaming lands at 21.4 out of 100, the weakest area by a mile.

Who's this for? Someone who wants a portable Windows machine with serious multitasking chops, long battery life, and modern connectivity. The 65Wh battery paired with Lunar Lake's efficiency should deliver all-day runtime, and the 32GB of RAM means you can run a pile of browser tabs, Office apps, and a VM or two without breaking a sweat. If you're a road warrior or a hybrid worker who flips between desk and couch, this thing makes a lot of sense.

Gamers should absolutely skip this. The integrated graphics score 21.4 out of 100 in our database, which is one of the weakest results we've seen for gaming. You'd be much better served by the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or HP OMEN Transcend 14, both of which offer dedicated GPUs for similar money. Creative professionals who need GPU acceleration for video editing or 3D work should also look elsewhere. The MacBook Pro M5 is the obvious choice for that crowd.

If you're picky about displays, this might not be for you either. The 60Hz panel with 300 nits brightness is serviceable but not impressive. Anyone who spends hours editing photos or watching HDR content will notice the difference compared to brighter, higher-refresh options. And if you don't need 32GB of RAM or AI features, you can save money with a less expensive config that still handles everyday tasks fine.

For business users who want a portable 2-in-1 with serious multitasking capability, this Dell is a strong pick. The 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD give you room to grow, and the Lunar Lake chip should deliver excellent battery life. The touchscreen and 2-in-1 hinge add real flexibility for presentations, note-taking, and travel. At $1,293, it's competitively priced for what you get.

But if you're a gamer or someone who needs serious GPU performance, look elsewhere. The integrated Arc graphics are fine for everyday tasks but fall flat in demanding games and GPU-accelerated workloads. And if you're picky about displays, the 60Hz 300-nit panel might disappoint. For everyone else, especially road warriors and hybrid workers, this Dell is a solid, future-proof choice that should serve you well for years.