(Credit: Dell)
Dell's clean-slate rebrand from last year just got shaken up again, with the return of the Precision name to mobile workstations. And now, Precision has a new entry point: the Dell Pro Precision 5S line. These are the thinnest and lightest workstation laptops Dell has ever made, designed to deliver ISV-certified performance for engineers and creators.
We don't have all the details yet—pricing hasn't been announced, for example—but what we know is intriguing, with the new Pro Precision 5S line serving as the spiritual successor to the previous Precision 5000 mobile series, bridging the gap between high-end business laptops and the bulky notebooks and towers that used to dominate in CAD, designing graphics, or editing video.
Design: Portability Meets Professionalism
For the Dell Pro Precision 5S, portability is the name of the game. These entry-level workstations come in two sizes, the Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 14S and the Dell Pro Precision 5 Series 16S, easily distinguished by the 14- and 16-inch display options.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Weighing just 3.1 pounds for the 14-inch model, Dell claims these are the lightest workstations the company has ever made. (Dell hasn't provided dimensions for either system or weight for the 16-inch model.) That aggressively slim profile is possible thanks to a sophisticated three-sided aluminum chassis that looks slick enough for the boardroom and is sturdy.
Processors: Breaking Tradition by Adding AMD
The other major change with these models is the introduction of your choice of processor platforms. Where Dell used to side solely with Intel for workstation laptops, the new Dell Pro Precision 5 series is available with a choice of Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and AMD Ryzen AI 400 processors, with integrated Intel Arc Pro or AMD Radeon Pro graphics.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Focusing on high-performance integrated graphics to deliver light workstation muscle is another major shift here, one enabled by the recent improvements in integrated solutions. Intel's Arc B390 has shown itself to be especially robust, and Dell's bullishness on this integrated solution is evident in some 5S models that offer it as the sole graphics acceleration. Dell's move away from discrete GPU hardware also allows the 5S models to maintain that ultra-mobile form factor while still meeting baseline workstation performance requirements.
Dell's other major change is the focus on neural processing hardware. These processor options are optimized for Copilot+ PC experiences, with NPUs that deliver 50-plus TOPS for on-device inference and AI-assisted features.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)The LPCAMM2 Advantage: Speed and Serviceability
Alongside the new CPU and GPU options is a move to LPCAMM2 memory, which supports configurations up to 64GB at 8533MT/s. This new format bridges the gap between soldered RAM and traditional SO-DIMM slots, providing high-speed efficiency and a low profile while adding modular serviceability.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)It's a smart way to keep the chassis ultra-thin while providing the massive bandwidth necessary for AI capabilities. Dell also sees it as a way to bring workstation-class capabilities to more users at a more accessible price point.
A 'Prosumer' Workstation Pivot
Most business systems are designed for standard office tasks, while heavy-duty workstations focus on advanced rendering and complex AI development. By focusing on light design and media creation, these entry-level portable systems serve as a "prosumer" workstation.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)Both Pro Precision 5 Series laptops have ISV certification and can handle more intensive workloads than your average business laptop. However, these systems lack the top-end performance you'll get from a true mobile workstation with Nvidia RTX Pro "Blackwell" GPUs and similar elite processor options. For those needs, Dell has the Pro Precision 7 Series and 9 Series, providing "Better" and "Best" options in this three-tier lineup.
You won't have to wait long for the Dell Pro Precision 5 Series, since the 5 Series 14S and 5 Series 16S will start selling this May. Dell has not yet revealed pricing for these fresh mobile workstations, but come back for fully tested reviews later this year.