(Credit: Charles Jefferies)
LAS VEGAS—Seen on the show at Dell Technologies World, the company’s revamped Pro-series portables feel like a reset button for its business laptop lineup. The new machines have undergone a thorough redesign, with upgrades focused on the everyday areas that matter most to working professionals. (And Dell's branding finally makes sense again!)
Besides sharper aesthetics, Dell has also reworked the insides of these laptops. The Pro 3, 5, and 7 now use smaller motherboards, freeing up space for a larger cooling fan and better thermals. Many models also leverage a new high-density battery technology, allowing capacities up to 70Wh. Displays see a major lift as well: The dim 250- and 300-nit panels are gone, replaced by 400-nit screens to start, new OLED options, 500-nit low-power displays, and privacy panels.
Naturally, Dell aims to improve performance with Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 “Panther Lake” and AMD Ryzen AI 400 chips, plus support for up to 64GB of memory and PCIe 5.0 SSDs. It all adds up to a timely, genuinely promising refresh, and I'm excited to fully test the laptops out.
Dell Pro Premium: For the C-Suite and Meeting-Heavy Pros
Dell’s Pro Premium is a technology-refreshed, ever-so-slightly thinner version of last year’s Dell Pro 14 Premium. Featuring Intel’s Series 3 Core Ultra “Panther Lake” processors like the rest of the line, expect this model to last even longer off the plug than its predecessor, which managed more than 25 hours in our testing.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)Everything else carries over from the earlier model, from Dell’s zero-lattice keyboard and tandem OLED display option to supporting specifications such as the wireless connectivity and port arrangement. Note, though, that this laptop is the only model in the lineup that doesn’t include AMD silicon options.
Dell Pro 7: The Top-Tier Travel Laptop From Dell
Without crossing into Pro Premium territory, the Pro 7 provides the most portability in Dell's new lineup, offering nearly all the features of the Pro 5 (detailed below) in a thinner, lighter form factor. Lost in the process is upgradable memory, though the laptop can scale to as much as 64GB. The starting model houses an Intel Core Ultra 5 335 processor, 16GB of LPDDR5x memory at 8,533 megatransfers per second (MT/s), and a 256GB solid-state drive.
The laptop comes in both traditional clamshell and convertible 2-in-1 laptop designs. Dell's 13-inch model measures just 0.64 inch thick and weighs 2.42 pounds, while the 14-inch model is a smidge heavier, at 2.8 pounds. (Both weights assume that you have the magnesium bottom panel, as opposed to the more durable aluminum option.) The standard battery is a 56Wh juice pack, with 70Wh available on the 14-incher.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)I tried out the 2-in-1 convertible (pictured below), with a 360-degree rotating display and pen support. The 13.3-inch 1,920-by-1,200-pixel (1200p) touch screen has a glass surface and an available 8-megapixel (MP) IR camera above it.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)Dell's Pro 7 laptops feel particularly rigid; I’m impressed by the rock-solid chassis and minimal lid flex. The keyboard feels immediately comfortable, providing well-cushioned feedback and ample travel. The touchpad—a traditional hinged-action design—is a delight to use, offering ample space and tactile feedback.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)Despite the thinness of these machines, Dell’s port selection remains practical, with two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and HDMI 2.1 video output. For wireless hookups, the laptops offer Wi-Fi 7 and available 5G WWAN. You probably won’t need adapters with this one.
Dell Pro 5: The Everyday Dell Workhorse
The bread and butter of Dell’s business line, the Pro 5 comes with either a 14- or 16-inch screen and the most upgradability in the line, with optional CAMM2 memory as a highlight. Despite leaning more toward value, the Pro 5 is an all-metal machine that feels exceptionally tough and has top-notch build quality. The 14-inch model weighs 2.96 pounds, just below our three-pound ultraportable laptop threshold.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)The Pro 5 matches the Pro 7's wireless options and adds Ethernet connectivity—a big plus for many businesses.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)The Pro 5 offers Dell's largest display in the line, at 16 inches. (This version also comes with a number pad, almost full-size.) Both sizes include options for a 1200p or 1600p display, with a choice of touch control or not, as well as the 8MP webcam found on the Pro 7 models.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)For performance, the Pro 5 offers more powerful CPU options than other models in the line, up to the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H. (See our take on the similar Core Ultra X9, which has the same enhanced graphics chip onboard.) However, the entry-level model starts off modest at either size, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 332 vPro processor, 16GB of DDR5 5,600MT/s RAM in a single channel (with two lanes installed), and a 256GB SSD.
Dell Pro 3: A Fully-Featured Entry-Level Laptop Line
The entry point for Dell’s business laptops, the Pro 3 maximizes value while still prioritizing Intel's and AMD's latest chips for 2026. This tier doesn’t include metal shells—that begins with the Pro 5—but Dell's choice of plastic feels sturdy and ready to shrug off daily wear and tear.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)Dell’s keyboard presents satisfying tactile feedback and offers a fingerprint reader built into the power button. Unlike the Pro 5 and above, the Pro 3 lacks a SmartCard option, but you still get 400- and 500-nit screen options and Wi-Fi 7.
Pricing and Availability: Dell's Conducting a Phased Roll-Out
Dell’s Pro 5 and Pro 7 series are available now, so more information is available on those. The Pro 5 laptops start at $2,269 (single-unit pricing on Dell.com), and the Pro 7 models begin at $2,329. Remember, however, that these laptops are designed largely for purchase through negotiated channels, which may reduce the cost per unit.
(Credit: Charles Jefferies)The Pro Premium, Pro 3 series, and the Pro Precision 5 14s and 16s thin-and-light mobile workstations will become available on May 28, at which time we'll have more details on their capabilities and pricing. Return to PCMag in the coming weeks for full-fledged reviews of several of these laptops.