Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) review – Near-Perfect Ultrabook, With One Colorblind Flaw – Is It a Deal Breaker for You?
Okay, ignore our harsh thumbnail; we just really liked this laptop a lot, and it bothered us that it has only one single flaw. Because honestly, the Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) gets almost everything else spectacularly right. It’s stunningly sleek, crafted from lightweight magnesium, feels incredibly solid, and is packed with cutting-edge tech like Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and optional 5G. Add in battery life that sails past the 15-hour mark, and Dell has seemingly built the near-perfect ultrabook for professionals on the move.
So, what’s that single flaw that bothered us? We ordered the IPS variant, so it’s the display’s limited color reproduction – just 54% sRGB coverage for a Premium laptop! But here’s the crucial part: Dell DOES offer a way around this. For those who need vibrant, accurate colors, there’s a gorgeous 14.0″, 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED display option available.
In this review, we’ll dive deep into the performance, build quality, stellar battery life, and connectivity of the configuration we tested (with the standard IPS screen), highlighting its many strengths while detailing that specific screen limitation, helping you decide if this version meets your needs or if investing in the OLED upgrade is the way to go.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/dell-pro-14-pa14250/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Dell Pro 14 (PA14250) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 2000GB SSD
- RAM
- up to 32GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home
- Battery
- 60Wh
- Dimensions
- 311.20 x 216.70 x 16.38 - 16.99 mm (12.25" x 8.53" x 0.64")
- Weight
- 1.14 kg (2.5 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 1x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Sleep and Charge
- 2x USB Type-C
- 4.0, Thunderbolt 4, Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 7
- Bluetooth
- 5.4
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- optional
- Web camera
- 2x IR Camera / 2x IR Camera with Presence Detection (Synaptics)
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Digital Array Microphones
- Speakers
- 2x 2.5W Stereo Speakers
- Security Lock slot
- Wedge Lock
All Dell Pro 14 (PA14250) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.dell.com/support/product-details/en-us/product/dell-pro-pa14250-laptop/overview
What’s in the box?
Despite the “Premium” in its name suggesting a box brimming with extras, Dell keeps things minimalist with the Pro 14 Premium.
Inside, you’ll find the laptop itself nestled alongside its compact 65W power adapter. That’s the full extent of the unboxing experience – just the essentials to get you powered up and running.
Design and construction
From the moment you lay eyes on the Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250), it exudes a sense of understated class. This machine is exceptionally elegant, presented in a sophisticated grey finish that speaks professionalism without needing to shout. It feels premium in the hand too, thanks to its construction from a 90% recycled magnesium alloy – a choice that’s both environmentally conscious and contributes to its impressive lightness and rigidity. Tipping the scales starting at a mere 1.141 kg (2.52 lbs) and boasting a remarkably consistent thickness hovering around 17mm (0.66-0.71 inches), this is a truly portable powerhouse that feels effortless to carry. Adding to the practicality, the finish does an excellent job resisting fingerprints, keeping the device looking sharp.
While the magnesium body provides significant strength, there’s a tiny hint of flex if you apply considerable pressure, but in everyday handling and use, it feels reassuringly solid and well-built. Opening the lid isn’t quite a one-handed affair; the hinge offers smooth resistance initially, but you’ll need a second hand to assist opening it further. That hinge allows the display to open nearly flat to almost 180 degrees, offering great viewing angle flexibility. As you open the lid, the rear of the chassis cleverly lifts slightly, creating a subtle incline that potentially aids airflow and provides a comfortable typing angle.
Once open, the display immediately impresses with its remarkably thin side bezels, contributing to a high 90% screen-to-body ratio that really draws you into the content. The top bezel is noticeably thicker, but it’s packed with technology. Depending on the configuration, it houses an advanced 8MP HDR camera with IR capabilities for Windows Hello, Temporal Noise Reduction for clearer video calls, and potentially even Presence Detection features. Crucially, Dell has included a physical privacy shutter – a big plus for security-conscious users. The chassis also incorporates sensors like an accelerometer (used for adaptive thermal performance) and an ambient light sensor, enhancing the user experience.
Moving down to the keyboard deck, Dell has prioritized key size over squeezing in a NumPad, which is standard for a 14-inch form factor. The keyboard features a discreet, two-level white backlight. At first glance, the minimal spacing between keys might look a bit cramped, but in practice, we found it surprisingly comfortable and easy to adapt to within minutes. It’s also aesthetically pleasing and boasts spill resistance for added durability. The power button, located on the deck, can optionally integrate a fingerprint reader for another secure login method.
Below the keyboard lies the trackpad; while the compact chassis limits its absolute maximum size, Dell has made good use of the available space, providing a relatively large and comfortable surface for navigation.
Ports and Connectivity
The Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) presents a modern and capable port selection suited for professional users. On the left side, connectivity includes a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, offering versatile output options for external displays. Alongside it sits a high-performance USB Type-C port equipped with Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps). This port notably supports the enhanced Power Delivery 3.1 standard for potentially faster or more robust charging, and DisplayPort 2.1 for cutting-edge video output. A standard 3.5mm universal audio jack completes the left-side array.
Moving to the right side, you’ll find a second USB Type-C port, identically equipped with Thunderbolt 4, Power Delivery 3.1, and DisplayPort 2.1 capabilities, providing convenient flexibility for docking, charging, or connecting peripherals. Accompanying this is a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port (operating at 5Gbps) which features Dell’s PowerShare, allowing it to charge external devices even when the laptop is powered off. For physical security, a wedge-shaped lock slot is included. On configurations specified with mobile broadband (as the one we’ve bought), an external uSIM card tray for cellular connectivity will also be present on this side.
Wireless capabilities are state-of-the-art, featuring an Intel BE201 card that delivers Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) connectivity with a 2×2 antenna configuration for optimal performance on the latest networks. Bluetooth 5.4 is also included for connecting wireless peripherals. For users requiring constant connectivity, optional 5G mobile broadband is available through a Qualcomm Snapdragon X72 modem, offered in global eSIM configurations or a non-eSIM version specific to the China market.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 | LG LGD07A6-140WU4 (PKW22) |
| Diagonal | 14.0 inches (35.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Pixel Density | 162 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 53 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250: the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the display at 54% of the sRGB color gamut and 43% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 covers 54% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 326 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 320 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 8%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6420K.
The contrast ratio is 1180:1.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 183 nits (Windows slider = 64%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250. We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250, the Average color accuracy was 4.7 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 4.2 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space (primaries and D65 white point specified in ITU-R BT.709, sRGB encoding curve).
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Office profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Office Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Gaming and movies profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 20.4 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light from the backlight of the Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the Dell Pro 14 Premium’s screen is 50.7 GU. This is a very good result.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 configurations with PKW22-140WU4 (LGD07A6), 1920 х 1200, IPS panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
When we subjectively listen to a sound file through the built-in speakers, the sound quality offered by Dell Pro 14 Premium PA14250 is good. There is, however, a noticeable rise in the high frequencies in the frequency response chart.
Work Performance: CPU, Storage
All performance and temperature tests are conducted with the Ultra Performance mode set in the Dell Optimizer app.
CPU and Work Performance
You can buy Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) with a choice of these Core Ultra 200 CPUs:
Intel Core Ultra 7 268V
Intel Core Ultra 7 266V
Intel Core Ultra 5 238V
Intel Core Ultra 5 236V
We ordered the Ultra 5 236V variant. It’s a solid choice for everyday tasks, good representation of which is the Single-Core test you can see below. For heavy work though, it lags behind the Ultra 7 processors.
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Storage performance
We ordered a configuration with 512GB SSD, and it arrived with KIOXIA BG6 NVMe drive. It has very high sequential read and sequential write speeds of 5.1 GB/sec and 4.4 GB/sec, respectively.
GPU and Gaming Performance
The Core Ultra 5s come with Intel Arc Graphics 130V GPUs while the Ultra 7 series have the much more powerful Intel Arc Graphics 140V.
You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
We know that the Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) is not intended for gaming but we want to test a few games on it, just in case you decide to kill some time in the lunch break.
Counter Strike 2 is more than playable with 90+ FPS on Medium settings, 1920 x 1200 resolution.
| Counter Strike 2 | 1200p, Medium (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 94 FPS |
Need some adventure? Shadow of the Tomb Raider almost gets you 60 FPS.
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1200p, Lowest (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 57 FPS |
Not far from the 60 FPS mark is Black Myth: Wukong as well.
| Black Myth: Wukong | 1200p, Low (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 53 FPS |
Temperatures and Comfort, Stability
After 5 minutes of idle, the Intel Core Ultra 5 236V’s temperature is 50ºC.
Here’s what happens when we put it in a heavy load scenario:
Office Work, Web Development, Design
Short periods of 100% CPU load
| 0:00 – 0:10 sec | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 3589 MHz | 88 °C | 34 W |
During short, intense CPU loads, the laptop demonstrates strong initial performance. The CPU quickly reaches a peak clock speed of 3591 MHz drawing 34 W, close to the 37W Maximum Turbo Power of Core Ultra 5 236V.
Over the first 10 seconds, the average clock speed is 3589 MHz at an average power draw of 34 W. While the average temperature over 10 seconds is an acceptable 88 °C, the CPU does reach a peak temperature of 96 °C, which is categorized as high according to our temperature rules. This indicates that brief bursts are handled with high power and speed, though thermal peaks occur.
Video editing, Scientific computing, Software compilation, 3D rendering
Long periods of 100% CPU load
| 0:00 – 30:00 min | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) | 3187 MHz | 82 °C | 28 W |
For prolonged, heavy CPU workloads lasting up to 30 minutes, the laptop maintains a stable performance profile. The CPU averages a clock speed of 3187 MHz with an average power consumption of 28 W. The average CPU temperature settles at 82 °C over this extended period, which falls within the acceptable range. Compared to short burst performance, there is a reduction in both clock speed and power draw. This indicates the system effectively manages sustained load to maintain acceptable temperatures, albeit at a lower performance level than peak initial bursts.
Battery Life
The battery unit in our Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) configuration has a capacity of 60Wh. Interestingly, Dell has a 40Wh variant as well, in its official specs sheet, but we didn’t find models with the smaller battery on the European market. Have you found one? Tell us where, and what’s the gain from the freed internal space.
We’ve tested the battery life with “Best Power Efficiency” mode set in Windows Settings, and “Quiet” mode in Dell Optimizer.
More than 15 hours on a single charge is a great result for such a small battery!
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Verdict
The Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) certainly lives up to the “Premium” part of its name when it comes to design, build quality, and portability. Crafted from lightweight yet sturdy magnesium alloy, it boasts an elegant, fingerprint-resistant finish and an impressively thin and light chassis, making it an ideal companion for professionals on the move. Its construction feels solid, complemented by practical features like a near-flat hinge, a subtly lifting base for ergonomics, and impressively thin display bezels enhancing the immersive 16:10 screen.
Performance for everyday business tasks is solid, even with the reviewed Intel Core Ultra 5 236V processor (base variant), backed by a remarkably fast KIOXIA NVMe SSD that ensures snappy responsiveness. While heavier workloads might benefit from the higher-tier Ultra 7 options, the integrated Arc graphics even allow for surprisingly decent light gaming during downtime. Thermal management keeps the system stable under sustained load without excessive noise, though short bursts can push CPU temperatures high momentarily.
Connectivity is absolutely cutting-edge, featuring dual Thunderbolt 4 ports with advanced Power Delivery and DisplayPort capabilities, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, and optional 5G, future-proofing the device significantly. Furthermore, the battery life is simply outstanding, easily delivering over 15 hours in our tests, which is a massive plus for mobile users.
However, the most significant caveat, and one that clashes jarringly with the “Premium” moniker, lies in the display’s color reproduction. While the IPS panel offers good viewing angles, decent contrast, and is commendably PWM-free for viewing comfort, its color gamut is severely limited, covering only 54% of the sRGB space. This results in visibly muted and inaccurate colors, rendering the laptop unsuitable for any tasks requiring even moderate color accuracy, such as photo editing or graphic design. While fine for standard office work, users expecting vibrant visuals will be disappointed.
Other aspects are generally positive: the keyboard, though compact, is comfortable and spill-resistant, the advanced webcam options with a physical shutter are excellent for security and conferencing, and sound quality is good. The inclusion of Dell’s PowerShare on the single USB-A port is also a nice touch.
Ultimately, the Dell Pro 14 Premium (PA14250) excels in portability, build quality, connectivity, and battery endurance. It’s a fantastic choice for mobile professionals whose primary needs revolve around these aspects and standard productivity tasks. But the significantly compromised color performance of the display prevents it from being a universally recommendable premium ultrabook, especially for anyone with creative leanings or expectations of vibrant visuals.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/dell-pro-14-pa14250/
Pros
- Elegant and highly portable design (thin, light magnesium alloy build)
- Excellent build quality and fingerprint resistance
- Outstanding battery life (15+ hours)
- Cutting-edge connectivity: Dual Thunderbolt 4 (PD 3.1/DP 2.1), Wi-Fi 7, optional 5G
- Very fast NVMe SSD storage
- Comfortable, spill-resistant keyboard with backlight
- Advanced webcam options with physical privacy shutter
- PWM-free display backlight ensures flicker-free viewing
- Good thermal management under sustained loads
- Use of recycled materials in construction
Cons
- Severely limited display color gamut (only 54% sRGB), unsuitable for color-sensitive work
- Mediocre factory color accuracy
- Only one USB Type-A port
- Minimalist unboxing experience
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Could be a nice portable gaming device if a brighter screen.