Dell just look a leap of faith by renaming its entire laptop portfolio – and it might just work out

Dell announced a handful of new laptops at CES 2025, and if you’re a little confused looking at their names, you’re not alone. The company rebranded its entire portfolio, consolidating the names of the models we’re familiar with into the Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. 

The new naming convention might look strangely familiar (Mac or iPhone, anyone?), but Dell insists the original products themselves aren’t going anywhere — they’re just organized now. For example, the XPS line is now housed under the “Dell Premium” label, the Inspiron line is simply “Dell,” and the Latitude devices fall under “Dell Pro,” to name the big ones. 

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Additionally, the Dell Pro lineup occupies devices that previously would have fallen under the Latitude name, which have been further split up into the Dell Pro Plus and Dell Pro Premium products, aimed at the commercial consumer. 

Beyond its consumer side, Dell announced some sleek-looking new Alienware gaming devices with the Area-51 series: both a 16-inch and 18-inch laptop, as well as a desktop. The new laptops include some big hardware and design updates, so let’s break down what’s new. 

1. Dell Pro 14 and Dell Pro 16

Starting things off with the Dell Pro 14 and Dell Pro 16, we have two highly configurable devices for the business user, specifically with the new modular USB-C ports that are more durable and easier to repair and remove. And durable they are; with a MIL-STD 810H-grade rating.

Designed for the modern professional, these laptops — which previously would have been housed under the Latitude line — come with a diverse set of hardware options, all the way up to the Intel Core Ultra 7 265U. Similarly, memory options range from 8GB all the way up to 64GB of RAM for both sizes. 

Another new feature that professionals will appreciate is the the long-awaited support for Wi-Fi 7, which is faster and more reliable, and can connect to the 5G network when you’re away from Wi-Fi. 

Also: How I turned the Starlink Mini into an almost perfect off-grid internet solution

The main difference between the two models is their respective sizes, but both can output images in full HD Plus resolution (1,920 x 1,200 pixels). However, the Pro 14 can house a QuadHD Plus screen (2,560 x 1,600 pixels). The laptops are set to launch around the end of March. Pricing is still unknown at the time of this writing.

Dell also announced two laptops at the mid-range price point that are designed for everyday productivity users with customizable configurations:

• Dell 14 Plus: This sleek and portable laptop features Intel’s Core Ultra (Series 2) processor lineup, from the 5 all the way up to the 9. That means the productivity user can expect snappy performance and all-day battery life. It comes with up to an Intel Arc 140V GPU on board, 2TB of storage, and support for Wi-Fi 7. 
• Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1: Mirroring the 14 Plus, the 16 Plus provides a larger display and a convertible form factor for the creative professional. It supports the same CPU and GPU hardware as the 14 Plus, but the Mini LED display goes up to 600 nits of brightness and supports touch. 

2. Dell Pro Max

Available in a 14- and 16-inch configuration, the Dell Pro Max is aimed toward the power user, as it houses an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, an Nvidia graphics card, “lightning fast 6400MT/s memory” speeds, and plenty of storage. Both have a QuadHD Plus display with an 8MP camera.

Also: Dell’s latest XPS 13 hits the sweet spot of performance and value for me. Here’s why 

As you can probably guess, the 16-inch laptop is the more powerful option. It’ll house an Nvidia RTX 2000-series graphics card and up to 4TB of memory. The large size of the Dell Pro Max 16 allows it to support a full-sized keyboard alongside “a generously-sized click pad.” 

The Dell Pro Max 14 is no slouch, however, as it will come with an Nvidia RTX 500-series GPU and up to 2TB of memory. Other notable features of the series include support for Wi-Fi 7 plus a large display with a 16:10 ratio. Prices are also still unknown, although it is set to launch in late March.

Housed in the upper mid-tier, Dell announced two new lines of productivity-minded laptops that previously would belong in the Latitude or Precision portfolio. 

• Dell Pro 13/14 Premium: Labeled as a device for “executives, sales managers, and consultants,” Dell’s 13- and 14-inch Premium models are the slimmest and lightest of the Pro lineup, weighing 2.36 pounds. Thin and light with all-day battery life are the main pulls here, with Dell advertising up to 21.2 hours on a single charge. On top of this, the Dell Pro 14 Premium will also be Dell’s first laptop with a tandem OLED display, which is 49% brighter than a typical OLED. 
• Dell Pro 13/14/16 Plus: The rather confusing name aside, the Pro Plus line consists of scalable business laptops for the mainstream productivity worker. Lots of configurations, plenty of I/O, and enterprise-friendly features like remote management make up the core identity of this lineup.

3. Alienware Area-51 16-inch and 18-inch laptops

Switching gears over to gaming, we have the return of the Alienware Area-51 laptops. It’s been several years since the previous release, and Dell is looking to come back with a bang. Much like the real-life Area 51, there are some things about it we don’t know quite yet. 

But we do know it’ll run an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, up to 64GB of memory, and a maximum storage capacity of 12TB. This massive amount of storage is thanks to the newfound support for Gen 5 SSDs.

Also: The best budget gaming laptops you can buy

In addition to all the internal hardware changes, Dell upgraded the overall design of the Area-51 laptops. One of the biggest complaints of past models is their propensity to overheat. To address this, the company states the devices will have a “Cryo-tech thermal architecture” to improve cooling and airflow. 

Dell is also adding some pizzazz. The rear thermal shelf comes equipped with new AlienFX lighting animations. Plus, the computer has a Liquid Teal finish, giving it an “iridescent sheen”. The Alienware Area-51 16-inch and 18-inch laptops will launch in Q1 2025. Prices start at $1,999.

4. Alienware Area-51 Desktop

Last but not least is the Alienware Area-51 desktop. According to the company, Dell developed the model as its new flagship gaming PC. It’s a full-sized 80L tower, meaning it’ll require a lot of desk space, but in return, you get a machine with top-of-the-line components, including a next-gen Nvidia graphics card and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor. Nearly 900W of power will be poured into these components to deliver the highest possible gaming performance.

Also: Why I prefer this Dell XPS desktop over the M4 Mac Mini for creative tasks

An environment like this can run hot, so to maintain optimal temperatures, the Area-51 desktop will come equipped with multiple fans. Dell states interested buyers will have the opportunity to install six cooling fans of various sizes, all working together to pull in air from the outside. The company claims the robust cooling will enable “50% more processing power”.
The Area-51 desktop is set to launch in Q1 2025 with high-end configuration hovering around $4,499. Starting prices have yet to be revealed.