Dell laptops: Are they worth the investment for business?

In today’s device market, businesses can still choose between ‘traditional’ laptops and AI PCs – laptops that come with embedded neural processing units (NPUs) and optimized hardware to make the most of AI models run on-device.

This landscape is changing fast, however, and IDC predicts AI PCs will account for 93% of global commercial shipments by 2028, while Gartner thinks this figure will reach 98% by 2029.

All this makes it clear that IT decision makers will soon need to decide not whether they need AI PCs in the workplace, but which brand of AI PC best suits their workforce’s needs.

Before business leaders begin to allocate budget to AI PC purchases, it’s important that they understand how options such as Dell laptops will enable them to make the most of AI applications.

It’s equally important to dispel certain myths around AI PCs, particularly those that relate to their usefulness compared to traditional devices, as well as how useful they will be for future-proofing business operations.

Myth 1: You can’t run AI directly on a laptop

You don’t need cloud computing to make the most of AI, contrary to popular belief.

While there’s no doubt that public cloud AI continues to dominate and AI-enabled companies are likely to rely on cloud computing for a significant amount of the AI processing they do, there’s growing evidence that AI PCs will be a major focus in the coming years.

This doesn’t mean AI workloads are easy to run, though. Only manufacturers that design AI PCs with incredibly powerful and efficient hardware will be able to offer devices that are truly AI-ready and future-proof.

The Dell Pro Plus comes with Intel Core or Intel Core Ultra processors with built-in NPU, as well as up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, to run demanding AI PC workloads. In internal tests, Dell Technologies found the Dell Pro 14 Plus with Intel U5-236V, UMA Graphics, 16GB RAM, and 512GB PCIe SSD was 3.7x faster at AI processes than its previous generation Latitude laptop with comparable memory and storage.¹

Myth 2: AI laptops are too expensive

AI laptops don’t have to be expensive.

While buying devices that can run the latest software efficiently could mean spending a lot of money up front – particularly for businesses looking to use AI on device – manufacturers that offer a broad selection of AI PCs also offer a wide variety of price points.

Dell laptops are available in a range of price points depending on the needs of businesses and individual workers. This includes the Dell Pro, Dell Pro Plus, and Dell Pro Premium, which all unlock AI functionality at different price points.

For businesses looking to adopt AI without the burden of upfront costs, Dell APEX PC as a Service (PCaaS)² provides a flexible, subscription-based model. With APEX PCaaS, businesses can pay for AI-enabled PCs on a per-user, per-month basis, making it easier to scale technology investments as needs evolve. This approach not only simplifies budgeting but also helps businesses future-proof their IT infrastructure with predictable costs and access to the latest technology.

Myth 3: AI laptops aren’t portable or sustainable

AI laptops are just as portable and sustainable as any other comparable laptop.

The origin of this myth is the belief that high performance must come with excess weight and bulk. AI PCs come in all different shapes and sizes, however.

Take the Dell Pro 14 Plus, a sleek business-oriented laptop which tips the scales at just 1.40kg (3.09lb) or 1.55kg (3.43lb) for the 2-in-1 body. This AI laptop is intended to be durable without taking away from its usability, with a chassis subjected to military-grade testing paired with a spacious 16:10 aspect ratio screen, and highly configurable AI-optimized hardware.

The same chassis is made from responsibly-sourced materials, with a 50% recycled and low-emissions aluminium top cover and palm rest.³ Depending on the configuration, laptops in the Dell Pro portfolio may ship with batteries made with 80% less cobalt or 50% recycled cobalt.⁴ This shows how investing in Dell laptops for your workforce can blend positively with any environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals you may have.

Additionally, the durability of each laptop also means employees are less likely to break devices over time, with the long lifespan of each device adding to its sustainable credentials.

Myth 4: You don’t need an NPU for AI apps

An NPU is necessary if you want to get the best performance from AI apps running on-device.

It’s true that there are a number of AI apps out there already that can be run without the specialized hardware found in an AI PC, but many apps are already putting NPUs to work with new features – and Dell laptops are ready to run them.

For example, McAfee has added a Deepfake Detector into McAfee Smart AI, capable of flagging potentially artificially-generated video content in real time. On Dell Pro Notebooks with the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra 200V series processors, this feature can run in the background while using as much as 48% less power thanks to the NPU.⁵

Deepfake detection is going to be increasingly important as cybersecurity teams tackle rising scams that utilize the technology. Hackers can use deepfake video calls to carry out social engineering attacks, making real-time detection of the kind McAfee Smart AI can provide on Dell laptops all the more important.

As more app developers look to harness the unique capabilities and benefits of an NPU on business laptops, it will become harder and harder to use the latest features in business software without an AI PC.

With this in mind, investing in Dell laptops isn’t just a case of giving your workforce the best experience of today’s apps but also a sorely needed step towards future-proofing your business hardware.

Myth 5: AI laptops have bad battery life

NPUs mean AI laptops have good battery life.

AI workloads can consume significant amounts of energy when run on hardware that’s not optimized for them. On an AI PC such as a Dell Pro laptop, however, the onboard NPU ensures that on-device AI functionality is run efficiently.

In fact, using the built-in NPUs means Dell laptops can efficiently run AI applications and background tasks without negatively impacting battery life. The Dell Pro 14 Plus is capable of up to 18.2 hours of battery life⁶, even with its performance improvements over previous generation laptops.

Instead of relying just on the NPU, Dell laptops feature a range of innovations to extend battery life. For example, the Tandem OLED display used in the Dell Pro 14 Premium is 24% more power efficient than traditional OLED displays^7, and the same device uses Mini-LED Backlit Technology in the keyboard to reduce power consumption.⁸

In short, AI PCs can be both powerful and highly power-efficient – and Dell laptops bring this innovation to life.

If you think Dell laptops are the right call for your business, find out more on the Dell website.

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And there’s one more thing to know before you buy: Dell offers a price match guarantee. To learn more about the Dell price match and price guarantee, including the terms, exclusions and restrictions, US readers can click here, UK readers here, AU readers here and CA readers here.