Review Dell Pro 14 Plus PB14255 GH77W
Dell Pro 14 Plus PB14255 GH77W
AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 · AMD Radeon 860M · 32GB LPDDR5-7500 · 1TB SSD · 14.0″ 1200p IPS 60Hz · 1.582 kg
Mid‑tier Dell Pro business laptop with good build quality (aluminium + plastic), quiet fan, and cool operation. Features Wi‑Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4, SmartCard reader, and 4G upgradeable. However, the IPS display has poor colour gamut (56% sRGB) and dim brightness (~295 nits), RAM is soldered, touchpad has delay issues, keyboard is not user‑repairable, and CPU performance is below average for this chip. Priced around €1,630 (~$1,750) – hard to recommend when competitors offer better screens and upgradeable RAM.
Display Panel – Dim 60Hz IPS, Poor Colour Gamut (Low Power Panel Recommended)
Panel model: LP140WU4 – 14.0″ 1920×1200 60 Hz IPS (matte).
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brightness | ~295 cd/m² (avg), peak 315 cd/m² – dim |
| Contrast | 1,260:1 – acceptable |
| Colour Coverage | 56.3% sRGB, 37.5% DCI‑P3 – very poor |
| Accuracy (uncalibrated) | ΔE 6.0 avg, ΔE max 15.2 – poor |
| Accuracy (calibrated) | ΔE 5.1 – still poor |
| Response Time (B‑W) | 21.1 ms – slow |
| Response Time (GtG) | 27.1 ms – slow |
| PWM | None detected – flicker‑free |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz – basic |
| Finish | Matte – anti‑glare |
- Very dim display – only ~295 nits – poor for any use
- Very poor colour gamut – only 56% sRGB
- Slow response times
- 100% sRGB Low Power panel available – highly recommended
- No PWM – eye‑friendly
The display is a major weakness – dim, poor colours, and slow – the 100% sRGB Low Power panel is a must‑have upgrade.
Keyboard & Touchpad – Good Keyboard (Touchpad Delay Issues)
- Keyboard: 1.5 mm travel – nice bounce, precise
- White backlight (standard)
- Enter key is small, no dedicated navigation keys
- Keyboard is not user‑repairable
- Touchpad: 12.5 × 7.3 cm mechanical – smooth surface
- Touchpad delay after long pauses – driver issue
- Plastic surface, not glass
The touchpad has an annoying delay issue after long pauses – Dell needs to fix this driver problem.
Ports & Connectivity – Decent (No Ethernet)
- Left: HDMI, USB‑A 3.2 Gen 1, 2× Thunderbolt 4, SmartCard reader
- Right: nanoSIM, 3.5mm audio, USB‑A 3.2 Gen 1, Noble lock
- 2× Thunderbolt 4 – modern connectivity
- 2× USB‑A – good for legacy peripherals
- No RJ45 Ethernet – unlike competitors
- Wi‑Fi 7 (Mediatek MT7925) – ~1,690 Mbit/s transmit on 6GHz
- 4G upgradeable – antennas and SIM slot present
Connectivity is decent with Thunderbolt 4 and USB‑A, but no Ethernet is a miss for a business laptop.
Serviceability & Upgradeability – Very Limited
Bottom cover: 8× Phillips screws + clips – easy to remove. Upgrades limited to SSD and 4G card.
| Component | Replaceable? | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSD | ✅ Yes | Low | M.2 2280 PCIe4 – replaceable |
| RAM | ❌ No | – | Soldered LPDDR5-7500 – choose at purchase |
| Wi‑Fi module | ❌ No | – | Soldered – not replaceable |
| Battery | ⚠️ Limited | Medium | 55 Wh – internal, replaceable with care |
| Keyboard | ❌ No | – | Not user‑replaceable – unlike ThinkPads |
| Display | ❌ No | High | Integrated into lid |
| CPU / GPU | ❌ No | – | Soldered BGA |
Very limited upgradeability – RAM and Wi‑Fi are soldered, keyboard is not user‑repairable. Competitors offer much better upgradeability.
Storage (SSD) – Fast (Throttles Under Load)
- Tested Drive: Micron 2500 1TB MTFDKBA1T0QGN – 1 TB, M.2 2280 PCIe4
- Sequential read: ~5,203 MB/s · write: ~2,991 MB/s – decent
- Throttles under sustained load – drops from ~7,000 MB/s
- Single M.2 slot – no expansion
The SSD is fast in bursts but throttles under sustained load.
Memory (RAM) – Soldered
- Configuration: 32 GB LPDDR5‑7500 (soldered)
- No SO‑DIMM slots – completely non‑upgradeable
- Disappointing – competitors offer upgradeable RAM
- Choose 32 GB at purchase – no aftermarket changes possible
RAM is soldered – a major drawback compared to ThinkPads and EliteBooks.
Processor (CPU) – Below Average for This Chip
- Model: AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 (Krackan Point, Zen 5, 4 nm)
- Cores: 8c/16t (4× Zen 5 @ 5.0 GHz, 4× Zen 5c @ 3.5 GHz)
- TDP: 35 W PL2, 25 W PL1 (sustained)
- Cinebench R23 Multi: ~12,684 pts – solid
- ~16% slower than Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 6 with same chip
- ~15% drop on battery
- Stable performance under load
The Ryzen AI 7 PRO 350 is below average for this chip – competitors get more performance from the same CPU.
Graphics (GPU) – Radeon 860M – Fine for Office
- Model: AMD Radeon 860M (integrated)
- 3DMark Time Spy: ~2,593 pts – modest
- Not suitable for gaming – Cyberpunk 2077 FHD Ultra: ~16.8 fps
- Fine for office productivity
- Intel Lunar Lake has better graphics
The Radeon 860M is not suitable for gaming – fine for office work.
Battery – Slightly Below Average
- Capacity: 55 Wh – small
- WiFi surfing (150 nits): ~11.8 hours – below average
- Competitors manage 14+ hours
- Internal battery – replaceable with moderate effort
Battery life is below average at ~11.8 hours – competitors offer longer runtimes.
Chassis & Build – Aluminium + Plastic
- Materials: Aluminium palmrest and lid + plastic bottom
- Weight: 1.582 kg (3.49 lbs) – reasonable
- Dimensions: 313.5 × 224 × 22 mm – thicker than competitors
- Good build quality – high stability in aluminium areas
- Plastic bottom is less robust
- Cannot open with one hand
The chassis is well‑built, but thicker and heavier than some competitors.
Disassembly & Upgradeability Summary
| Component | Replaceable? | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSD | ✅ Yes | Low | M.2 2280 PCIe4 – replaceable |
| RAM | ❌ No | – | Soldered – choose at purchase |
| Wi‑Fi | ❌ No | – | Soldered – not replaceable |
| Battery | ⚠️ Yes | Medium | 55 Wh – replaceable |
| Keyboard | ❌ No | – | Not user‑replaceable |
| Display | ❌ No | High | Integrated into lid |
| CPU / GPU | ❌ No | – | Soldered BGA |
Very limited upgradeability – RAM and Wi‑Fi are soldered, keyboard is not user‑replaceable. Competitors offer much better upgradeability.
Procurement & Reseller Recommendations
Display
Dim 56% sRGB IPS – upsell the 100% sRGB Low Power panel.
CPU
Below average for this chip – Lenovo ThinkPad L14 G6 is 16% faster.
GPU
Weak Radeon 860M – fine for office work.
RAM
Soldered – a major drawback.
SSD
Single M.2 2280 slot – upgrades require replacement. Throttles under load.
Value
At ~€1,630, the Dell Pro 14 Plus is hard to recommend – competitors offer better screens and upgradeable RAM for similar prices. Only consider with the Low Power panel upgrade.
Key Selling Points vs. Competitors
Strengths
- Good build quality – aluminium + plastic
- Quiet fan – barely audible
- Cool operation – low temperatures
- Wi‑Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 4 – modern connectivity
- 4G upgradeable – antennas and SIM slot present
- SmartCard reader – business security feature
Weaknesses
- Poor display – dim, 56% sRGB, slow response
- Soldered RAM – non‑upgradeable
- Touchpad delay issues – driver problem
- Keyboard not user‑repairable
- No Ethernet – unlike competitors
- Below‑average CPU performance
- Only 12 months warranty
Pro tip for resellers: The Dell Pro 14 Plus PB14255 is a hard sell – highlight the build quality and quiet operation, but warn customers about the poor display and soldered RAM.
• The display is the biggest weakness – always upsell the 100% sRGB Low Power panel.
• RAM is soldered – competitors offer upgradeable RAM.
• The touchpad has delay issues – recommend an external mouse.
• The fan is very quiet – highlight for office use.
• Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 6 instead – better performance, better screen, upgradeable RAM.
• The display is the biggest weakness – always upsell the 100% sRGB Low Power panel.
• RAM is soldered – competitors offer upgradeable RAM.
• The touchpad has delay issues – recommend an external mouse.
• The fan is very quiet – highlight for office use.
• Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 6 instead – better performance, better screen, upgradeable RAM.