Amanda Reed
Published Nov 4, 2023 9:00 AM EDT
Dell’s laptop lineup offers something for every budget and every user—with some particularly sweet gaming options thanks to Alienware.
Best overall
Dell XPS 15 9000
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The Dell XPS 15 9000 is an excellent all-around laptop for anyone who wants to do a some of everything on an elegant, sleek machine.
Best for gaming
Alienware m18 AMD Gaming Laptop
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It offers many different configurations aimed at gaming enthusiasts with the cash to throw into the finer details to ensure blistering speeds and an immersive experience.
Best budget
Dell Inspiron 15 3530 Laptop
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A solid computing choice without making as many compromises as a sub-$500 device.
Published Nov 4, 2023 9:00 AM
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Dell’s laptop lineup offers options for every computing need, from a kid tackling schoolwork to an engineer designing a plane. In fact, there’s a good chance a school or workplace issued you a Dell at some point, thanks to the company’s reputation for reliable performance, durable builds, and affordability. To pick one for yourself, list how you plan to use it, your budget, and your must-have features, and we’ll help you find one that checks all the boxes. Are you a casual user, a student, a content creator, a gaming enthusiast, or all of the above? This guide will help you check off your must-have features and pick from the best Dell laptops.
Best overall: Dell XPS 15 9000
Best for students: Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Laptop
Best for gaming: Alienware m18 AMD Gaming Laptop
Best budget gaming: Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop
Best for working from home: Dell-Latitude 15.6″ Laptop
Best budget: Dell Inspiron 15 3530 Laptop
How we chose the best Dell laptops
There’s not a single Dell laptop that is perfect for everyone. The company’s laptop options range from Chromebooks under $500 to high-powered workhorses that cost thousands, so it helps to understand its leading laptop brands and their most common users. We extensively researched and analyzed this, drawing from a multitude of sources, including our own PopSci reviews, peer recommendations, critical analyses, and user testimonials, to meticulously curate a refined selection for you.
The best Dell laptops: Reviews & Recommendations
Dell’s Inspiron laptops offer wallet-friendly options targeting general computing needs, like streaming videos, emailing, creating social content, and other assorted, more personal computing needs. The XPS line is Dell’s premium line for creative users who need more multitasking power for intensive programs like photo and video editing. Gamers can choose between Dell’s G Series or the LED-lit options of Alienware. Business users, whether small businesses or enterprises, should look at the Latitude, Precision, and Vostro lines that prioritize powerful processors and security. And we’ve got the perfect choice from each of these below.
Best overall: Dell XPS 15 9000
Specs
Dimensions: 13.6 x9.1 x 0.71 inches
Weight: Starts at 4.2 pounds
OS: Windows 11 Pro
Processor: Intel i7-13700 (13th generation)
RAM: 16GB DDR5 SDRAM
Storage: 512GB SSD
Graphics: Intel Arc A370M Graphics
Screen size: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1200 resolution
Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort, 1 SD card, headphone jack
Battery life: Up to 18 hours
Pros
Aluminum body
Sturdy, elegant design
Good battery life
Backlit keyboard
Cons
720p web camera
No USB-A ports
Pricey
The Dell XPS 15 9000 is an excellent all-around laptop for anyone who wants to do some of everything on an elegant, sleek machine. The XPS series is Dell’s premium line to rival Apple’s M2 series of MacBooks. A longtime favorite of reviewers and consumers, a version ranks as PopSci’s overall pick for best Windows laptop, and it’s one of favorite 15-inch laptops in general.
The XPS 15 is hard to beat for performance, and its well-designed, portable aluminum body weighs just over four pounds. The entry-level XPS starts at $1,600 and is loaded with the latest Intel i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and Intel Arc A370M Graphics. That’s plenty for graphic design, video editing, and some gaming, but it can be configured for more powerful processing and graphics. It can be maxed out to an Intel i9, up to 64GB of RAM, 8TB of storage, and Nvidia GeForce RTX options. The XPS 15 allows two screen options: the full high-definition plus, non-touchscreen option that measures brightness of 500 nits, or an OLED touchscreen of 400 nits. One sore spot is the 720p high-definition webcam, though the video-obsessed may want to upgrade with one of our picks for the best webcams for streaming. The other sore spot is the splurgy price, though deal hunters can still find refurbished models with 12th-generation processors to save some cash.
Best for students: Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Laptop
Specs
Dimensions: 12.36 x 8.92 x 0.73 inches
Weight: Starts at 3.48 pounds
OS: Windows 11 Home
Processor: Intel i7-1355U (13th generation)
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
Screen size: 14 inches, 1920 x 1200 resolution
Ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, 1 HDMI, 1 USB-A, 1 SD card reader, headphone jack
Battery life: Up to 11 hours
Pros
Backlit keyboard
1080p front-facing camera
Fingerprint reader
Privacy camera
Cons
Not super bright screen
A little heavy for form
Stylus compatible but not included
Sometimes flexibility is what makes a device, and that includes the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 Laptop. Students can use this hybrid machine as a traditional laptop, comfortably typing out long papers, and then set up as a tent for movie-watching to decompress. Scribblers and doodlers can purchase a compatible stylus to use as a tablet thanks to its 360-degree hinges. For about a grand, it includes the latest generation Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, showcasing enough power to be one of PopSci’s best laptops for college and for working from home. It’s suitable for video conferencing and chatting with two mics, a 1080p webcam, and Dolby Atmos speakers (though don’t expect soundbar-level performance). The full high-definition plus screen has a good resolution, but at only 250 nits, it isn’t as bright as others and could be challenging in very sunny rooms.
If you burn through the 2-in-1’s advertised 11 hours of battery life, it has an ExpressCharge feature that will help you reach up to 80% power within an hour. It’s also EPEAT Silver registered and Energy Star rated and ships in 100% sustainable materials.
Best for gaming: Alienware m18 AMD Gaming Laptop
Specs
Dimensions: 16.15 x 12.59 x 1.05 inches
Weight: 9.32 pounds
OS: Windows 11 Home
Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX
RAM: 32GB DDR5
Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
Screen size: 18 inches, 1920 x 1200 resolution, 480Hz
Ports: 3 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 2 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with DisplayPort, 1 RJ45 Ethernet port, 1 HDMI 2.1, 1 headphone jack, 1 power-adapter port, 1 mini-Display port, 1 SD-card slot
Battery life: Up to 3 hours, 21 minutes
Pros
Customizable
Alienware Cryo-tech calling system
Full numeric pad
Cons
Very heavy for a laptop
Poor battery life
Ports placed in the back
The Alienware m18 AMD Gaming Laptop is a beast in size and power and the top of the line of Dell’s gaming laptops. It offers many different configurations aimed at gaming enthusiasts with the cash to throw into the finer details to ensure blistering speeds and an immersive experience. The base model starts under $2,000—reasonable for a gaming laptop—but quickly climbs as you tack on upgrades to tackle AAA gaming.
The entry model weighs 8.5 pounds and goes up from there depending on-screen options (either 165Hz or 480Hz refresh rates) and processors. We opted for mid-range specs—32GB of RAM, an AMD Ryzen 9 7845HK processor, and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card—and hit $3,000 and a weight of over nine pounds. Part of the weight is the Cryo-tech cooling system on the CPU and GPU, plus four fans and a vapor chamber to pull heat away from sensitive components. Technically, this machine is a laptop, but it’s clearly aimed at replacing gaming PCs with a smaller format. Laptop ports usually appear on the sides for fast access. On the m18, they line up across the back—snazzily encircled by LED lights no less. That’s the ideal spot to keep desks free of cords connected to a G-sync monitor—but not for a laptop that gets moved around a lot. The three-hour battery life is underwhelming, even for a machine with a heavy workload. For an Alienware laptop, the design is somewhat tame. Still, it has its signature hexagonal grills, programmable lighting zones, and RGB keyboard (unless you want to opt for an ultra-low-profile CherryMX mechanical keyboard).
Best budget gaming: Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop
Specs
Dimensions: 14.06 x 10.8 x 1.02 inches
Weight: 5.84 pounds
OS: Windows 11 Home
Processor: Intel i7-13650HX (13th generation)
RAM: 16GB DDR5
Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
Screen size: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 165Hz
Ports: 3 USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with DisplayPort, 1 RJ45 Ethernet port, 1 HDMI 2.1, 1 headphone jack
Battery life: Up to 6 hours, 31 minutes
Pros
Customizable
Backlit keyboard
Full numeric pad
Alienware-inspired cooling system
One-button Game Shift mode activates fans
Cons
720p webcam
Heavy
Poor battery life
If the Alienware m18 is too much gaming laptop, take a look at the Dell G15 5530 Gaming Laptop, which liberally borrows from its subsidiary’s design but has a price tag of around $1,300. The G15 is better than entry-level, capable of handling AAA gaming thanks to the latest Intel i7 processor, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and a full high-definition screen with a 165Hz refresh rate. Unlike the sleek wedges that dominate laptop shapes, the G15 is a blocky, gray laptop with weird angles around the hinges—what Dell calls a retro design, but we call potentially laptop-bag unfriendly. It also weighs more than six pounds, thanks to an “Alienware-inspired” cooling system with ultra-thin fan blades, four heat pipes, and vents all over the place. It also has a 720 webcam, which is only meh if you plan on live streaming.
Best for working from home: Dell – Latitude 15.6″ Laptop
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