Buying guide for best Dell laptop
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When Dell first entered the consumer computer market, it was not considered a threat to established manufacturers such as HP, IBM and Compaq. A lot has changed since then.
Dell has become the largest name in PC hardware and the go-to choice for thousands of businesses worldwide. Dell computers are powerful, affordable and well supported by the company. Dell's laptops are no exception.
Dell offers a wide range of laptops, each designed for specific use cases. This means that no matter what your needs are, there is a Dell laptop for you. Our top pick is the powerful Dell Inspiron 16-inch 2-in-1 touch laptop, which can handle all your needs, from gaming to video editing.
Which Dell laptop is best?
Best Dell laptop overall
Product Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i7 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD | Display: 16-inch | Operating System: Windows 11 | Ports: Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB 3.2, USB-C | Webcam Resolution: 1080p
As an upgrade over a previous model, this Windows 11 laptop has a new look and some neat tools. The 16-inch FHD+ touch display practically eliminates borders with an ultra-thin bezel, making it suitable for watching movies and browsing without distractions. It also flips all the way around and instantly turns into a tablet.
It uses a powerful 13th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, part of the Intel Evo design, delivering great performance for multitasking and gaming. It’s equipped with 16GB of RAM, which is fantastic for heavy-duty tasks and running multiple apps smoothly, especially for resource-intensive tasks like video editing. The included 1TB solid-state drive (SSD) is more than enough space for all your files, and for sound, it has four speakers that are compatible with Dolby Atmos.
It has a built-in webcam and dual microphones for video calling, and the display uses Dell’s ComfortView Plus technology to reduce blue light and keep your eyes comfortable. This laptop doesn’t have a CD drive.
Best Dell laptop on a budget
Product Specifications
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 14-inch | Operating System: Windows 11 | Ports: Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, USB 3.2, USB-C | Webcam Resolution: 1080p
This laptop features a 14-inch touch display with a borderless design, making the screen seem larger than it is. It has a 360-degree hinge on the display that lets you flip the screen over to turn it into a tablet.
It is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor, which uses six cores and 12 threads. While not the most powerful available, the 8GB of RAM is more than enough for demanding everyday tasks.
Storage is taken care of by a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD, which is ultra-fast and quiet with more than enough capacity. For audio, sound is delivered by two up-firing speakers that use Dolby Atmos for spatial audio for an immersive experience. It has a built-in webcam with dual microphones and technology that helps reduce background noise.
Best laptop for gaming
Product Specifications
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 6600H | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch LED | Operating System: Windows 11 | Ports: HDMI, USB-C, USB-A | Webcam Resolution: 720p
If you’re into gaming, this laptop is a strong contender. It features a 15.6-inch LED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz at a 1080p resolution. The Windows 11 operating system is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 6600H mobile processor, equipped with six cores and 12 threads.
To help with rendering graphics in games, the laptop comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, which has 4GB GDDR6 dedicated video memory. For storage, it has a generous 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, which is much faster and quieter than traditional 3.5-inch hard drives.
It has 16GB of high-bandwidth RAM, which is powerful enough for the latest video games and applications such as video and music editing. The Bluetooth 5.2 technology lets you connect wireless headphones and accessories, and as an added bonus, the Alienware Command Center lets you customize the system’s performance.
Best lightweight laptop
Product Specifications
Processor: Intel Evo Core i7 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 13.4-inch | Operating System: Windows 11 | Ports: Thunderbolt, USB | Webcam Resolution: 720p
If you’re looking for a thin and lightweight laptop, this is an excellent choice. It has a 13.4-inch Full HD LED touch screen that works intuitively with Windows 11. The display has a maximum resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,200 pixels, and the anti-reflective finish reduces eye strain.
Internally, it uses a 12th-generation Intel Evo Core i7 4.7GHz processor, an Intel Iris Xe graphics card and has a generous 32GB of RAM. For storage, it features a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe solid-state drive, and there is a Thunderbolt port that allows you to connect additional monitors and external drives.
This laptop doesn’t have a headphone or microphone jack, but it does feature Bluetooth connectivity if you want to connect wireless headsets.
Best visuals on a Dell laptop
Product Specifications
Processor: Intel Core i9 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB | Display: 15.6-inch | Operating System: Windows 11 | Ports: Thunderbolt, USB-C | Webcam Resolution: 720p
This laptop has a 15.6-inch display, employing impressive OLED technology for crystal-clear 3.5K visuals at a maximum resolution of 3,456 pixels by 2,160 pixels. The display incorporates Dell’s InfinityEdge Touch technology, which has an anti-reflective layer for vivid, true-to-life colors.
The XPS 15 is powered by a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 processor (the Intel Evo variant), and it comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM. That’s enough memory to run multiple resource-intensive apps for video editing or sound production.
With all that speed and memory, you’ll need a hard drive to keep up. This laptop comes with a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. To further establish itself as a powerful workhorse, it comes with a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated video memory.
Best laptop for business
Product Specifications:
Processor: Intel Core i7 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Operating System: Windows 11 Pro | Ports: Thunderbolt, HDMI, USB, Ethernet | Webcam Resolution: 720p
This laptop features a 15.6-inch display with IPS technology, providing wide viewing angles at a maximum resolution of 1,920 pixels by 1,080 pixels. Suitable for general office work or operating a business on the road, it has a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology.
It has an onboard Intel Iris Xe Shared graphics card, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive for your files. Being a true business laptop, it has more connectivity options than other laptops. In addition to Bluetooth functionality, it has Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI for connecting an additional display, several USB ports and an Ethernet port for a network cable.
The laptop has a backlit keyboard and weighs 3.55 pounds.
Key considerations
Dell makes several lines of laptops, so it’s easy to get lost among them, especially when they all look so similar. Before you get started, consider these three questions so you can filter out the options that aren’t relevant.
Will you be using your Dell laptop for work or pleasure?
Dell does a great job tailoring machines to working professionals. For example, their entire Latitude line is built for business. They’re slightly more durable, sport neutral designs and include security measures like fingerprint readers. On the other hand, if you’re buying a Dell laptop for personal use, it doesn’t make sense to pay more for features you may not use. In this case, we recommend saving a few bucks and opting for a laptop from the Inspiron or XPS line.
Are you a PC gamer?
Dell makes two lines of laptops specifically for gamers: Alienware and the G Series. Alienware was originally an independent company that Dell later acquired. Now, Dell Alienware laptops are among the best (and most expensive) gaming laptops in the industry. If you’re a serious gamer or want to be one, you’ll want an Alienware laptop.
On the other hand, if you play games that aren’t graphically intensive or want a budget gaming system, the G Series may be a better fit. Dell’s G Series laptops have less computing power than their Alienware models, but they're an apt choice for gamers who appreciate a bargain.
Do you want a laptop with a touch screen that can double as a tablet?
Laptops with built-in touch screens are technically in their own category, often called 2-in-1s. But they’re still laptops; make no mistake. Laptops with touch screens are useful for times when you prefer a tablet-based experience, and Windows 10 Tablet Mode makes practically any app touch-friendly.
That said, 2-in-1s are generally more expensive (to cover the cost of the touch screen). So, if you’re not a fan of tablets, you might save money by looking at other models.
Core specifications to compare
Once you have a general idea of what you’ll be using your Dell laptop for, you can start comparing models and specifications. Here are the features that are most important to compare.
CPU
The central processing unit, or CPU, is your laptop’s brain, and it has the biggest influence on its performance. When you’re looking at different Dell laptops, you’ll find mostly processors from Intel’s i3, i5, i7 and i9 series. Just be forewarned that as processor speed increases, so does cost.
Screen size
Dell laptops come in every size imaginable, from 11 inches to 18 inches. Your laptop screen's size defines how much screen real estate you get and how big and heavy the laptop is overall. There’s no magic size that’s perfect for everyone, so you’ll need to pick the size that best fits your taste and budget.
RAM
Random access memory (RAM) is the memory that computers use to manage multiple tasks, so even if you get the fastest processor available, it won’t feel fast until you’ve got enough RAM to allow it to multitask. If you’re buying a Dell for casual use or basic office work, get one with at least 8GB of RAM. If you’re buying one for intense work or gaming, consider buying one with 16GB or 32GB of RAM, such as the Dell Inspiron 16.0-inch 2-in-1 Touch Laptop.
Video hardware
One of the key considerations when choosing a Dell laptop is whether you need a dedicated video card. Video cards control all the graphics you see and every image rendered, so if you’re doing anything involving intense visuals (like gaming or streaming 4K video), you’ll want one with a separate video card. If you’re not doing anything too demanding in terms of graphics, you can opt for one with integrated graphics, which really means that the CPU is handling the graphics.
Our favorite upgrades
In addition to the basics, Dell laptops sometimes include a few upgrades and features that can make your life easier. Here are a few of our favorites.
Software
Depending on where you buy your Dell laptop, you might have the opportunity to add software to your bundle. For example, when you buy the Inspiron 14.0-inch 2-in-1 Touch laptop directly from Dell, you can choose between different language versions of Windows 11 Home, or you can opt to take Windows 11 Pro. In some cases, a Windows 10 laptop comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11 or the opportunity to bundle anti-virus software with the package.
Ryzen CPUs
Most Dell laptops include Intel CPUs, but a growing number of laptops are being manufactured with rival AMD’s Ryzen CPUs. Ryzen CPUs are generally comparable, if not faster, than Intel processors, but the real advantage is that Ryzen CPUs have more cores, so they can generally handle intense tasks (like video editing or gaming) better than their Intel equivalents. If you need sheer horsepower, look into the Dell laptops with Ryzen CPUs, such as the Inspiron 14.0-inch 2-in-1 Touch laptop.
eMMC storage
Extended multimedia controllers, or eMMCs, are small components that connect directly to your laptop’s motherboard to provide additional data storage. They function in much the same way as solid-state drives (SSDs) but are more affordable and most often found in mobile phones. However, they aren’t available in the larger capacities that SSDs are. The most common storage capacity for an eMMC is 64GB, whereas the entry point for SSDs is usually around 128GB. The advantage of eMMC cards is portability and cost, which is why you’ll find them mostly in Dell’s smaller budget laptops.
Dell laptop prices
Between $200 and $500, you’ll find Dell’s entry-level laptops. Models in this range are a good value if you don’t need the fastest laptop available or if you’re buying a laptop that will only be doing basic tasks like web browsing.
The best values in Dell laptops are usually between $500 and $1,300. Laptops in this range have fast processors and plenty of RAM, often including touch screens. If you’re looking for a solid machine for work or school, plan on spending at least this much.
Between $1,300 and $3,000, you’ll encounter Dell’s best and brightest: laptops with solid specs and often feature niche conveniences like a fingerprint reader. If you need a machine that will last several years or one that needs to be fast enough for heavy-duty work, this is how much you’ll need to fork over.
Tips
- If you buy a Dell laptop with a touch screen, keep a microfiber cloth handy. Touch screens get dirty, and one of the drawbacks of getting a laptop with a touch screen is that your fingerprints can get in the way, especially when you’re using it as a laptop. Avoid using harsh substances like commercial cleaners or blunt cleaning products like paper towels. A microfiber cloth is all you need to keep everything nice and shiny.
- If battery life is essential, get a Dell laptop that supports ExpressCharge. Dell’s proprietary battery technology, ExpressCharge, takes only an hour to charge a battery to 80%. Most laptop batteries take several hours to recharge, so being able to recoup the majority of a full charge quickly means your laptop can spend less time plugged into the wall and more time with you on the go.
- As you compare laptops, keep track of how much each weighs. It’s easy to forget that laptops can be heavy — they’re so sleek, they often give the impression of being as light as air. Dell laptops can weigh anywhere from 3 to 8 pounds, depending on factors like screen size. Consider how often you’ll be toting your Dell laptop around, and plan accordingly.
- Consider the number of USB ports a laptop has and the technology they use. Budget laptops often have only one USB-C port. If you need more, your best bet is to buy a port extender to add a wired keyboard and charge your phone simultaneously.
How we analyzed
Comparing laptops isn’t as easy as checking which one is the thinnest, lightest or shiniest. Depending on what you want to use the laptop for, certain specifications will make it better for a specific task.
For this comparison, we looked at different laptops and their components, measuring aspects such as the CPU’s model and technology, the amount of RAM, the graphics card and the storage. With that data, we determined which laptops would be best in different use classes (for example, gaming, business, budget and overall use.)
FAQ
Q. How long do Dell laptops typically last?
A. It depends on how much you use them. Dell laptops are well-built and designed to last for years, but like all laptops, their batteries start to show their age anywhere between 18 and 24 months after purchase.
Q. What are the differences between Dell’s G Series gaming laptops and their Alienware gaming laptops?
A. Dell offers two gaming laptop lines: the G Series and the Alienware models. Alienware laptops have better video cards and are several hundred dollars more expensive. To many, however, the trade-off is worth it. If you love first-person shooters or the latest triple-A titles, your games will run more smoothly on an Alienware machine. If you’re not an avid gamer, or if you don’t mind playing games at lower resolutions, the G Series may be the smarter choice.
Q. Are refurbished Dell laptops a smart purchase?
A. It depends on who’s doing the refurbishing, but generally, refurbished laptops are a risk we don’t recommend. If you’re considering buying a refurbished Dell laptop, make sure Dell did the refurbishing themselves. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee that any work was done on the machine at all.
Q. How do Dell laptops compare to HP laptops?
A. Comparing the rival companies is a challenging task, as both Dell and HP offer a range of laptops to suit different needs and budgets. However, consumers do have their favorites. Some flock to Dell for its innovative designs and high-performance models. On the other hand, millions of users choose HP for its stylish laptops and commitment to sustainability.
In terms of performance, that is also tricky, as both companies have separate lines that cover the spectrum. For example, Dell has the XPS, Alienware and Inspiron series, covering everything from gaming to business. Similarly, HP has the Spectre and Envy lines for gaming and business, while the Pavilion models are for everyday computing.
Q. What’s the difference between Dell Latitude and Dell Inspiron laptops?
A. The Latitude and Inspiron ranges are two distinct product offerings from Dell, each targeting a different audience. For example, the Latitude uses components and functions aimed at business people, whereas the Inspiron is better suited to the everyday consumer. Latitude models typically have more RAM (16GB and up), but Inspiron variants might have better graphics cards.
