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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
