The best Dell laptops are now available in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are Dell gaming laptops, Dell hybrid 2-in-1 laptops, Dell budget laptops, and every other type of laptop. Dells are available in nearly every configuration imaginable.
We have compiled this list of the best Dell laptops you can buy today. We have scoured the market for the best deals on laptops for every need and budget. We believe these are the best Dell laptops for budget users, business owners, power users, and creative professionals.
We’ve recommended the best Dell laptop for school, the best Dell laptop for work, and the best Dell laptop for gaming in this guide. We’ve also chosen a variety of Specifications, designs, and prices so you can easily compare the different options, though it’s worth noting that because the Dell laptop range is constantly updated, Specifications may differ slightly from what we’ve described here.
Dell manufactures many of the best laptops available today, including some of the best gaming laptops and student laptops. But which ones are they?
But before we proceed with the best 10, let me spill our top 3 picks.
The Dell XPS 13 is the best Dell laptop for most people. This system epitomizes the term “quality all-rounder,” with great screens, plenty of power in terms of internal components, and a healthy dose of style and portability.
Meanwhile, the best premium Dell laptop for those with deep pockets is the Dell XPS 15. This system takes what makes the Dell XPS 15 great and adds a larger screen and even more options for massive power and performance. It is expensive, but if you can afford it, it is a no-brainer purchase.
Finally, if you’re on a tight budget, we believe the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is the best budget Dell laptop. This system outperforms its price point, which is less than half that of the Dell XPS 13 and provides a solid all-around computing experience.
DELL XPS 15 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i9-10885H
Screen: 15.6-inch (up to 3840 x 2400 pixels)
Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti 4GB
RAM: Up to 64GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
The brand new Dell XPS 15 for 2020 has wowed a lot of users even more than previous versions of the flagship laptop, and if you have enough money to afford it, this is without a doubt one of the best Dell laptops in the business – you pay a little bit more than the XPS 13 for that 15.6-inch display, but we think it’s worth it.
We’re pleased to see that the display employs the 16:10 aspect ratio: it’s not ideal for widescreen movies, but it’s ideal for working through documents and scrolling through websites. As you’d expect from the XPS series, the entire laptop is beautifully built and a winner in terms of aesthetics, whether open or closed.
- Elite level internal hardware
- Nvidia graphics card built-in
- 4K screen option
- Would you be better with an XPS 13?
DELL XPS 13 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7-1065G7
Screen: 13.4-inch (up to 3840 x 2400 pixels)
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
RAM: Up to 16GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
The Dell XPS 13 series has consistently wowed many tech people, and the latest version of the laptop continues that trend – it’s powerful, supremely well built, and compact, which is pretty much everything you could want in your search for the best dell laptop around right now.
With the latest 10th-generation intel processors and up to 16GB of RAM installed, this is a portable computer that can handle anything you throw at it. The Dell XPS 13 is a competent laptop for everything from late-night Netflix to early-morning report writing.
But it’s the 13.4-inch display with the super-thin bezels that sets the XPS 13 apart: you can go all the way up to 4K resolution if you want, but the 1,920 x 1,080 resolution models still look fantastic (4K doesn’t make a huge difference on a laptop display this size).
- Powerful internal hardware
- 4K screen variant available
- Stylish and portable
- Average battery life
- Limited number of ports
DELL PRECISION 5750 MOBILE WORKSTATION Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10750H
Screen: 17-inch (1920 x 1200 pixels)
Graphics: Nvidia Quadro T2000 4GB
RAM: 16GB
Storage: Up to 512GB
At this price, with these specs, and that sharp 17-inch screen, this is very much a Dell laptop aimed at business and power users – you’ll have to spend a lot of money to get your hands on the Dell Precision 5750, but we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with what you get if you need a laptop that can do everything a desktop can but in a laptop form factor.
You’re getting top-tier components here – note the 10th-generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor and the Nvidia Quadro T2000 graphics card, as well as some of the most premium and reliable RAM sticks available – so this isn’t one for students or casual weekend use.
Even with a 17-inch display attached, the Dell Precision 5750 remains lightweight and easy to carry around during the day, weighing in at only 2.13 kg or 4.7 lbs. The connectivity options are also good, with four USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports and a full-size SD card slot to choose from.
- Fantastic minimal bezel screen
- Loads of processing power
- Lightweight design
- Pricey
DELL INSPIRON 15 3000 Laptop
CPU: Up to Intel Pentium Gold Processor 5405U
Screen: 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 610
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 128GB
Aside from the premium, flagship laptops that Dell produces, there are numerous value-for-money models available – the selection on Dell’s website is so large that you’re bound to find something that fits your budget. The Inspiron line is a good place to start, and the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is especially appealing.
The main highlight is a pricey 15.6-inch screen – large screens aren’t always a given at lower price points, but the display attached to this Dell laptop gives your video streaming apps, web browsers, and whatever else you want to run plenty of room to move around in.
Along with that screen, you get some very good specs, including SSD hard drives and AMD chipsets on certain models. Shopping for the best Dell laptop at this end of the market means foregoing hardcore gaming or video editing, but for a good-looking computer that can handle the essentials, this is ideal.
- Affordable
- Portable
- Inoffensive design
- Screen has large bezels
- Outpunched by XPS range
DELL G5 15 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10750H
Screen: 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB
If you want to game on your laptop but don’t want to go overboard in terms of size and price, get the Dell G5 15: it’ll play all of the latest Windows games very well (ranking as “next-level gaming” on the official 3DMark benchmark score), and comes with a subtle lighting effect underneath that you can enable or disable as needed.
Dell has kept the price low considering the components included, which include a healthy 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB graphics card to keep those frame rates smooth. The 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 display, with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, is the star of the show.
When you’re not gaming, you can use the laptop for anything else – it’s not so flashy that you won’t be able to use it in your local coffee shop. We’re also impressed with the Dell G5 15’s thermal management and battery life – it’s unquestionably one of the best Dell laptops for gamers.
- Compact and portable
- 1080p gaming unlocked
- Understated looks
- Outpunched by Alienware gaming laptops
DELL G7 17 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7-10750H
Screen: 17.3-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 2070 8GB
RAM: 16GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
The Dell G7 17 is a step up from the Dell G5 15 in almost every way, from the size of the display to the available graphics options to the dramatic looks of the device – the display stands a little way above the rest of the chassis, almost as if you’re looking at a separate monitor rather than a laptop screen.
With a 144Hz refresh rate and a 9ms response time, that 17.3-inch screen is guaranteed to showcase your games in the best light possible, and it should give you an advantage over opponents and enemies (either real or computer-generated). Because of the screen, this is a fairly large laptop, but it is still manageable to carry around.
This model was recently updated to include 1TB of storage, which means more room for your games without constantly relying on the cloud, and you get the same subtle lighting effect options like the Dell G5 15. A true gem of a gaming laptop.
- Buckets of gaming power
- Large 17.3-inch screen
- Doesn’t look like a gaming laptop
- Higher spec costs
ALIENWARE M17 R4 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i9-10980HK
Screen: 17.3-inch (up to 3840 x 2160 pixels)
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3080 16GB GDDR6
RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4 2933MHz
Storage: Up to 4.5TB
The latest version of the exceptional Alienware M17 R4 isn’t cheap – we’re currently looking at a configuration that costs £4,549, though the entry-level configuration costs less than half that – but it’s an incredible gaming laptop with 10th generation Intel processors and graphics up to Nvidia’s GeForce RTXTM 3080 16GB GDDR6. There are also a variety of display options, ranging from 60Hz to a very fast 360Hz with Nvidia Gsync.
To say this is a fast laptop is an understatement: in some configurations, you can expect to get 280
Sometimes gaming laptops prioritize performance over design, but this isn’t the case here. The m17 R4 has a smear-reducing coating, stain-resistant paint, and a magnesium alloy casing, and inside there’s “Cryo-Tech” cooling to enable higher sustained performance without your laptop getting hotter than the sun.
- Incredible performance
- Lots of configurations
- Superb screen
- Incredibly expensive
DELL LATITUDE 9510 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core I7-10810U
Screen: 15-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels)
Graphics: Intel UHD
RAM: Up to 16GB
Storage: Up to 512GB
The Dell Latitude 9510 delivers MacBook Pro-style looks and performance in a Dell chassis that runs Windows: it’s a fantastic-looking laptop with plenty of power under the hood, and while it’s also on the pricey side, we’d say it’s worth it if you want one of the best Windows laptops and best Dell laptops currently available.
With one of the most recent 10th-generation Intel CPUs and up to 16GB of RAM keeping everything running smoothly, the only tasks you won’t be able to tackle with this laptop are video editing and heavy gaming – Intel integrated graphics will suffice for web browsing, office tasks, and image editing, but will struggle if you push them any further.
It’s thin, light, and comes with a plethora of connectivity options, so take a look at the various configuration options and see which one suits you best – the price can vary quite a bit due to the number of different ways you can set up the Latitude 9510. The laptop is also available in a 2-in-1 form factor and with 5G in the United States.
- MacBook Pro-style looks
- Strong all-round hardware spec
- Your bank manager will weep
DELL XPS 13 2-IN-1 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7-1065G7
Screen: 13.4-inch (up to 3840 x 2400 pixels)
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus
RAM: Up to 32GB
Storage: Up to 1TB
Our top pick for the best Dell laptop is also available in a 2-in-1 configuration, so you can prop it up to watch movies or fold it right over and use it as a (thick) tablet – depending on your needs and what you’ll be using your tablet for, the Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 might be a better deal for you than the standard version.
You still get the excellent build quality and top-tier specs: some of the latest and greatest Intel processors, as well as a maximum of 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage space (though the very best specs will of course cost you a hefty amount of money). On a laptop this size, you can’t expect much in terms of graphics, but the integrated Iris Plus chipset will handle the essentials with ease.
On what is already one of the brightest and best display panels in the business, there is even the option of a 4K resolution screen. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 isn’t for everyone – those on a tight budget or in need of a larger screen should look elsewhere – but it checks a lot of important boxes.
- 2-in-1 functionality
- Premium hardware
- Do you need 2-in-1 functionality?
DELL XPS 17 Laptop
CPU: Up to 10th generation Intel Core i9-10885H
Screen: 17” (up to 3840 x 2400 pixels)
Graphics: Up to GeForce RTX 2060 6GB
RAM: Up to 64GB
Storage: Up to 2TB SSD
The New Dell XPS 17 is stunning if you want the power of a workstation without sacrificing style. Its 17-inch, 500-nit display can be configured as FHD
This Dell is both attractive and powerful. The XPS 17 (2020) has the same stunning design as its smaller siblings, but thanks to four Thunderbolt 3 ports with power delivery and DisplayPort, there are still plenty of expansion options. For your wireless needs, the XPS also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5. It’s a little heavy at 2.11kg, but laptops of this size are typically purchased as desktop replacements, so that’s not a big deal.
- Fantastic display
- Exceptionally powerful
- Lots of configuration options
- How much?
How to select the best Dell laptop for your requirements
Choosing the best Dell laptop is the same as choosing any other laptop: determine your sweet spot in terms of price and power, and make your selection accordingly. Of course, paying more will usually result in better performance and longevity.
It’s important to strike a balance between power and portability – not only are more powerful laptops more expensive, but they’re also more difficult to transport, and if you want the top-tier laptop components, you’ll also need a larger laptop to fit them all in.
The Dell logo provides a certain level of assurance in terms of quality, so whichever laptop you choose will serve you well – you just need to decide what kind of specs you require, how much money you can spend, and how much effort you are willing to put in.
The best Dell laptop in 2022
The Dell XPS 13 is our pick for the best Dell laptop. It’s quick, it’s thin and light, it’s well-made, and it’s just a joy to use all around. Because the screen fills the machine, even though it’s a smaller laptop, it’s still simple to use. It also has a 4K screen option, so even though it’s small, you can get a lot of detail in there.
Outside of gaming and high-end pro apps, it can do everything well and looks great doing it. For the average user, it’s a fantastic laptop with a lot of speccability – which, of course, means top-of-the-top in terms of expenditure.