This is STILL the laptop to beat... right? - Dell XPS 15 (2023)

Summary

The Dell XPS 15 (2024) continues to impress with its premium build, vibrant OLED display, and powerful performance, featuring the Intel i7-13700H and RTX 4070. While the laptop excels in gaming and creative tasks, its battery life is a major drawback, lasting only 6.8 hours under typical use. Despite this, the XPS 15 offers excellent value for money, especially when compared to the higher-priced MacBook Pro. With its large trackpad, solid audio, and upgradable components, the XPS 15 remains a top contender for those seeking a high-performance Windows laptop, though it’s not ideal for users prioritizing battery longevity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Dell XPS 15, though not updated significantly in the last three years, still remains a top contender for the best Windows laptop due to its premium build and performance.
• 😀 The laptop comes with a useful dongle in the box for additional I/O options, including HDMI and USB Type-A ports, which is a thoughtful inclusion despite the laptop's relatively limited ports.
• 😀 The XPS 15 features an OLED display with fantastic color accuracy (100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3) and excellent HDR performance, though its brightness could be slightly better in direct sunlight.
• 😀 The OLED screen has impressive black levels, which makes it ideal for content creators and media consumption, although the display's 60Hz refresh rate limits gaming performance.
• 😀 For gaming, the RTX 4070 GPU in the new XPS 15 offers a significant performance boost over the previous model, more than doubling FPS in games like Forza 5 and Red Dead Redemption.
• 😀 Battery life is a major drawback of the XPS 15, with a maximum of 6.8 hours in regular use, which drops substantially when the laptop is under heavy load, making it less ideal for prolonged mobile use.
• 😀 The large trackpad remains one of the best in the Windows laptop market, offering a smooth and responsive experience, though it is slightly smaller than the MacBook's trackpad.
• 😀 The keyboard is good, but key stabilization is not class-leading, leading to some key wobble when pressed on the edges, although it’s still very usable.
• 😀 The webcam, while improved, still leaves much to be desired in terms of image quality, though it benefits from a notch-free design, which is a plus over Apple's approach.
• 😀 Despite its strong performance and display quality, the XPS 15 is more affordable than the MacBook Pro, with the starting price at $1,350, making it a solid option for users who don’t need MacBook-level battery performance.
• 😀 The XPS 15 also offers upgradeable components, such as RAM, allowing users to extend the laptop's lifespan by upgrading memory later, which is a rarity in modern laptops.

Q & A

What is the main issue with the Dell XPS 15's battery life?

The main issue with the Dell XPS 15's battery life is that it is relatively short, with the new model offering only about 6.8 hours of endurance. This can drop to as little as one hour under heavy load, which makes it less suitable for extended use, especially when compared to laptops like the MacBook Pro that offer much longer battery life.

How does the performance of the new Dell XPS 15 compare to its predecessor?

The new Dell XPS 15 has a significant performance upgrade with the addition of the Intel i7-13700H processor and the Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU. This makes it much faster than its predecessor, with gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks seeing a noticeable improvement in frame rates and rendering speeds.

What makes the Dell XPS 15's display stand out?

The Dell XPS 15's display is standout for its OLED technology, which offers deep blacks and high contrast ratios. It features a 16:10 aspect ratio and excellent color accuracy (100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3), making it ideal for professional photo and video editing. The display's peak brightness of 620 nits with HDR content is also impressive.

What are the gaming capabilities of the Dell XPS 15 with the RTX 4070?

With the RTX 4070, the Dell XPS 15 has significantly improved gaming capabilities. While it struggles with 4K gaming, it performs well at 1440p (2560x1600) with most games running at around 60 FPS. For demanding games like *Forza Horizon 5* and *Red Dead Redemption*, the XPS 15 sees a substantial performance boost compared to the previous generation, more than doubling frame rates in some cases.

What is the build quality like on the Dell XPS 15?

The build quality of the Dell XPS 15 remains top-notch, with a CNC-machined aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber wrist rest. The machine feels solid and well-constructed, with minimal flex in the body, making it a premium option in terms of durability and aesthetics.

How does the trackpad on the XPS 15 compare to other laptops?

The trackpad on the Dell XPS 15 is considered one of the best in the business. It is large, responsive, and very accurate, making it excellent for both casual use and precise tasks. While other laptop brands like HP have caught up in trackpad quality, the XPS 15's trackpad still stands out as one of the largest and most reliable.

What improvements have been made to the webcam on the Dell XPS 15?

The webcam on the Dell XPS 15 has seen improvements, with better grain management and facial exposure, though it still falls short of being excellent. It remains somewhat grainy, especially in lower light conditions, but it is better than earlier versions and does not feature the intrusive notches seen in some other laptops.

What is the pricing of the Dell XPS 15, and how does it compare to the MacBook Pro?

The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,350 for a basic configuration with an Intel Arc GPU, though a more suitable configuration with an RTX 4050 and i7 processor costs around $1,550. The fully spec'd version with an RTX 4070, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD costs $2,500. Compared to a similarly spec'd MacBook Pro, the XPS 15 is about $1,000 cheaper, making it a more affordable option for users who can overlook the battery limitations.

What is the advantage of the OLED display on the XPS 15 for professional use?

The OLED display on the Dell XPS 15 is highly beneficial for professional tasks like photo and video editing due to its superior color accuracy, with 100% sRGB and 99% DCI-P3 coverage. It also offers deep blacks and high contrast ratios, making it ideal for visual professionals who require precision in color representation.

Can the components in the Dell XPS 15 be upgraded?

Yes, the Dell XPS 15 allows for some upgrades, including memory. The laptop has two RAM slots, so users can upgrade the memory from 16GB to 32GB or even 64GB in the future. However, the cooling solution and battery are not easily upgradeable, limiting future performance enhancements in those areas.