Dell XPS 15 9520 - Nuclear Review

Summary

In this review of Dell's XPS 15 9520, the presenter critiques its high price and mixed performance. While it boasts solid hardware, including an Intel Core i7-12700H, RTX 3050 Ti, and a decent display, the laptop suffers from design flaws like poor cooling, fragile build quality, and inconsistent power management. The trackpad and bloatware also detract from the experience, though the battery life and sound system perform well. Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that the XPS 15 doesn't live up to its price, recommending other options for both creators and gamers.

Takeaways

• 💻 The Dell XPS 15 9520 is marketed as a premium ultrabook but shares hardware similar to cheaper gaming laptops.
• 💰 Despite its high price ($3,500), the base configuration offers a Core i7-12700H, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, 16 GB DDR5 RAM, and 512 GB SSD.
• 🔧 Build quality issues include poor fit and finish in the hinge and display assembly, leading to noticeable wobbling and flexing.
• 🌡️ Cooling is compromised due to poor design decisions, such as a plastic sheet installed under the cooling system, leading to overheating.
• 🔈 The laptop’s audio system is decent, featuring side-firing woofers and up-facing tweeters, making it good for casual media consumption.
• 🔋 Battery life is impressive, lasting 19 hours idle and 10 hours under heavy usage, though results are inconsistent compared to other Dell models.
• 🎨 The display is bright and has good contrast (1,700:1), but lacks wide color gamut support, limiting its use for professional creative work.
• 🖱️ The trackpad is large but problematic, with palm rejection issues causing unintended clicks and cursor movements.
• ⚠️ The pre-installed software includes significant bloatware, making the initial user experience frustrating, with some apps providing misleading or irrelevant functionality.
• 🚫 Performance is erratic, with the CPU and GPU power levels fluctuating unpredictably during intensive workloads, making it unreliable for gaming or heavy content creation.

Q & A

What is the primary hardware configuration of the Dell XPS 15 9520 being reviewed?

The Dell XPS 15 9520 reviewed has a Full HD Plus display, Intel Core i7-12700H processor, GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU, 16 GB of DDR5 RAM, and 512 GB of storage.

Why does the reviewer find the $3,500 price tag for the Dell XPS 15 9520 concerning?

The reviewer finds the price concerning because most of the hardware in this configuration is similar to what you'd find in a $1,000 entry-level gaming laptop, making the $3,500 price feel excessive.

What is the only 'creator-centric' feature of the XPS 15 9520 according to the reviewer?

The only 'creator-centric' feature of the XPS 15 9520 is its support for Nvidia's Studio drivers, which may be more stable for creative applications compared to the more frequently updated game-ready drivers.

What issue does the reviewer highlight about the XPS 15’s build quality, especially concerning the display and hinge assembly?

The reviewer points out the poor fit and finish of the hinge and display assembly, noting that the display wobbles, the lower bezel flexes, and there is a noticeable squelching noise coming from inside the lid assembly.

How does the trackpad perform according to the review?

The trackpad is large, which is appreciated, but the reviewer experienced poor palm rejection, leading to unintended movements and delays in accepting input while typing.

What are the key limitations of the XPS 15's display, as noted by the reviewer?

The XPS 15's display has 100% sRGB coverage but is not a wide gamut display. When calibrated, the brightness drops below its rated spec to 480 nits from 540 nits, and the panel is better suited to a laptop that costs much less.

What problems does the reviewer mention with Dell’s pre-installed software on the XPS 15 9520?

The pre-installed software includes bloatware like Dell CinemaColor and Dolby Access, which the reviewer describes as pointless or intrusive, with issues like inaccurate color temperatures and invasive webcam features.

How does the cooling system of the Dell XPS 15 9520 perform, and what issue does the reviewer raise about it?

While the cooling system includes twin fans and thermal insulation, the reviewer highlights the poor design of a plastic sheet that insulates heat instead of dissipating it, leading to potential long-term reliability issues.

What did the reviewer discover about the XPS 15’s performance under a combined CPU and GPU workload?

The reviewer found chaotic power fluctuations under a combined workload, with the CPU and GPU power levels spiking and dropping unpredictably, indicating poor optimization and causing the system to perform worse than expected.

What is the reviewer's overall opinion on the Dell XPS 15 9520?

The reviewer feels that the Dell XPS 15 9520 is poorly engineered for its target audience, stating that there are better or cheaper alternatives for anyone looking for a laptop in this price range.