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When we’re talking about reliable and high-quality laptops, Dell usually ranks among the very best.
Whether you’re a businessman, a working professional, a student, a gamer, or any other category, you can hardly go wrong with some of the best Dell laptops.
In this article, we’ll showcase some of the best Dell laptops available for different categories, each with their unique design and purpose. Not only that, we’ll also uncover the pros and cons of each model and discuss what makes them a good purchase.
Excited? We sure are.
Table of Contents
Top 7 Dell Laptops
Let’s check out the list — these are the stars of the show carefully handpicked as some of the best Dell options in their category.
1. Top Gaming Laptop: Alienware M17



If you want one of the best Dell laptops for gamers, Alienware M17 is the way to go. Massive RAM, powerful specs, and gorgeous display make this gaming beast a great investment.
Packing a super-powerful Ryzen 9 HX processor and one of the newer Radeon GPUs — along with whopping 64GB RAM — this is a legit champion among the gaming machines. The benchmarks put Alienware M17 close to the very top, and it’s very capable of running the latest-and-greatest games at high settings.
The display is equally noteworthy: at 360Hz, this is one of the best displays for gaming with a super-high refresh rate. Oh, and did I mention it’s 17.3” of crystal-clear awesomeness?
Alienware M-series’ design is somewhat different than the “extraterrestrial” X series, but just as effective. I love the thin and sleek profile, and the overall elegant, fierce vibe it gives.
As for portability, I’m a little torn. On the one hand, I got around 6 hours of juice on a single charge — which is quite good for a gaming laptop. But the whole thing weighs 6.6 lbs, so I wouldn’t lug it around campus or office.
And, of course, just like the rest of the Alienware series, M17 is among pricier laptops.
However, if you don’t mind cashing out for this beauty, you’ll be getting a sleek, powerful gamer and one of the best Dell specimens.
- What We Like
- Great gaming performance
- Gigantic RAM
- Very high refresh rate
- Sleek and thin
- Solid battery life
- Loads of ports
- What We Don’t Like
- On the heavier side
- Pricey
2. Value-Packed: Dell Vostro 5620
Maybe you’re on a hunt for a great budget business laptop. Sleek and thin, with very capable specs and reasonable price, Dell Vostro could be your next office companion.
What I like about Vostro is that it looks Macbook-ish, but it packs some additional stuff — like the numpad on an otherwise spacious keyboard. It’s perfect for boardroom meetings, formal environments and conferences — with an added functionality.
Vostro is more than a practical looker. The machine runs on a very capable 12th Gen. i7 processor and an integrated GPU. In my tests, Vostro did great with office work, spreadsheets, and multitasking, but don’t expect to run the latest games at ultra-high settings.
I also love the display — it’s a 16”, crisp panel that looks awesome in the office light and for document viewing.
If you often find yourself in lots of Zoom meetings, you’ll be happy to know that the 1080p webcam performs quite well.
As for portability, 4.2 lbs of weight is pretty great for a 16” laptop. I also got around 7 hours of battery life, which is ok-ish. If you need a longer battery, I’d consider Macbook Air instead.
For the price tag, Dell Vostro brings a lot of value for money. It’s an excellent laptop for businesspeople that will serve them well a good number of years.
- What We Like
- Great performance
- Massive RAM
- Large, crisp panel
- Lots of ports
- Lightweight
- Sleek and sturdy
- What We Don’t Like
- Middling battery life
- Integrated GPU
3. Business-class: Dell Latitude 3520
Normally, Latitude is a premium business laptop, but occasionally there is a great budget model that’s basically a steal for the price. Dell Latitude 3520 is one of those.
Latitude 3520 comes in with an 11th Gen. i7 processor, that’s pretty similar in performance to Vostro’s, and the same integrated GPU. Coupled with 32GB RAM — and expandable to 64GB — this laptop flies across business tasks.
I thought Latitude is way sleeker than Vostro. I love the polished chassis and the overall elegant look. Add to that a very comfy, full-size keyboard, spacious trackpad and thin profile, and you’ve got a gorgeous machine for office setting.
And the machine is very portable, since it weighs under 4 lbs. With a 7-hour battery life, just like Vostro, it’s not the longest runner in the crowd, but it can last a full workday.
Latitude’s display measures 15.6” — it’s a crisp and vivid panel. Like most Dell laptops, it could have been a little brighter, but it will work awesome in an office.
The laptop also comes with a Full HD webcam and a privacy shutter, which I quite like. In that regard, it’s similar to Lenovo IdeaPad series, so if you want an extra layer of security, you’ve got it.
Along with a great selection of ports, Latitude 3520 is another great business laptop from Dell to consider.
- What We Like
- Great performance
- Ample, upgradable RAM
- Elegant design
- Full-size, comfy keyboard
- Large, hi-res panel
- Lightweight
- What We Don’t Like
- Middling battery life
- Screen could be brighter
4. Starting Point for Gaming: Dell G15



Not all great gaming beasts are super-expensive, and G15 is one of the best Dell laptops to prove it. Great specs, awesome battery life and more than reasonable price make Dell G15 a serious contender in the gaming arena.
To start with, G15 houses a great Ryzen 7 processor and a more than capable RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The combo performs really well with AAA titles, surpassing the likes of Acer Nitro 5, and securing pretty good fps.
I also like the elevated 15.6” display with a 120Hz refresh rate, just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming. The screen lets you get really immersed into play and outmaneuver the enemies with ease.
Plus, this has to be one of the longer-running gaming laptops in the market. I got around 8-9 hours of juice on a single charge. Now, the exact hours will of course depend on the games you play, but this is a pretty good starting point for a gaming laptop.
The weight is a different story. G15 is a powerful laptop, so 6.2 lbs are (kinda) expected, though carrying them around can be challenging.
As for design, G15 does feel a little outdated with its blocky look, similar to budget MSI models.
But, if the looks and weight are not that important to you, Dell G15 is probably one of the best budget gaming laptops you can get.
- What We Like
- Powerful specs
- High-quality display
- Great battery
- Sturdy build
- Ample RAM and storage
- Affordable price
- What We Don’t Like
- Heavy
- Outdated design
5. Premium perfection: Dell XPS 9710
XPS is easily one of the most elegant, minimalistic — yet powerful and durable Dell laptops. Whether for gaming or productivity, the XPS series is always among the top picks.
Let’s start with internals: an 11th Gen. i7 and a dedicated RTX 3050, along with 32GB RAM, can do a lot. They’re a solid combo for gaming — similar to Dell G15 — and an amazing productivity workhorse, whether for office, studying, or creative tasks.
XPS’ display makes the machine all the more versatile. Laptop sports 17” of pure awesomeness, with very high resolution, amazing color accuracy and — touchscreen. This makes XPS perfect for photo and video editing, CAD tools and 3D modeling.
Design-wise, XPS is the exact opposite of the glitzy HP Spectre, for example. Extremely minimalistic, sturdy, polished — I find this laptop to be the epitome of sleek elegance.
I also like the compact keyboard and the trackpad, which are very comfy and at the right height.
At 8 hours of battery life and 5.53 lbs of weight, this isn’t the most portable laptop on the market, though. The battery is fine, but I thought that 5.5 lbs can sometimes be a bit burdensome.
Plus, I’m not really sure why Dell insists on the 720p webcam in this otherwise amazing laptop, especially considering that Vostro and Latitude already have 1080p cams.
But these are small things compared to what you’re getting with Dell XPS. It’s one of the evergreen Dell laptops that has proven itself over and over again.
- What We Like
- Awesome performance
- Very elegant design
- Amazing hi-res, color-accurate touchscreen
- Compact, comfy keyboard
- Solid battery life
- Great audio
- What We Don’t Like
- On the heavier side
- 720p webcam
6. Affordable Laptop for Everyday Use: Dell Inspiron 3510
The Inspiron series have been tried-and-tested machines for some time now. Good overall performance, really sleek design, and very affordable price place this Dell laptop among some of the best budget options on the market.
Inspiron comes with an 11th Gen. i3 and an integrated GPU. It also packs 12GB RAM, which is more than most budget laptops in this category. In my tests, this combo worked really well with multiple open tabs, spreadsheets, accounting software, and teaching platforms.
And the laptop comes with a pretty good display for the price — a 15.6” FHD panel with thin bezels looks great and precise for all the number crunching, data processing, and document viewing.
I also have to notice that Inspiron looks sleeker than most budget laptops. Where Lenovo IdeaPad 3 for example plays on the intriguing blue hue of the chassis, Inspiron offers a very sleek and polished body, typically reserved for more premium models.
Portability is not bad either, especially considering this is a bigger laptop. At 4lbs of weight and around 8 hours of juice, Inspiron beats many budget laptops in terms of how light it is and how long it lasts. It’s no MacBook Air, sure, but then again, it’s not that expensive either.
I’d recommend upgrading the storage though. 256GB is a solid starting point, but it will fill up fast.
Overall, though, if you’re not into super-heavy tasks, Inspiron is one Dell laptop that will pay off very quickly.
- What We Like
- Affordable
- Good overall performance
- Large and crisp display
- Super sleek design
- Strong battery life
- Relatively lightweight
- What We Don’t Like
- Low storage
- Integrated GPU
7. Great, Affordable, Chromebook: Dell Chromebook
Similarly to Acer and ASUS, Dell also has their own Chromebook lineup. It’s an affordable, capable, and very portable solution for all the Chrome OS fans.
The biggest surprise about this Chromebook — and one that I quite like — is that it’s touchscreen. The 11.6” panel is quite responsive, although the resolution is limited to 1366 x 768.
I also like the design, somewhat similar to Dell Inspiron, only in mini version. The chassis looks very polished and clean, and could easily be mistaken for a full-blown laptop.
The in-built Intel Celeron and Intel UHD, along with 4GB RAM, are everything that most apps on a Chromebook need. As such, Dell Chromebook is great for kids and elderly who only need Chrome OS for apps, conference calls and entertainment.
I got around 13-14 hours of battery life on a Chromebook, which I thought was impressive. Plus, at only 2.85lbs, this is a lightweight machine and super easy to carry around.
I did like the keyboard, but I thought the trackpad could have been a little better. It feels somewhat clumsy to navigate, but it is what it is.
Overall, though, for this price, this is one of the best Chromebooks you could get, and an excellent Dell option to consider.
- What We Like
- Good overall performance
- Touchscreen
- Long battery life
- Lightweight
- Polished look
- Very affordable
- What We Don’t Like
- Limited display resolution
- Clumsy trackpad
Buying Guide for Best Dell Laptops in 2023
Picking the right Dell laptop should go along with your personal needs and preferences. Since there is a vast pool of models to choose from, there are a few important considerations you need to keep in mind.
1. Determine the Purpose
First, let’s take a look at the Dell’s most popular product lines and their main purpose:
- Gaming laptops: G Series (budget gaming) / Alienware (high-end gaming)
- Business laptops: Vostro (budget business class) / Latitude (premium business class)
- Laptops for creators and working professionals: XPS Series
- Laptops for everyday use: Inspiron series
- Workstation laptops: Precision series
As you can see, Dell has various lineups dedicated to certain types of users. If you already know what you’ll be using your new laptop for, this list can give you a general idea about where to start looking.
2. Think About Performance
After you’ve decided why you’re purchasing a new laptop, you need to consider the performance.
If you need a laptop for basic daily computing like web surfing, e-mailing, video conferencing, etc., even a low-grade CPU like the Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 would suffice.
On the other hand, data warriors, writers, accountants, and many other professions may require something with a higher processing power to handle all the documents and files with ease. Nothing can be more frustrating than a sluggish laptop while trying to find your productivity groove. For that matter, look for something featuring an Intel Core i5 or better yet, an i7 processor (or AMD equivalent).
If you find yourself in one of these two categories, you don’t need to put too much thought into GPUs.
However, creative professionals like 3D artists, engineers, video editors, and others, require a dedicated GPU — besides a powerful processor — to handle graphically demanding apps that they use. Currently, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX-40 series GPUs are the best money can buy, but the more affordable RTX-30 series are still a solid choice if you have a limited budget.
Last but not least, a powerful CPU/GPU combo is a must if you’re also looking for a laptop to play video games.
3. Get Enough RAM and Storage
Having more RAM is usually better in terms of performance, but up to a certain point. Of course, for minimally demanding tasks like browsing, social media, emailing, etc., you may be able to get by with as little as 8GB, but we wouldn’t recommend settling for anything less.
However, for the majority of users who have a habit of using multiple apps at once, 16GB RAM is usually the sweet spot.
CAD tools, video editing programs, 3D software, and other resource-intensive applications tend to use a lot of RAM. So, if you are a professional or a hobbyist who might use these or similar types of apps, going for 32GB RAM or more is a good idea.
As for the storage, how much capacity you need ultimately depends on you. But as a general rule of thumb, considering an SSD (Solid-State-Drive) over the traditional HDD (Hard-Disc-Drive) is recommended for faster loading times and smoother overall performance of your computer.
4. Select the Right Display For You
Select a display size (13 to 18 inches) and resolution (FHD to UHD) that fits your needs and preferences. Large and high-resolution displays are usually better for content creation and productivity work, but compromise portability and battery life.
If you’re a photo/video editor, 3D designer, architect, or work in similar fields, the display’s color accuracy is of vital importance. On the other hand, gamers may prioritize higher refresh rates (144Hz or more) and faster response times.
5. Consider Portability and Battery Life
Since you’re looking at laptops instead of desktops, portability and battery life are probably a point of concern for you, especially if your lifestyle requires you to move a lot.
It’s important to understand, however, that with gaming laptops, you shouldn’t expect much in terms of portability and battery life. And it doesn’t matter if you go for some of Dell’s budget G-series or the high-end Alienware. Though, the Alienware X models are known as some of the thinnest and lightest gaming machines on the market.
But if you don’t care much about gaming, Dell’s XPS lineup stands as some of the most portable devices that could go as low as 2.59 lbs and put up to 12 hours of battery life. Moreover, the Dell Latitude and Vostro lineups have some great portable options, too.
6. Set Your Budget
Last but not least, setting your budget is a good starting point when searching for the right Dell laptop for you. It pretty much helps you set realistic expectations of what you can get within your price range and narrows down the options.
The good news is that Dell offers laptops across various price ranges, from cheap Chromebooks, all the way to high-end premium models.
FAQs about Best Dell Laptops
Does Dell Make Alienware?
Yes, Alienware is a subsidiary brand of Dell, much like Lexus and Toyota. Alienware laptops are known as some of the best gaming laptops for professional gamers and users with deep pockets. Dell also offers a wide range of budget gaming laptops, commonly known as the G Series.
Which is the Best Alienware laptop?
Currently, the Alienware M18 is Dell’s most premium gaming machine money can buy. It doesn’t matter if you prefer AMD or Intel chips because this beast comes with both. You can also choose different models of GPUs ranging from the RTX 4060 all the way to the RTX 4090 series.
What about RAM and storage? Well, there is plenty of variety there too (with up to 64GB DDR5 RAM and 8TB SSD storage).
But the show doesn’t stop there. You also get a couple of choices in terms of display (FHD/QHD) and keyboard type (M series/CherryMX mechanical).
It is important to note, however, that the new Alienware M18 comes with a ridiculously high price tag, and for most users it would be overkill. Luckily, Dell offers other more affordable options in its Alienware lineup capable of blazing performance with most AAA titles.
What is Dell’s best all-rounder?
In terms of performance, portability, and build quality, the Dell XPS laptops come as the best all-rounders. Due to the premium internals that Dell puts in these machines, they are suitable for most professionals who require high-performing and reliable laptops.
Not only that, they are usually lightweight and boast exceptional battery life lasting throughout a full workday. But the most impressive thing about the XPS series is the high-quality displays that are simply a joy to watch for long hours without straining your eyes. And yes, running the AAA titles on an XPS laptop is also possible, just make sure to pick a model with a dedicated GPU.
If you find the XPS series above your budget, Dell also offers a wide range of laptops dedicated to business professionals. The Dell Latitude laptops, compared to the XPS, are usually cheaper and less capable in terms of performance, especially for graphics-intensive tasks like video editing and 3D modeling. But if you need something reliable with a capable CPU for crunching numbers, drafting documents and other daily computing activities, the Latitude models are a great choice.
Does Dell offer budget-friendly laptops?
Absolutely yes. The Dell Inspiron series are some of the most popular and best-selling Windows laptops for everyday use. If you need an affordable device for basic computing tasks, like web surfing, emailing, videoconferencing etc., the Inspiron laptops are a solid choice.
Which is the best Dell laptop for business?
Dell offers two series of business-class laptops — the Latitude and the Vostro series. While both options are great, the Latitude series are marketed as the more premium-grade laptops with powerful internals, better build quality, and features dedicated to making the lives of business professionals a bit easier.
However, singling out just one device of these series as the best laptop for business wouldn’t be fair, since there is a vast pool of models to choose from, and new ones are coming out all the time.
Verdict
And there you have it — some of the best Dell laptops for different users and purposes.
If you’re still unsure about which Dell laptop to get, here is a quick recap:
- If you’re into high-end gaming, the Alienware M17 is a top choice, boasting exceptional performance and unique design.
- For business professionals who need a high-performance machine with premium build quality, we recommend the Dell Latitude 3520.
- Finally, if you need an affordable device suitable for basic computing tasks, check out the Dell Inspiron 3510.
If you are not entirely sold on a Dell laptop, perhaps you might find something more suitable from some of the best ASUS laptops. Or if you’re looking for the mightiest 4K gaming machines, we got you covered.
Now over to you. Did we help you find your ideal match? Or you have more questions about a specific model? Let us know in the comment section below, and our team will answer shortly.