Best Dell Laptops for 2022: Top picks for all budgets and users
We've tested a lot of Dell laptops over the years and there's no doubt that its current crop is some of the best laptops it's ever made. Whether you're looking for a small, lightweight laptop, a stylish two-in-one, a budget-friendly model for creatives and creators or a powerful gaming laptop, there's something for everyone. Many of the best Dell laptops have features to improve remote or hybrid work or school such as improved webcams and microphones, better audio quality, longer battery lives and faster charging and the fastest Wi-Fi 6 wireless.
Like other PC makers such as HP, Lenovo, Acer and Asus, Dell is in the midst of updating the processors in its laptops and two-in-ones. That means Intel-based models are moving from 11th-gen to 12th-gen CPUs while AMD Ryzen systems are switching from 5000-series chips to 6000-series. If you're looking for laptop deals, look for older models of the best Dell laptops. However, we've seen big performance improvements with the new processors. An updated model might cost a little more but will add to the overall longevity.
Sarah Tew/CNET The Dell XPS 13 is a perennial favorite for its size, weight and performance and just overall good looks. In 2020, Dell made the laptop even smaller, while making the laptop screen larger and increasing performance for both CPU and graphics-intensive tasks. For 2022, it made the XPS 13 even smaller and lighter, kept its sub-$999 starting price the same and dropped in the latest 12th-gen Intel processors. While we haven't had a chance to test the new model yet, we expect it to be a strong Windows alternative to the M1 MacBook Air. Also, if you want to save money, the 2021 XPS 13 with 11th-gen Intel chips is available for less now.
Josh Goldman/CNET Dell's everyday Inspiron laptops are much closer in design and performance to its premium XPS models than they were in the past. Its Inspiron 14 2-in-1 starts at $650 but still features extras like a full-HD webcam with a privacy shutter, a fingerprint reader for secure sign-ins, an HDMI 1.4 output and a full-size SD card slot. It even has an aluminum exterior for a more polished appearance. You're receiving price alerts for Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1
Josh Goldman/CNET The 16-inch display on the Inspiron 16 Plus is a great size since the laptop is barely bigger than a 15.6-inch model, but you get more room for work and a roomier keyboard and touchpad along with it. For this Inspiron, Dell packed in performance parts including Nvidia RTX discrete graphics (though it's nearly half the price if you go with Intel integrated graphics) and the display covers 100% sRGB color gamut, which is good enough if you're getting started with creating web content. Also, the laptop has a more premium fit and finish than we're used to seeing in the Inspiron line. You're receiving price alerts for Dell Inspiron 16 Plus
James Martin/CNET The XPS 17 combines the same slim, premium design of its 13-inch linemate but with increased performance possibilities. It can be configured with up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i9 processor, 64GB of memory and a 6GB Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics chip. The best part: Dell trimmed up the chassis so much that you get a 17-inch display in a body that's the size of an older 15-inch laptop. You're getting a lot of power and a big screen in the smallest possible package. Dell XPS 17 review.
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Best Dell laptop 2022
A huge range of PC products means there's a best Dell laptop for every kind of user, although there's one we'd recommend above the rest. The Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) is the company's flagship notebook in the 13-inch segment and easily one of the best Windows laptop picks, sporting the latest components and premium design. It's the best Dell laptop available now. There are plenty of other options if it's not quite what you're looking for.
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Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) Best overall Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 16:10 display options and thin bezel + Stunning look and design + Edge-to-edge keyboard, haptic touchpad + Strong 12th Gen Intel performance, DDR5 RAM, PCIe 4.0 SSD + Beautiful display options Reasons to avoid - Webcam improved but still 720p - Gets expensive fast
The Dell XPS 13 (9310) is an all-around fantastic laptop and one of the best Windows laptops, but it has been usurped by the newest Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320). You can still find lots of 9310 models for sale — and you'll often find them at a reduced price as stock is blown out to make room for new models — but if you want the best, you want the XPS 13 Plus.
In his Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) review, Executive Editor Daniel Rubino stated that "the Dell XPS 13 Plus sets the bar for advanced laptop design and delivers a solid and delightful computing experience. It has a lot of performance, excellent display, impressive audio, and a fantastic keyboard."
There are a number of major changes to the XPS 13 Plus (9320), including a new keyboard deck that stretches from edge to edge. Keycaps are larger, and there are now capacitive function keys above. Below, the touchpad is now hidden beneath a full glass panel. Instead of a real click, you get modern haptic feedback. Audio is better than ever thanks to two extra speakers underneath the keyboard (along with down-firing speakers), and though the keyboard is still 720p, the IR and RGB portions have been separated for better picture quality.
Intel's 12th Gen mobile CPUs come with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-5200MHz RAM, and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 solid-state drive (SSD) with fast read and write speeds. This laptop is able to destroy daily productivity work and will handle photo editing or other light specialized work. This is all contained in an undersized aluminum chassis that has had all fat trimmed off. It comes in a Frost exterior with an Arctic White interior, or a Platinum Silver exterior with a black interior.
Display options are still essentially the same. You can get FHD+ with or without touch, as well as 3.5K OLED touch or UHD+ touch with VESA DisplayHDR 400. The high-end displays also have Dolby Vision to boost compatible content. The touch displays also have an anti-reflective finish to cut down on glare.
(Image credit: Dell)
Dell XPS 13 (9315) Also great Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Dell (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + More affordable than the XPS 13 Plus + 12th Gen Intel Core U-Series CPUs + Flawless aluminum design + Gorgeous displays + New Sky and Umber colors Reasons to avoid - No 3.5K OLED option - Not quite as powerful as the XPS 13 Plus - Two speakers instead of four
Shortly after launching the XPS 13 Plus (9320) as its flagship laptop, Dell unveiled the XPS 13 (9315) as a more fitting refresh of the XPS 13 (9310). It's more affordable, though it doesn't have as many high-end features. That's OK for many people who want a premium laptop without too much overspending.
Compared to the XPS 13 Plus, the XPS 13 (9315) has a more traditional design without haptic touchpad, edge-to-edge keyboard, and touch function buttons. The design is nevertheless flawless, with an aluminum chassis available in new Sky and Umber colors.
The XPS 13 (9315) has Intel's 12th Gen Core U-Series CPUs; they won't outperform the P-Series chips in the XPS 13 (9320), but they're still able to easily handle just about anything you throw their way as long as you're not getting into specialized work. Battery life should also be superior here. Human presence detection is now on board, as is Wi-Fi 6E, speedier LPDDR5 RAM, and PCIe 4.0 storage. Our comparison of the XPS 13 (9315) and the XPS 13 (9310) offers a much closer look at the differences and similarities between the new and old models.
Bottom line? The XPS 13 (9315) is a continuation of the XPS 13 we know and love. It might not have quite as many high-end features as the XPS 13 Plus, but you'll save money and still get a great PC.
(Image credit: Dell)
Dell Alienware m15 R7 Best gaming Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 12th Gen Intel or AMD Ryzen 6000 CPUs + Up to NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU + Tons of storage and fast DDR5 RAM + Multiple high-end display options + Can get per-key RGB mechanical keyboard Reasons to avoid - Can get really expensive - Dell G-Series gaming laptops better for the budget
When it comes to gaming laptops from Dell, the Alienware brand is where you want to turn for the absolute best performance and style. Not only do Alienware laptops look great with a sleek design, but they rock all the latest tech from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. Anything you play will look downright gorgeous on the Alienware m15's 15.6-inch FHD or QHD displays, with 165Hz, 240Hz, or 360Hz refresh rates and NVIDIA G-Sync.
The display you choose will partly depend on the performance hardware you choose. On the CPU side you can currently get an Intel 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, or AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, with up to an NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Laptop graphics card, 64GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and 4TB M.2 PCIe SSD. There are tons of ports for connecting accessories, and the M series Alienware keyboard options can land you up to Cherry MX switches and per-key lighting.
The Alienware m15 R7 does get expensive fast, but you can still check out the m15 R6 models with older performance hardware. In many cases they're not quite as expensive. But if you want the absolute best, go with the latest m15 R7. Check out more of the best gaming laptops to see how it compares.
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Dell Inspiron 15 (3511) Best budget Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at Best Buy (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + High build quality (for the price) + Wide range of legacy ports + Large 15.6-inch screen + Low starting price Reasons to avoid - No USB-C port - Trackpad can feel a bit loose at the corners - You get what you pay for
When your available budget doesn't cover the cost of more expensive Dell options, the Inspiron 15 3511 laptop is a great little package despite the lower price you'll pay. It comes with up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7, 12GB of DDR4 RAM, and up to a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD. This high-performance model costs only about $686, but we can go cheaper. If you're just using the laptop for standard productivity work, web browsing, and email, you can no doubt get away with the 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256GB SSD. This model costs $350 and is on our list of the best budget laptops under $500.
In his Dell Inspiron 15 3511 review, staff writer Sean Endicott noted that the laptop offered plenty of legacy ports and a build quality higher than expected, and that the price was hard to beat.
This all means you're getting an affordable laptop that's more than happy to work through documents, email, and browsing online. For the price, this is a great deal if you don't plan on doing too much.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Dell XPS 15 (9520) Best for creatives Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Displays with 16:10 aspect ratio + Gorgeous FHD+, 3.5K OLED, and UHD+ screen options + Powerful performance from 12th Gen Intel CPUs + Top-firing speakers + Good keyboard and touchpad Reasons to avoid - Can get pricey
Dell's refreshed XPS 15 9520 is still the laptop we love, albeit with updated hardware inside. Get up to an 12th Gen Intel i9-12900HK CPU, 64GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, and a 2TB PCIe SSD, plus there's the option to include an NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti GPU with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM. It looks like models ship from the factory with PCIe 3.0 storage, but you can do an upgrade to PCIe 4.0 if you need the extra speed.
It still has a wide selection of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), SD card reader, and 3.5mm headphone jack, making it easy to connect all of the very best XPS 15 accessories. The keyboard is comfortable, the touchpad is enormous, and quad speakers with outstanding audio flank the keys.
There are three displays from which to choose. The most basic screen is still quite impressive; it has a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution, non-touch panel, and 500 nits brightness. Stepping up into a 3456x2160 (3.5K) resolution lands you touch functionality, OLED, anti-reflective finish, and 400 nits brightness. And finally, the 3840x2400 (UHD+) touch model has up to 500 nits brightness and an anti-reflective finish.
If you love the idea of the XPS 13 but want to add extra performance in the form of Intel's H-Series CPUs and NVIDIA dedicated graphics, this is the way to go. Not only is this PC one of our favorite Dell laptops, but it also sits atop our list of the very best 15-inch laptops.
(Image credit: Dell)
Dell Latitude 14 (9430) Best business Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (opens in new tab) View at Dell (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Tons of security options + Premium build quality + 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs + Can get 2-in-1 or notebook form + Good battery life Reasons to avoid - Quite expensive
Dell announced the new Latitude 9430 at the end of March, and it's the new best pick if you want a business laptop. Dell calls this laptop "ultra-premium," and the price reflects that. However, it has the features and design to keep up with the best business laptops on the market.
It comes with 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1245U or Core i7-1265U CPUs, it has 16GB of LPDDR5-5200MHz RAM, and you can get up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe (Class 35) SSD for storage. The laptop comes standard with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, but you can also add a 4G LTE and 5G modem to stay connected everywhere.
You can get the Latitude 9430 in notebook or 2-in-1 convertible form depending on your needs. The display is available in FHD+ or QHD+ resolutions, each with a proximity sensor and IR camera installed above for human presence detection. The laptop has plenty of ports, and it should land you excellent battery life.
(Image credit: Dell)
Dell Precision 15 (5570) workstation Best performance Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) View at Dell (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Workstation-level performance + Killer good looks + Awesome display options + Tons of configurations + Excellent typing, pointing, and audio Reasons to avoid - Expensive
If the Precision 5570 and the XPS 15 were next to each other, you'd have a hard time telling them apart. The sleek chassis with top-firing speakers, the display without bezel, the comfortable keyboard, and the Precision touchpad are all pretty much identical. But inside is where the difference can be found. Dell classifies this laptop as a workstation, so you can expect performance at the top level.
The Precision 5570 is available with up to Intel's 12th Gen Core i9-12900H CPU, as well as an NVIDIA RTX A2000 discrete GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. These are complemented by up to 64GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM and up to a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD. You're going to get a lot of power out of this laptop.
There are a couple of display options available. The baseline is an FHD+ screen with 500 nits brightness, 100% sRGB, low blue light, and an IR camera above. Stepping up, you can get UHD+ with HDR 400, touch, 100% AdobeRGB, and an IR camera. Ports include dual Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. If you need a laptop for design and creation apps, definitely consider this one. There aren't many downsides, though the price climbs quickly.
(Image credit: Future)
Dell XPS 17 (9720) Best 17-inch laptop Today's Best Deals View at Dell (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + 17-inch, 16:10 HDR 400 display is gobsmacking delightful + Excellent keyboard, trackpad + Powerful quad audio + 12th Gen Intel CPUs and RTX-level graphics + Looks fantastic, feels great Reasons to avoid - Heavy and dense - Below-average web camera; IR is finicky - Expensive
The Dell XPS 17 turns everything up to 11. The screen is gorgeous and delivers an experience no other laptop can match. It's simply stunning, and if you do photo or video editing or any task where accurate color detail is required, you're going to love it. It's the main reason to buy the XPS 17.
Performance is also exceptional. Dell gives you the 17-inch display size with up to an RTX 3060 discrete laptop GPU to go with it, delivering some serious processing power. With the latest 9720 models you can get up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900HK CPU, 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD.
Typing, using the giant trackpad, and powerful audio performance are also superb. There are some drawbacks, however. The battery life is a little on the weak side (around 6-8 hours depending on usage). You shouldn't expect a lot more though when using a laptop with a giant 4K display, 14-core processor, and gaming-level GPU. We found it good enough to do productivity work lasting the usual working hours. It's also massive and a little heavy.
Bottom line
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The Dell XPS 13 Plus (9320) remains the top Dell laptop choice for most people, though there are plenty of other options when it comes to specialized interests. This industry-leading 13-inch notebook is stunning, has more than enough performance, but can get a little pricey. There are options for people who want to go up to a 17-inch display, for people who want to get some gaming in, or those who need a productivity machine.
Dell is one of the leading laptop manufacturers out there for a reason — it has a laptop for just about everybody. If you're looking to get in on this action but want to save some money, don't forget to have a look at our selection of the best Dell laptop deals available now.
