Dell is an American company founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. It's known for enterprise products and consumer electronics like desktops, laptops, workstations, monitors, and a wide range of computer peripherals. Dell is one of the largest laptop manufacturers and currently offers a wide product lineup, ranging from cheap Chromebooks to more recognizable brands like XPS and Alienware. Its higher-end devices feature exceptional build quality, performance, and unique designs. A common criticism of Dell is the company's use of proprietary parts, which makes repairs and upgrades challenging for the average user.
We've tested over 25 Dell laptops, and below are our recommendations for the best Dell laptops for business, gaming, and overall use.
Updates
- 08/11/2026Dell XPS 13 (2026) reviewed
- 08/05/2026Dell Alienware 15 (2026) reviewed
- 08/04/2026Dell XPS 14 (2026) reviewed
- 11/18/2025Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) reviewed
- 11/11/2025Dell 16 Plus (2025) reviewed
Since 2021, we've tested dozens of laptops every year. We buy our laptops to avoid bias and, following a rigorous methodology, test nearly every part of the laptop so we can deliver results you can rely on. We use a wide range of equipment to perform our tests, including a colorimeter, a Mecmesin MultiTest-i System Test Stand, and various performance benchmarking suites.
Want to know more? Check out our How We Test Laptops article, where we give you a broader overview of our review process, from the moment we purchase the product to the final review.
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Best Dell Laptop
GamingMedia ConsumptionSchool & WorkHeavy WorkloadForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:14"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:YesRefresh Rate:120 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:32 GBThe best Dell laptop we've tested is the Dell XPS 14 (2026), a premium all-around laptop that excels for everyday use. This 14-inch ultraportable has great build quality and a simple, minimalist design. Compared to the larger and more expensive flagship Dell XPS 16 (2026), this laptop places a greater emphasis on portability. Its 70 Wh battery lasts a full workday of light use, or up to eight hours of video playback, and it charges over USB-C. Unfortunately, its available ports are an area where it falls short, with only three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
There aren't any dedicated GPU options either, so while you can choose from several CPUs and up to 64GB of memory to better handle heavy multitasking or some creative work, this laptop is best suited to general productivity tasks like web browsing, word processing, and conference calls. Even higher-spec'd configurations aren't well-suited to demanding workstation tasks like rendering or professional media creation.
For display options, you have a choice between an IPS FHD+ panel and a more expensive 2.8k OLED touchscreen. Both are excellent for viewing content, but the IPS option gets brighter, while the OLED is much sharper and delivers deeper blacks, so the better choice depends on your preferences and budget. Other perks that come standard with this laptop include a great 4k webcam, which puts it ahead of much of the competition around this price, where 1080p webcams are more common.
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Best Mid-Range Dell Laptop
GamingMedia ConsumptionSchool & WorkHeavy WorkloadForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:13"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:YesRefresh Rate:120 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:8 GBWhile Dell's XPS lineup has historically focused on more expensive, premium models, the Dell XPS 13 (2026) represents Dell's foray into more affordable options, and it's our recommendation if you're looking for something at a mid-range price. You can get this laptop in a range of configurations, with the cheapest models having 8GB of RAM. Still, we more readily recommend the 16GB RAM version, as it delivers a much smoother and less frustrating experience in Windows and leaves a bit of headroom for light multitasking with multiple browser tabs or applications open simultaneously. That model offers excellent value if you want a premium-feeling laptop that's highly portable and emphasizes battery life.
Compared to the considerably more expensive Dell XPS 14 (2026) lineup, which we've picked as our best Dell laptop, the Dell XPS 13 (2026) doesn't have as many configuration options. There's also no option for an OLED display. However, the IPS display on the XPS 13 gets very bright, making it well-suited for use in bright indoor spaces, though its underwhelming reflection handling makes it less suitable for regular outdoor use. It also has surprisingly good speakers that get quite loud, but its webcam and microphone are somewhat lackluster. They're passable overall for occasional calls, but they deliver noticeably lower-quality video and audio than the webcam and microphone on the XPS 14 (2026). Unfortunately, connectivity is also quite limited, as this laptop has only two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports. This might not be an issue if you don't plan on connecting peripherals, but it's another compromise to keep in mind given this laptop's more affordable price.
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Best Dell Gaming Laptop
GamingMultimediaWorkstationForm Factor:Size:18"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBThe best Dell gaming laptop we've tested is the Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025), a large desktop replacement aimed at gamers who want plenty of performance and screen space in a single machine. You can configure it with powerful CPUs and GPUs that give you considerably more performance headroom than Dell's thinner productivity laptops. It also maintains its performance well during long gaming sessions, although you'll have to put up with loud fans when the hardware is working hard.
The large 2560x1600 IPS display is particularly appealing if you want to game without connecting an external monitor. Its 300Hz refresh rate and fast response times keep motion smooth and clear, and it can match its refresh rate to your game's frame rate to minimize tearing. It also gets bright enough for most indoor settings and produces vibrant colors, although its relatively low contrast makes blacks look gray in a dark room. Most of the ports sit along the back, so cables are less likely to get in the way of your mouse. You get three USB-As, two USB-Cs with Thunderbolt 4 or 5 support depending on the configuration, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. The RAM and storage are user-replaceable, and three SSD slots leave room for a growing game library. You can also choose between a conventional keyboard and a clicky mechanical keyboard, depending on your preferences.
Portability is where this laptop makes its biggest compromises. It weighs around 9.1 lbs (4.1 kg), and its large power adapter adds considerably more weight to your bag. Battery life is poor, too, lasting only a few hours of light use, so you'll usually want to keep it plugged in. The speakers also sound somewhat boxy, which is disappointing for such a large machine. It's easiest to recommend if you expect to keep it at a desk and only move it occasionally.
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Best Budget Dell Gaming Laptop
GamingMedia ConsumptionSchool & WorkHeavy WorkloadForm Factor:Traditional (Clamshell)Screen Size:15.3"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:NoRefresh Rate:165 HzSee all our test resultsTested RAM Capacity:16 GBIf you're looking for a more affordable gaming laptop, consider the Dell Alienware 15 (2026). Dell has historically focused on fairly premium-priced laptops like the Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) above, but the 15 represents one of its most affordable gaming laptops yet and delivers decent performance for the price. At around $1,200 USD, this may not seem particularly affordable, but unfortunately, this is fairly representative of budget gaming laptop pricing in the current market.
Thankfully, build quality hasn't been sacrificed to hit this price point. The chassis is made of a combination of metal and plastic, and it feels quite sturdy without any standout weaknesses. The unit we bought and tested has an AMD Ryzen 5 220 processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, and 16GB of RAM. With these specs, the Alienware 15 can run many games at 1080p, and its 165Hz IPS display delivers smooth, responsive motion. Performance also remains stable during long gaming sessions. If you're willing to spend a bit more, you can opt for even more powerful GPU options. We should also note that the RAM and storage are user-replaceable, too, giving you the option to upgrade down the line and potentially extend the laptop's lifespan somewhat.
This laptop also has an excellent selection of ports, including two USB-A and two USB-C ports, giving you good flexibility for connecting peripherals. The keyboard is excellent, and the trackpad is very good as well. Unfortunately, the display's limited color range makes games look washed out. Upgrading to a faster GPU won't improve the picture quality, either, as every configuration uses the same panel. The keyboard also gets hot during demanding games, and the fans produce a loud, high-pitched noise under load. Finally, the speakers sound thin and don't get particularly loud, so you'll likely prefer headphones for a more immersive gaming experience.
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Best Dell Workstation
GamingMultimediaWorkstationForm Factor:Size:16"Operating System:Windows 11Touch Screen:Refresh Rate:HzSee all our test resultsCapacity:GBThe Dell Precision 5690 (2024) is the best Dell workstation we've tested. This 16-inch model offers various hardware configurations, making it adaptable to different workflows. It features Intel's Meteor Lake CPUs (up to a Core Ultra 9) and NVIDIA RTX Ada Generation Laptop GPUs (up to an RTX 5000), which are ideal for specialized tasks like 3D modeling and simulations. Display options include FHD+ IPS and 4k+ OLED at 60Hz. RAM and storage reach 64GB and 4TB, respectively; only the latter is user-replaceable, as there are two M.2 2280 slots.
As for the design and user experience, although it isn't as sleek or portable as the Dell XPS 14 (2026), it offers a more functional design and much greater performance headroom for professional workloads. It also has a wider range of ports, including HDMI 2.1, three USB-C ports with two supporting Thunderbolt 4, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. Its 1080p webcam is decent but disappointing for an otherwise premium-feeling laptop. On the upside, you get an IR facial recognition camera and a fingerprint sensor, so you can log in quickly and avoid typing in your password in public spaces.
Compared To Other Brands
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Wide selection of products.Dell has many different lineups that produce devices ranging from cheap Chromebooks to premium workstations.
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Well-built premium models.Dell's premium brands like XPS and Alienware feature models with exceptional build quality.
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Great customizability.Dell laptops feature a wide range of customization options, allowing you to configure devices to best suit your needs.
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Detailed product manuals and support pages.Dell offers extensive documentation, product support pages, and online diagnostic tools to help troubleshoot issues.
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Poor serviceability.
Many Dell laptops use proprietary parts or soldered memory and/or storage, making them difficult or impossible to service or upgrade.
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Sketchy warranty tactics.Dell has faced criticism about including paid additional warranty coverage on devices without clearly communicating the costs to consumers.
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Somewhat limited availability via marketplaces and other retailers.
Dell laptops can occasionally be harder to find through marketplaces and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. It's often easiest to get them from Dell directly, as you can typically also find more configuration options when buying from Dell.
Dell vs Lenovo
Dell and Lenovo offer similar products ranging from cheap Chromebooks to premium workstations. Where Lenovo tends to be known for the value of its budget and mid-range offerings, Dell is better known for its premium product lines. See our Lenovo laptop recommendations.
Dell vs Apple
While Apple has historically focused on producing relatively few, higher-end models, Dell offers a much wider range of products for different uses. People usually compare Apple's premium products with Dell's high-end productivity laptops in terms of build quality and user experience. One major difference between these two companies is hardware: Dell primarily uses x86 processors from Intel and AMD, though it also offers some ARM-based Snapdragon models, while Apple uses its in-house ARM-based SoCs. See our Apple laptop recommendations.
Dell vs ASUS
Dell and ASUS are both major laptop manufacturers that make a wide range of laptops for productivity, content creation, and gaming. ASUS tends to focus more on gaming, regularly sponsoring esports events and players. The company also often experiments with new form factors, like gaming tablet PCs and dual-screen laptops. On the other hand, Dell focuses more on productivity laptops and has a larger footprint in the corporate/business world. See our ASUS laptop recommendations.
Dell vs HP
Dell and HP make a wide range of laptops at nearly every price point. However, Dell has a stronger foothold in the corporate world with a wider selection of products tailored for business use. For gaming, Dell's Alienware lineup has more high-end configurations available than HP's OMEN brand. Both companies' premium products tend to be expensive, but they also offer large sales directly on their websites. Dell and HP provide similar build quality and user experiences, so the choice depends on your needs and preferences. See our HP laptop recommendations.
Dell vs Microsoft
While Microsoft and Dell both make Windows laptops, Dell has a much larger portfolio that includes models for different uses and at various price points, whereas Microsoft only makes productivity laptops. Microsoft's Surface products and Dell's XPS line are comparable in quality and performance, though Surface products tend to have less bloatware.
Dell vs Acer
While both companies produce a large number of laptops, Dell is more well-known for its high-end models, while Acer typically focuses more on budget and mid-range models, which are often of better value than competing Dell models. Dell often offers more configuration options for individual models, making it easier to modify them to suit your needs and budget. Acer offers many configuration options, too, but many models are hard to find, even months after the official release. See our recommendations for the best Acer laptops.
Like ASUS, Acer, HP, and Lenovo, Dell makes a huge range of laptops. Although some of its high-end models are among the best on the market, its mid-range and budget models haven't historically been as well-built or compelling as some of its competitors, though this may be changing as Dell's new strategy expands further into more affordable models. Nevertheless, the wide range of options means that Dell has something to offer most users. However, shopping for the exact laptop configuration you want is sometimes hard with Dell; its products aren't always widely available from third-party sellers and marketplaces, and its website only offers customization options based on what's available rather than all possible configurations.
Lineup
In January 2025, Dell rebranded its laptop and desktop lineups and retired many of their most well-known lineup naming conventions, including Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, and XPS. However, they've since reversed some of these decisions, notably the decision to retire the well-known XPS and Precision branding.
As of August 2026, Dell's lineups include the following:
- Dell: Mainstream, consumer lineup.
- Dell XPS: Premium consumer lineup. Model numbers typically indicate the screen size.
- Dell Pro: Professional business lineup. Newer models use numbered series, with higher numbers generally indicating more premium features and performance.
- Dell Pro Precision: Higher-performance business workstation lineup. These laptops have series numbers, with higher numbers generally indicating higher performance models.
- Alienware: Gaming lineup.
Recent Updates
Oct 23, 2026:
We added the Dell Alienware 18 Area-51 (2025) as our 'Best Dell Gaming Laptop' to include a higher-end gaming option. We also updated text throughout for clarity and accuracy.
Aug 26, 2026:
We've overhauled this article, replacing older models that are no longer in stock with several laptops from Dell's new lineup that we've recently reviewed. This includes the Dell XPS 14 (2026) as our new top pick, the Dell XPS 13 (2026) in a new 'Best Budget' category, and the Dell Alienware 15 (2026) in a new 'Best Budget Gaming' category. We've also updated the Lineup, Compared To Other Brands, and Pros and Cons sections to better reflect major recent changes to Dell's lineup and branding.
Mar 13, 2025:
Minor text changes to provide information about the new Dell XPS 13 with Intel Lunar Lake SoCs. No change in recommendations.
Feb 20, 2025:
Small text changes for conciseness. No change in recommendations.
Jan 30, 2025:
No change in recommendations, as all picks are still valid and available. Small text change to address Dell's rebranding.
Conclusion
Dell laptops range from basic devices for everyday tasks like word processing or web browsing to powerful workstations and gaming laptops. Its premium laptops from the XPS and Alienware lineups often feature striking designs and generally provide a great user experience and performance. If you're looking for the best Dell laptop for business, its higher-end professional models in particular stand out against much of the competition.
Historically, Dell's budget and mid-range offerings haven't been quite as competitive, often sacrificing features or build quality compared to some rivals. However, its more recent attempts to address the affordable laptop market are considerably more compelling.