Dell Precision 5570 (2022) Laptop Review

The Dell Precision 5570 has a sleek, premium design with a metal chassis, a carbon fiber keyboard deck, and thin bezels on all sides of the display. It looks identical to its predecessor, the Dell Precision 5560 (2021) and the Dell XPS 15. The grills beside the keyboard are actually air vents; the speakers are on the bottom near the sides. There are also vents on the bottom and the back of the laptop.

The Dell Precision 5570's build quality is excellent. It has an aluminum chassis and a carbon fiber keyboard deck that feel very sturdy, with a smooth finish that doesn't pick up fingerprints or scratch easily. There's a tiny amount of flex in the display, but none in the keyboard deck. The feet feel solid and adhere firmly to the bottom of the laptop.

The Dell Precision 5570's hinge feels very smooth when opening and closing the laptop, and it's stable, so you can set it to any angle you want, and it'll remain in place. The screen only wobbles slightly when typing aggressively. You can open the laptop with one hand, but getting a good grip is a little hard as there isn't a lip or a cutout.

The Dell Precision 5570 is thin and relatively light, especially for a mobile workstation with a discreet GPU. The power adapter is a bit bulky but lightweight.

The Dell Precision 5570's serviceability is good. Accessing the internals is straightforward; you only need to remove eight T5 Torx screws and pry open the bottom panel. Inserting the prying tool between the panel and the keyboard deck is a little challenging, but once it's in, the clips holding the panel come apart easily. You can see the service manual here.

• Dell Precision 5570 laptop
• 130W USB-C power adapter and cord
• USB-C to HDMI/USB-A adapter
• Documentation

Note: If you get a model with integrated graphics only through Dell, you can choose between a 90W or 130W power adapter.

The Dell Precision 5570 is available with the following displays:

• 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1200 60Hz (500 cd/m², 100% sRGB)
• 15.6" IPS 3840 x 2400 60Hz (Touchscreen, 500 cd/m², 100% Adobe RGB, 94% DCI P3)

Both panels have a 16:10 aspect ratio, which gives you slightly more vertical space so that you don't have to scroll as much when reading a document or website. The 1080p display is decently sharp at this screen size and provides enough room for split-screen multitasking. However, you can see individual pixels if you're close enough, which might be bothersome if you're used to seeing high-resolution displays like the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). The 4k panel is significantly sharper but drains the battery much faster.

The Dell Precision 5570 is only available with 60Hz displays. The 1080p panel has a slow response time, causing noticeable ghosting, so it isn't ideal for gaming or viewing fast-moving content. The 4k panel will perform similarly. Neither display supports variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing when gaming.

The Dell Precision 5570's 1080p display has a good contrast ratio. It's a little better than most IPS panels; however, it's still relatively low compared to other display technologies like VA and OLED. It isn't ideal for dark room viewing as blacks look gray. The 4k panel will perform similarly. The contrast ratio can vary between individual units, but the difference is usually minor and isn't noticeable.

The Dell Precision 5570's 1080p display gets very bright, more than enough for use outdoors in broad daylight. It gets very dim at the lowest brightness setting, so viewing content in dark environments is more comfortable and causes less eye strain. The 4k panel will perform similarly.

The Dell Precision 5570 has good reflection handling. Its matte anti-reflective coating does a great job of diffusing and reducing the intensity of direct reflections, like a lamp or open window during the day. However, the coating also causes a halo effect, making other areas of the screen harder to see. Essentially, reflections aren't a problem when viewing light-color content with the screen at maximum brightness, but they're distracting when viewing dark content.

The Dell Precision 5570 has decent black uniformity. There's only a tiny amount of backlight bleed at the edges and some darker spots here and there. However, these issues are hard to spot and only visible when viewing dark content in a dim setting. Black uniformity varies between individual units due to manufacturing tolerances; you may get some backlight bleed, which is common for IPS panels, but you can expect the rest of the screen to be fairly similar.

The Dell Precision 5570 has a decent horizontal viewing angle. The image looks dimmer and washed out from the side. You can still share the screen with someone else for text documents and other casual content, but it's best to be more or less directly in front of the screen if you need perfect accuracy for color-critical work.

The Dell 5570 has a mediocre vertical viewing angle. The image quality degrades fairly quickly, which can be an issue if you're using the laptop in tight spaces that force you to look at the screen from above or below, like on a bus or airplane. It isn't too bad for light productivity tasks like text formatting and web browsing, but it isn't ideal for color-critical work.

The Dell 5570's out-of-the-box color accuracy is passable. The colors are only slightly off because the factory calibration targets a wider color space to produce more saturated colors. However, the white balance is visibly inaccurate, especially at higher brightness levels. The color temperature is on the cooler side of the standard 6500 K target, giving the image a slight blueish tint. The gamma sticks to an almost flat 2.2 instead of following the sRGB curve, so dark scenes appear too dark and bright scenes too bright.

The Dell Precision 5570's 1080p display has an outstanding color gamut with full sRGB coverage, the color space used in most content. It has excellent coverage of wider color spaces like Adobe RGB and DCI P3, but it isn't enough for professional color work. If you need to edit photos or HDR videos, it's best to get the 4k display as it has an advertised 100% Adobe RGB and 94% DCI P3 coverage.

The Dell Precision 5570 has a flicker-free display, which helps reduce eye strain for people sensitive to screen flickering.

The Dell Precision 5570 has a great keyboard. It feels very spacious and has a standard layout that's easy to get used to. The keys are fairly stable, have a good amount of travel, and provide satisfying tactile feedback. The operating force is a little high, but not enough to make the keyboard tiring to type on for extended periods. It's essentially the same keyboard as the Dell Precision 5560 (2021) but more tactile. Typing noise is low and isn't bothersome in a quiet setting like a classroom or office. You can adjust between two backlight brightness levels or turn it off completely.

The Dell Precision 5570 has an outstanding touchpad. It's large and has a smooth finish that allows the fingers to glide easily. It tracks all movements and gestures well, and there aren't any issues with palm rejection or actions like dragging and dropping. You can click anywhere on the touchpad, although the click mechanism itself doesn't feel particularly satisfying.

The Dell Precision 5570's speakers get very loud with minimal dynamic compression at max volume and sound relatively well-balanced and full. However, they don't have much bass, and some instruments sound slightly unnatural. There's also some rattling at higher volume levels.

The Dell Precision 5570's webcam video quality is okay. The image has a lot of fine details even though it's only 720p, and the colors look relatively natural and true to life, but it's too dark. Voices come across clearly over the microphone, albeit with a fair amount of background noise.

The Dell Precision 5570 has an okay port selection. The USB-C on the right side supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 (up to 10Gbps data transfer speed) and DisplayPort Alt Mode, while the two on the left support Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gbps data transfer speed and two external 4k displays at 60Hz) and Power Delivery. Power Delivery allows you to charge a mobile device faster (up to 15W power output). You can charge the laptop via any USB-C port. There's a USB-C to HDMI/USB-A adapter included in the box.

The Dell Precision 5570 uses an Intel Wi-Fi AX211 wireless adapter. Wi-Fi 6E provides greater speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference than previous Wi-Fi standards; however, you need a router that also supports Wi-Fi 6E to benefit from these features. Dell's website gives you the option to get the same wireless adapter without Bluetooth support at a cheaper price; however, it's worth adding it as the lack of Bluetooth can be inconvenient and force you to use one of the USB ports.

The Dell Precision 5570 is available with the following CPUs:

• Intel Core i5-12600H (12 cores/16 threads, up to 4.5GHz, 18MB cache)
• Intel Core i7-12700H (14 cores/20 threads, up to 4.7GHz, 24MB cache)
• Intel Core i7-12800H (14 cores/20 threads, up to 4.8GHz, 24MB cache)
• Intel Core i9-12900H (14 cores/20 threads, up to 5.0GHz, 24MB cache)

Unlike 11th Gen, Intel's 12th Gen processors have a hybrid architecture with a mix of performance and efficiency cores. Only the performance cores have Hyper-threading –the ability to process multiple threads simultaneously – which is why the number of cores and threads seems a little unusual. The Core i5-12600H has four performance and eight efficiency cores, while the i7s and i9-12900H have six performance and eight efficiency cores.

If you regularly perform demanding tasks like video editing, 3D animation, or anything that involves heavily multi-threaded applications, it's worth getting an i7 or i9, as the additional cores will significantly improve performance. As for choosing between the i7s and i9, they only differ in clock speeds, which usually doesn't result in a big performance increase. Also, higher clock speeds generate more heat, which leads to more thermal throttling.

Dell's website lets you choose whether you want Intel vPro Technology enabled, and this feature is available for every CPU option. Intel vPro is an enterprise feature that adds more security and better remote management tools.

The Dell 5570 is available with the following integrated and discrete GPUs:

• Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Core i5, 80 execution units)
• Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Core i7s and i9, 96 execution units)
• NVIDIA RTX A1000 4GB GDDR6 VRAM (45W TGP)
• NVIDIA RTX A2000 8GB GDDR6 VRAM

The NVIDIA RT A1000 and A2000 are GPUs designed for intensive tasks like video editing and 3D graphics. The A1000 is a little slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, a mainstream consumer gaming GPU, while the A2000 is roughly equivalent to an RTX 3050 Ti. The A1000 runs at a 45W TGP (Total Graphics Power), which is at the lower end of its 35W-95W power spectrum. Dell doesn't specify the A2000's TGP, though it's likely in the same 45W range, considering the chassis' size and the cooling system. This means that while the A1000 and A2000 in this laptop can handle demanding tasks, they won't perform as well as a laptop with the same GPU running at a higher wattage.

If you only perform CPU-intensive tasks like programming, you can likely get by with only integrated graphics. However, if you do anything that can take advantage of a discreet GPU, it's worth getting one of the NVIDIA GPUs. The RTX A2000 is about 10% to 20% faster than the A1000 in most workloads, and it's a better choice for those working with large assets because it has more VRAM. If you want a mobile workstation with more powerful GPU options, check out the MSI WS76 (2021).

For gaming, the Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics can only handle simple or extremely well-optimized games at 1080p with low settings or at 720p. The Core i7s and i9 perform better than the Core i5, but only slightly. The A1000 and A2000 can handle most games at 1080p with low or medium settings; however, performance can vary a lot depending on the game because these professional GPUs don't always have the best drivers. They also lack gaming features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling).

You can configure the Dell Precision 5570 with 8, 16, 32, or 64GB of DDR5 4800MHz memory. The 8GB option is in single-channel mode, so if you don't plan on upgrading yourself, it's best to opt for a minimum of 16GB for the best performance. Unlike the Dell Precision 5560 (2021), there aren't any options for ECC (Error Correction Code) memory as this model isn't available with Intel Xeon processors.

The Dell Precision 5570 has two storage drive slots. For the main drive, you can get up to 1TB of storage in the form of an M.2 PCIe Gen 3 x4 or PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe SSD. You can get up to 2TB of additional storage in the second drive slot. If you choose to have a second drive, you can have them set up in a RAID 0 or RAID 1 array.

The Dell Precision 5570's overall score in Geekbench 5 is exceptionally high. Although its single-thread performance is a little worse than other laptops with Intel 12th Gen CPUs, like the Dell Precision 3571 (2022) with an i7-12700H, it's still outstanding. On the other hand, its multi-thread score is incredibly high, almost matching Apple's M1 Max SoC in the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). In short, every CPU option can handle demanding workloads. If you want the best performance, it's best to go with one of the Core i7s or the i9-12900H. The Core i5-12600H can get the job done, but it'll be noticeably slower because it has fewer cores.

For GPU compute tasks, the NVIDIA RTX A1000 performs well, just a tad slower than an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. The RTX A2000 is faster, which means it'll provide a smoother experience in applications and complete renders faster. The Intel Xe graphics are much slower and aren't ideal for GPU compute workloads.

The Dell Precision 5570 with an Intel Core i7-12800H performs exceptionally well in Cinebench R23's single- and multi-thread benchmarks, making it suitable for professional rendering work. Switching to the Ultra Performance mode in Dell's Power Manager application gives a decent boost to performance, resulting in a single-thread score of 1849 and a multi-thread score of 14,690, which are better than even the top-end M1 Max SoC in the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). The core i5-12600H will be slower because it has fewer cores. The Core i7-12700H is only marginally slower, while the Core i9-12900H will be marginally faster.

The Dell 5570's performance in Blender is outstanding. Although the CPU can complete the render reasonably quickly, the GPU is much faster when using NVIDIA Optix hardware acceleration. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 will only be a few seconds faster.

The NVIDIA RTX A1000 in the Dell Precision 5570 performs well in the Basemark GPU benchmark. It sits between an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti and an RTX 3050. It's powerful enough to run games at 1080p, but you'll have to play at low or medium settings to get good frame rates. The RTX A2000 is slightly faster and will get you closer to 60 fps with minimal tweaks in the settings. You can play some lighter games with the Intel Xe graphics but not demanding AAA titles.

The Dell Precision 5570's SSD performs exceptionally well. Its fast read and write speeds make the system responsive and snappy, meaning it boots up, launches apps, and transfers files quickly. The posted speeds are for the PCIe Gen 3 x4 NVMe SSD; you can expect much faster speeds if you get a PCIe Gen 4 x4 SSD. The speed of the SSD may vary depending on the size, as larger SSDs tend to perform better.

The Dell Precision 5570 has poor battery life. You'll have to plug the laptop in at some point during the day, even if you only perform light tasks like web browsing, text formatting, or video playback. If you perform intensive tasks like video editing, you can expect the battery life to be closer to the gaming battery life, which means you'll have to use the laptop plugged in most of the time. You can choose between a 56Wh or an 86Wh battery when purchasing through Dell. The 86Wh battery will likely last through a typical eight-hour workday of light productivity, but just barely. Battery life varies greatly depending on your usage and the laptop's configuration.

The Dell Precision 5570's performance in Borderlands 3 is middling. With an Intel i7-12800H and NVIDIA RTX A1000 configuration, you can only get to 60 fps if you lower the settings to medium or low, and even then, it's still a little choppy at times. The RTX A2000 can reach 60 fps with fewer tweaks in the settings. Intel Xe graphics will have a hard time getting 30 fps at 1080p with low settings, so it's only playable at 720p or lower.

Civilization VI runs well on the Dell Precision 5570 with an Intel Core i7-12800H. The average frame rate is good at high settings, and while the frame rate does dip below 60 fps at times, it doesn't happen often and isn't very noticeable. The RTX A2000 can run this game easily at high settings. You can get 60 fps on Intel integrated graphics if you lower some settings, but this game is playable at 30 fps because it's a strategy game that doesn't require fast reaction times or precise aiming. The average turn time is decent and in the expected range. The other CPUs will be in the same ballpark.

CS:GO runs very well on the Dell 5570 with an Intel Core i7-12800H and an NVIDIA RTX A1000. The average frame rate is outstanding at 1080p with high settings. There are some noticeable stutters as the frame rate sometimes drops drastically, but they don't happen often. The other CPU and GPU configurations won't have any problems running this game, though you may have to lower some settings to get good frame rates if you run on Intel Xe graphics.

The Dell Precision 5570's performance in Shadow of the Tomb Raider is passable. The NVIDIA RTX A1000 can reach 60 fps with just a few tweaks in the settings, but the game still stutters at times. The RTX A2000 will perform slightly better and get you comfortably over 60 fps at high settings. You can likely get 30 fps with Intel Xe graphics at low settings, but it'll be very choppy, so it's best to play at 720p or lower. The large frame time spikes are scene changes and aren't representative of the laptop's performance.

The Dell Precision 5570 has decent thermal and noise handling. At idle, the keyboard is cool, and the fans are completely silent. The keyboard gets hot under load and can be a little uncomfortable as the hottest spot is right in the middle, where most people rest their hands. The fans are audible at full speed, but it's a low-pitch whooshing sound and isn't annoying. These are results taken in the 'Optimized' fan profile; you can change the profile in the Dell Power Manager application.

The Dell Precision 5570's performance over time is excellent. The CPU gets a little hot under load, while the GPU is relatively cool. There's some thermal throttling on the CPU, but it isn't significant and is only noticeable when performing heavy, sustained workloads. For example, a task that typically takes an hour to complete will take about 5 minutes more.

The Dell 5570 has a few pre-installed applications, including:

• Dell Command Update: This app checks for any BIOS, driver, or firmware updates.
• Dell Digital Delivery: Lets you download software applications purchased from Dell.
• Dell Optimizer: Helps optimize the system for best performance.
• Dell Power Manager: Lets you view the battery's health and status, optimize the battery life, and customize the system's thermal and fan settings.
• Dell PremierColor: Lets you calibrate the built-in display and access various display settings.
• SupportAssist: Lets you scan for available drivers and hardware issues, clean files, optimize performance, and access system activity history.

You can get the Dell Precision 5570 with Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro, or Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS as the operating system.

The Dell Precision 5570 has a Windows Hello IR camera for facial recognition and a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. You can use either one to log in quickly, authorize purchases in the Windows Store, and autofill saved passwords on supported websites.