The Best Dell Laptops for 2024


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If you’re shopping for a laptop in 2024, you have almost too many options to choose from, be it a thin mobile companion or a hefty, rugged notebook, with a vast range of options in between. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to narrow down your options based on what you know. Sometimes, that’s a brand you’ve long used and trusted.If you’re familiar with Dell, you probably have some opinion regarding how reliable the company’s products are, how its customer service works, and the general quality of the user experience that those products and services deliver. If you’re brand-loyal, it’s a reasonable way to whittle down your options, while still helping you zero in on an excellent product. Picking a brand you trust does half the deciding for you.Whether you’re after a fast laptop for crunching numbers at work or a laptop for staying productive at home or on the go, Dell likely has a model you’ve considered buying. The company has reliable machines at all levels of the market. Read on for a breakdown of our picks for the best Dell laptops for 2024 for a variety of users, followed by a guide to Dell’s various laptop lines.

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7630)
Best Dell Laptop for Most People

Bottom Line:
Depending on Dell’s ever-changing discounts, the Inspiron 16 Plus can be a tempting desktop replacement with above-average performance, though its screen isn’t stellar.

PROS

Plenty of CPU and GPU power

Medium-high-resolution 120Hz display

CONS

Half a pound overweight

IPS screen can’t match OLED rivals’ vivid color

Mediocre keyboard

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Desktop Replacement

Processor

Intel Core i7-13700H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

8 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.71 by 14.1 by 9.9 inches

Weight

4.54 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

14:13

Learn More
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7630) Review

Dell Inspiron 15 (3525)
Best Dell Laptop for the Tightest Budgets

Bottom Line:
The Dell Inspiron 15 (3525) is as simple as budget laptops come. While this version addresses several shortcomings of the previous generation, you could find better elsewhere if you’re not committed to Dell.

PROS

Plenty of ports

Decent price-to-performance ratio

120Hz display refresh rate

CONS

Overall outclassed battery and display

No keyboard backlighting

Plain design

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Budget

Processor

AMD Ryzen 5 5625U

Processor Speed

2.3 GHz

RAM (as Tested)

8 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

256 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

15.6 inches

Native Display Resolution

1920 by 1080

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

VA

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

120 Hz

Graphics Processor

AMD Radeon Graphics

Graphics Memory

Wireless Networking

802.11ac, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.83 by 14.11 by 9.27 inches

Weight

3.65 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

9:14

Learn More
Dell Inspiron 15 (3525) Review

Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Best Dell Desktop Replacement Laptop

Bottom Line:
A slick new look and cutting-edge components make Dell’s XPS 16 a dream for Windows-bound creative pros and power users—as long as they have the cash for its premium features and build quality.

PROS

Sleek, slim aesthetic and inputs

Brilliant 4K OLED touch screen

High performance from Intel Core Ultra 7 and GeForce RTX 4070

Impressive battery life

CONS

Expensive

Not all design changes are improvements

USB-C ports only (though USB-A and HDMI adapter provided)

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Desktop Replacement

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16.3 inches

Native Display Resolution

3840 by 2400

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

90 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

8 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.74 by 14.1 by 9.4 inches

Weight

4.7 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

18:40

Learn More
Dell XPS 16 (9640) Review

Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023)
Best Dell Ultraportable

Bottom Line:
A gorgeous OLED screen and a stylized keyboard make Dell’s XPS 13 Plus a sleek ultraportable, but its few ports and brief battery life make it impractical for regular use.

PROS

Peppy performance

Superb 3.5K OLED touch screen

Trim and light

Sleek, seamless keyboard and touchpad

Reasonable price

CONS

Just two Thunderbolt 4 ports (with adapters)

Poor battery life

No mobile broadband

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Ultraportable

Processor

Intel Core i7-1360P

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

13.4 inches

Native Display Resolution

3456 by 2160

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Graphics Memory

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD)

0.6 by 11.6 by 7.8 inches

Weight

2.77 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Home

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

6:43

Learn More
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2023) Review

Alienware x14 R2
Best Compact Dell Gaming Laptop

Bottom Line:
A near-flawless compact gaming laptop, the Alienware x14 R2 packs a super-slim metal design, a powerful pairing of CPU and GPU, and a long-lasting battery, all at an accessible price.

PROS

Impressive super-slim build

Brisk gaming and processing speeds as configured

Appealing starting and configuration prices

Long battery life

Wide range of ports for a small laptop

CONS

QHD+ screen resolution challenges the GeForce RTX 4060 at max settings

Ports being all on the back edge can be awkward

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Gaming

Processor

Intel Core i7-13620H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate

165 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

8 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.57 by 12.6 by 10.2 inches

Weight

4.2 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

9:38

Learn More
Alienware x14 R2 Review

Alienware m16 R2
Best Mainstream Dell Gaming Laptop

Bottom Line:
A more compact redesign rules out Nvidia’s top-of-the-line RTX 4080 and 4090, but Alienware’s m16 R2 delivers rock-solid gaming with a premium feel at a good price.

PROS

Strong gaming, productivity performance, thanks to RTX 4070 and Core Ultra 7

Reasonable starting price and good value as configured

Sleek metal build is trim for a 16-incher

Superior keyboard, plenty of ports

Long battery life

CONS

QHD+ screen resolution strains hardware in demanding titles

Only two configurations, though they’re well priced

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Gaming

Processor

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

16 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

16 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate

240 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

8 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.93 by 14.33 by 9.81 inches

Weight

5.75 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

10:14

Learn More
Alienware m16 R2 Review

Alienware m18 R2
Best Giant-Screen Dell Gaming Laptop

Bottom Line:
The Alienware m18 R2 is just a modest upgrade over the first generation, with Intel’s latest 14th Gen HX chips joining Nvidia’s GeForce best, but it’s still a sleek, super-fast gaming machine with premium flair.

PROS

Blistering processing and gaming performance

Relatively approachable starting price

QHD+ 165Hz display with FHD+ 480Hz option

Optional mechanical Cherry MX keyboard

CONS

Expensive as tested

Heavy, even for its size

Screen could be brighter

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Gaming

Processor

Intel Core i9-14900HX

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

2 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

18 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

G-Sync

Screen Refresh Rate

165 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU

Graphics Memory

16 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

1.05 by 16.2 by 12.6 inches

Weight

8.9 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

6:45

Learn More
Alienware m18 R2 Review

Dell Chromebook 11 (3100)
Best Dell Laptop for Kids

Bottom Line:
Designed to withstand the rigors of daily life in the classroom, at home, and in between, the Dell Chromebook 11 hits a trifecta: rugged, affordable, and great for kids.

PROS

Compact

Sturdy, kid-friendly design

Spill-resistant keyboard

Optional LTE

Plenty of USB ports

Reasonably priced accidental damage coverage

CONS

Poor Wi-Fi signal reception

Display limited to 1,366 by 768 resolution

No SD card reader

Clumsy touchpad

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Chromebook

Processor

Intel Celeron N4020

Processor Speed

2.8 GHz

RAM (as Tested)

4 GB

Boot Drive Type

eMMC Flash Memory

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

16 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

11.6 inches

Native Display Resolution

1366 by 768

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

TN

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel UHD Graphics 600

Graphics Memory

Wireless Networking

802.11ac, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.82 by 11.96 by 8.19 inches

Weight

2.85 lbs

Operating System

Google Chrome OS

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

9:26

Learn More
Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) Review

Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1
Best Dell Enterprise Fleet Laptop

Bottom Line:
The Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 is a well-made business laptop with innovative features and some smart design touches, but it’s only so-so as a convertible.

PROS

Slick frameless keyboard and extra large, feature-filled touchpad

Excellent performance and battery life

Plenty of available business features, including 5G WWAN

Pretty display with above-average color and brightness

CONS

Thunderbolt 4 ports only

Uncomfortable hard-edged palm rest

Pricey

Only one screen choice

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Business, Convertible 2-in-1

Processor

Intel Core i7-1365U

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

14 inches

Native Display Resolution

2560 by 1600

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Graphics Memory

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.64 by 12.2 by 8.5 inches

Weight

3.4 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

16:33

Learn More
Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 Review

Dell Precision 5680
Best Dell Mobile Workstation

Bottom Line:
With help from Nvidia’s newest mobile professional GPU, the Dell Precision 5680 is a competitive laptop workstation that matches rivals’ performance while being lighter and longer lasting.

PROS

Blazing CPU and GPU performance

Beautiful 4K OLED touch screen

Decent battery life

Relatively trim and light

CONS

No USB-A or Ethernet ports

Balky touchpad

ECC memory not available

Expensive

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Workstation, Business

Processor

Intel Core i9-13900H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

512 GB

Screen Size

16 inches

Native Display Resolution

3840 by 2400

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

OLED

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Nvidia RTX 5000 Ada

Graphics Memory

16 GB

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth

Dimensions (HWD)

0.87 by 13.9 by 9.5 inches

Weight

4.46 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

13:07

Learn More
Dell Precision 5680 Review

Dell Latitude 7030 Rugged Extreme
Best Rugged Dell Laptop/Tablet

Bottom Line:
A sturdy slate for hostile environments and factory floors, Dell’s Latitude 7030 scores high for its screen, cameras, and optional keyboard. Its 10.1-inch display isn’t too small, but its batteries might be.

PROS

Tough enough for all-weather use

Bright, colorful touch screen

Impressive cameras

Detachable keyboard

Available 5G WWAN

CONS

Merely adequate battery life

Heavy and expensive

Audio jack is optional

SPECS

Name
Value

Laptop Class

Rugged, Detachable 2-in-1

Processor

Intel Core i7-1260U

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested)

32 GB

Boot Drive Type

SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)

1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

Screen Size

10.1 inches

Native Display Resolution

1920 by 1200

Touch Screen

Panel Technology

IPS

Variable Refresh Support

None

Screen Refresh Rate

60 Hz

Graphics Processor

Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Graphics Memory

Wireless Networking

Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions (HWD)

1 by 10.3 by 7.4 inches

Weight

2.24 lbs

Operating System

Windows 11 Pro

Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)

8:08

Learn More
Dell Latitude 7030 Rugged Extreme Review

Buying Guide: The Best Dell Laptops for 2024
What Are the Differences Among Dell’s Laptop Lines?When you’re looking at Dell’s laptop product line, you’ll want to concentrate on which of its six main families of laptop best meets your needs. The ones to familiarize yourself with are Inspiron, XPS, Alienware, G Series, Latitude, and Precision. You’ll find both clamshell and 2-in-1 convertible entries in all of these families apart from the two gaming-oriented ones.Inspiron: The Mainstream ChoiceFor use in the home or school, Dell’s Inspiron brand comprises consumer laptops of every stripe: power machines, inexpensive “just enough” machines, big displays, and ultra-compacts. Whether you’re editing photos or managing your home finances, Inspiron’s copious options fit both screen-size and budget needs for most buyers. These machines are mostly Windows models; if you want something a little less expensive for simple tasks and browsing online, consider Dell’s Chromebooks, which put basic functionality into an affordable package that works great for kids and students.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Dell used to break its Inspiron line into three gradations or levels: 3000, 5000, and 7000 series. As you went up that stack, you tended to see more premium features and higher relative pricing. The number between the word “Inspiron” and the series number was typically the screen size of the laptop; an Inspiron 13 5000, for example, would be a 13-inch-screened laptop with middle-field characteristics.However, today Dell names its Inspiron systems according to their rough screen sizes, which now include 14-inch and 16-inch Inspiron laptop varieties. This creates greater ambiguity around what each laptop is capable of; you’ll want to look at detailed reviews with testing results to get an idea of relative potency.Want to make sure you’re saving the most cash possible, even on a Dell laptop? Check out our article with 15 money-saving tips for buying laptops.XPS: The Power-User ClassSuccessive guises of the Dell XPS 13 were our “near-perfect” mainstream and power laptops for several years. Refresh after refresh, Dell keeps tuning to keep this hardy machine on top. XPS signifies, on both the desktop and laptop side of the fence, a premium-design, fully decked-out machine that bridges demanding consumers and business users. It’s Dell’s line of power tools that are equally at home in a home office, a coffee shop, a conference room, or a high-stakes business meeting.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

XPS-class laptops also sometimes serve as guinea pigs for introducing futuristic features, such as in the XPS 13 Plus, which ditched a physical touchpad in favor of a haptic feedback mechanism integrated into the palm rest. Traditionally, you didn’t find a lot of variety in the XPS laptop line in terms of screen size or stratification, just configurable versions of the 13-inch-screened XPS 13 and 15-inch XPS 15 as both clamshells and swiveling-screen 2-in-1s. The XPS 17, the biggest model, has a 17-inch screen and is only available in a clamshell form factor.This changed with the 2024 introduction of 14-inch and 16-inch Dell XPS laptop models featuring Intel’s new Core Ultra AI-equipped processors. All of the existing odd-number screen sizes (13, 15, 17) are currently sold alongside these new even-number sizes (14 and 16 inches) for the time being, but some may be phased out in the future.Alienware and G Series: Full-Spectrum GamingIf gaming is more your style, Dell’s Alienware brand delivers, if you’re on the market for a serious, blinged-out gaming cruiser. The latest components combine with premium construction and design, earning Alienware a well-deserved reputation as an aspirational brand among PC gamers. The Alienware machines tend to be big, brawny models with heavy graphics firepower and prices to match, though the brand known for its classic Area-51m bruiser has made forays into some leaner machines with its m16 and m18 series models and the even leaner Alienware X series.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Dell also sells gaming laptops under its G Series brand, introduced in 2018. Before this new sub-brand’s introduction, this aggressively priced, lower-end line was part of the Inspiron family. Dell split it out as its own animal, and now the G Series is aimed at mainstream and budget-constrained gamers, with more modest designs than the Alienware models and component loadouts that are humbler but still workable for the latest games.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

The G Series models hover above and below the $1,000 mark, while the Alienware models start north of that. Models in the G Series are gradated into G3, G5, and G7 classes, with the higher numbers indicating higher-grade builds and feature sets. Latitude: The Umbrella for Business MachinesThen we have the business machines. Dell’s Latitude brand is the mainstay for its business laptops, competing with options from Lenovo (the ThinkPad T series) and HP (the various EliteBook lines). Latitude offers options for workers in the office or out in the field, with a mix of thin-yet-powerful laptops and durable systems that can take a beating.Like the Inspirons used to, the Latitudes make use of a 3000, 5000, and 7000 nomenclature, plus a top-of-the-line 9000 series. The second number in the four-digit model number signifies the screen size. So a Dell Latitude 7390 is in second from the top of the four lines, with a 13.3-inch screen; a Latitude 9500 would be a top-grade machine with a 15.6-inch screen.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Beyond the “simply” durable units, the Latitude line is also home to a few costly, highly ruggedized models that are designed to be used in hostile environments: doused in water, clipped onto an ATV, exposed to cold and wind, and the like. These are branded under the Latitude Rugged Extreme moniker.Precision: Workstation Laptops for Demanding ProfessionalsMobile workstations are a breed of machines that share some traits with business models, but they stand apart for their Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certifications and, in some cases, specialized CPU and GPU options and support for precise error-correcting-code (ECC) memory. ISV certifications give users of demanding professional business apps (in areas such as scientific computing, architecture, and engineering) assurances that the workstation will run up to snuff with a given application. Companies such as Adobe, Autodesk, Avid, Dassault Systemés, and Siemens tend to be the ISVs involved.

(Credit: Molly Flores)

Dell’s line of mobile workstations is its Precision line, which comprises both laptop and desktop models. On the laptop side, Precision makes use of the same 3000, 5000, and 7000 series lingo as the Latitudes, with the screen size indicated within the model number.A workstation might make use of consumer- or business-grade Intel CPUs. Still, the mark of a high-end workstation is the presence of a mobile Intel Xeon CPU and a dedicated workstation-grade graphics processor from Nvidia (RTX A-series, formerly Quadro) or AMD (Radeon Pro, much less common). The latter contrasts consumer-GPU counterparts (GeForce RTX and Radeon RX, respectively) and are designed specifically for the kind of heavy-duty calculations that ISV-class applications require. So, What Is the Best Dell Laptop to Buy?You’ll find plenty of solid Dell systems to choose from, but don’t be overwhelmed by the options. We’ve combed through our many reviews and singled out the best Dell systems in multiple categories. For more (Dell and non-Dell) options, check out our favorite laptops overall (updated constantly), as well as our lists of the best Chromebooks, the best budget laptops, and the best gaming laptops.

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