- Conclusion Get the lowdown
- Features How it compares
- Performance Real world benchmarks
- Differences Technical showdown
- Reviews Word on the street
- Competition Others to consider
- Discussion Answers and opinions
Dell XPS 15
- 15.6"
- Core i5 2.53 GHz Dual core
- 8 GB DDR3
- 750 GB HDD
Released August, 2011
by LaptopMag (Oct, 2010)To take full advantage of this software, though, you should equip the XPS 15 with a Blu-ray drive that can play 3D Blu-ray movies.
Conclusion Check out the Dell XPS 15
First reviewed December, 2011
Features Key features of the Dell XPS 15
2.53 GHz
Intel Core i5 2467M
by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)The lack of a webcam is also disappointing, especially because you’ll find this feature on most lower-cost netbooks; you can add one for $25 when configuring your system online.
screen size
15.6"
17.3"
15.6"
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2012)The hottest point of the notebook was the small metal panel on the bottom of the laptop that measured 92 degrees.
screen resolution
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2012)When we watched a 1080p trailer for Skyfall, details like the stubble on his beard were sharp.
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2012)Shoppers on a tighter budget can get similar graphics performance, but without the 1080p display, from the $849 Acer Aspire V3-571G-9435.
cpu speed
| 0 GHz | 2.53 GHz  | 3 GHz |
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2012)The $1,299 base model features a 2.5-GHz Intel Core i5-3210M CPU with 6GB of RAM, a 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive with a 32GB 32GB mSATA SSD and a Nvidia GeForce GT 630M GPU with 1GB of VRAM.
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Oct, 2010)With the base configuration, which is what we tested except for our optional ($25) backlit keyboard, you get a 2.4-GHz Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 500GB 7,200-rpm hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium, and Nvidia GT420 graphics.
processor
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)Although our review unit had a Pentium Dual-Core processor, it’s also available with CPUs ranging from an Intel Celeron to Intel Core 2 Duo (the higher-end Core 2 Duo adds $200 to the starting price).
memory
| 0 GB | 4 GB   | 8 GB |
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)Even when you select the 64-bit OS, the maximum amount of RAM you can order is 4GB; the base configuration has 2GB, and upgrading to 3GB and 4GB costs $50 and $75, respectively.
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2012)The $1,999 top model has the same processor and GPU as our review unit with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB 5,400-rpm hard drive with 128GB mSATA SSD.
Performance Real world tests of Dell XPS 15
3DMark06 CPU
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)The Inspiron 15’s integrated Intel GMA X4500HD scored just 767 on 3DMark06, a graphics benchmark; that’s 2,500 points below the mainstream category average.
XPS 15 by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)These components produced a PCMark Vantage score of 2,627, which is 768 points below average for a mainstream notebook.
battery life
5.14 hour
9.2 hour
7.3 hour
XPS 15 by Andres-Gallardo (Jul, 2011)If you're going to sit down and watch a movie, expect around 3 hours of battery life.
Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors
pros
-
2 MP -
watch high-definition movies on Blu-Ray discs -
8 GB -
750 GB -
MMC, SDHC, SDSC, SDXC -
2.53 GHz -
15.6"
cons
-
2.3 GHz (Intel Core i5 2467M) -
DDR3 -
23.27 -
100 ppi -
5,891 (Intel Core i5 2467M)
Reviews Word on the street
 |   Rated by 54 users at amazon.com Rated 100% by by Andres-Gallardo (Jul, 2011)  Rated 80% by by Syed-Fahad--sharpdesigner (Sep, 2011)  Rated 100% by by monsterdaene (May, 2011) |
|---|---|
Screen
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)The display’s 1366 x 768 resolution is standard for this screen size.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | by LaptopMag (Oct, 2010)Click to enlargeThe 15.6-inch glossy 1366 x 768 screen displayed sharp images and solid viewing angles.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by J.-fox (Aug, 2011)This screen is by far the clearest laptop screen I've seen.
Body
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 80% by by Syed-Fahad--sharpdesigner (Sep, 2011)The laptop has sleek design and it has really really improved over its predecessor in overall look[though the predecessar itself is equally good imo].
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 80% by by Adrian-A-Castillo-M (Apr, 2013)cool style, nice design, a little heavy but it has strong structure.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by RudyC (Jul, 2011)In summary, this is not a MacBook Pro in terms of style but it's a great performer and despite it's slightly bulky build, the machine looks really nice.
Storage
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | by LaptopMag (Jul, 2009)A Blu-ray burner is available for $150; a DVD+/-RW drive with Roxio Creator 10 costs $79.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by ramfn8 (Jul, 2011)The 640GB harddrive is nice, but definitely more than I'll ever use.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by J.-fox (Aug, 2011)I also opted for a blu-ray drive, and movies look and sound great (more on sound quality later).
Battery
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by H.-Harris--p51d007 (Jul, 2012)The dual video is nice on the battery also.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by H.-Harris--p51d007 (Jul, 2012)it might use 1-3% of the battery, making startup faster.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by Andres-Gallardo (Jul, 2011)Lastly the inclusion of Optimus is a big plus on second gen L502x's due to the ability to save more battery and lower temperatures.
Weight
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 80% by by isabela (Jul, 2012)It's seen strong, in fact it's heavy, it's good to use.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by A.-Heintzman--Ali (Dec, 2012)This laptop has been perfect for his mobile lifestyle, lightweight enough to be in his backpack, and respectable enough to pull out and use within a team of physics and engineering students.
Dell XPS 15 15.6", 2.53 GHz, 8 GB, 750 GB HDD | Rated 100% by by Andres-Gallardo (Jul, 2011)One of the main gripes I have with this laptop is the form factor and weight.
Competition What else you should consider
 | 1 | ASUS N55 Series N55SF 2-way tie: Good CPU benchmark score ASUS N55 Series N55SF vs Dell XPS 15 |
 | 2 | HP ENVY 15 Lots of l2 cache HP ENVY 15 vs Dell XPS 15 |
 | 3 | ASUS N53 Series N53SN 2-way tie: Good CPU benchmark score ASUS N53 Series N53SN vs Dell XPS 15 |
 | 4 | Samsung Series 7 NP700Z7C Longest battery life Samsung Series 7 NP700Z7C vs Dell XPS 15 |
 | 5 | ASUS N53 Series N53SV 3-way tie: Sharpest screen ASUS N53 Series N53SV vs Dell XPS 15 |
 | 7 | ASUS N56VJ-DH71 Largest amount of storage capacity ASUS N56VJ-DH71 vs Dell XPS 15 |
New duel?
Let the battle continue or dare to compare.
Editions Editions of the Dell XPS 15
| Price | Edition | 3DMark06 CPU | Internal storage | Thickness | Manufacturer code | Compare | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | | 2,421.2 | 750 GB | 38 mm | XPS 15 | | ||||
 | | 53,433 | 640 GB | 118 mm | X15L-1024ELS | | ||||
