The Best Dell Laptop

As the electronics marketplace has evolved, Dell has held its own, remaining a powerhouse. Consumers see Dell as a trustworthy name, especially if they need a laptop that can capably handle activities like gaming.

When you’re looking for a laptop, there are several features that always stand out as important. As with any device you plan to take on the go with you, battery life is a factor. Although you probably realize a battery’s longevity usually shrinks as as laptop ages, it can help to look for one that lasts as long as possible. This is especially true if you engage in activities that tend to drain your battery, such as gaming and video streaming, when you don’t have a power source nearby.

Laptops are designed to be portable, but some tend to make this a challenge. If you plan to haul your laptop around with you, pay close attention to the weight specifications listed, especially if you think you’ll be carrying it for extended periods of time. A five-pound laptop can feel more like 20 pounds when you add on the bag you carry it in and all your other items.

But there are many features that are just as important in a laptop as they are in a desktop. No matter how you plan to use your laptop, you’ll likely want to avoid dealing with constant slowdowns. Processing speeds can vary from one Dell laptop to another, so it’s important to pay close attention to that while shopping.

For gamers, there are additional considerations. Some Dell laptops are built specifically with gamers in mind. If you’re a gamer, look for a laptop with a video card that provides superior performance. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the video quality. For daytime play, some screens build in antiglare technology.

Consumers increasingly rely on cloud storage solutions, but there’s still a demand to keep documents and images on a device’s hard drive. Consider how much storage you’ll demand before you start shopping. You still need to regularly back your files up, whether to a cloud server or your own external hard drive, but at least you’ll have good primary storage space for items.

In the end, though, the price may drive your purchase decision. Dell laptops can range in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands, so you’ll need to know how much computing power you’ll require. If you buy more laptop than you need, you’ll waste money, but if you don’t buy enough, you’ll live to regret it.

• Computing power starts with the processor, a chip that directs the rest of the computer what to do. If you’ve ever waited in frustration for your computer to open a browser or load a video, the processor was likely the culprit. The Dell XPS 15 9570 brings a powerful Intel Core i9 processor that is considered a beast in the industry. But you can still do well with the Intel Core i7 processor found in the Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS. You’ll find there are few instances where an i9 will beat an i7, though, so if it helps save some money, go for the laptop with the i7 built in. For standard users that don’t engage in gaming or other intense activities, the Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard has an Intel Core i5 processor, and the Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″ has an Intel Core i3.
• Sometimes the hard drive can slow a powerful processor down. The Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″ has a hard drive on the slow side that holds the computer back. The low-priced Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard also has a sluggish hard drive in addition to its slower processor.
• Gamers have a very distinct set of needs in a computer, and Dell keeps that in mind. If you’re a gamer, steer toward the Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS, which provides smooth 1080p gaming. The Dell XPS 15 9570 has the power for gaming, but the NVIDIA video card isn’t quite what a serious gamer would want. The Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard doesn’t have an integrated graphics chip, so gamers will want to skip that model.
• One of the biggest benefits of a laptop is its portability. But if you’re away from a power source, short battery life becomes a big problem. The Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard offers an astounding seven hours of battery life, while the Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS tops that, at 7.5 hours.
• A heavy laptop can become a burden, especially if you have a long hike to the office every day. The Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard is the most lightweight, at 2.65 pounds, followed by the Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″, at only 4.85 pounds. The Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS boosts weight up to 5.66 pounds. If you plan to travel far, though, the Dell XPS 15 9570 will be the least portable, weighing 7.5 pounds.
• Despite its other features, you’ll spend the majority of your computing time staring at the monitor. The Dell XPS 15 9570 has 4K Ultra HD resolution, rendering crisp, clear images. The Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS has Full HD, with a resolution of 1920 X 1080, and the Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″’s Full HD is 1366 X 768.
• When you’re reading computer specifications, you’ll also see something called PWM. This stands for Pulse-Width Modulation, and it refers to the frequency at which it pulses on and off. The higher the pulse rate, the better since lower rates can cause issues like headaches and eye strain. The Dell XPS 15 9570 provides PWM, but it’s below 90 nits. The Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″, on the other hand, doesn’t use PWM for its backlight, which means you could experience discomfort after extended use.
• Antiglare technology is also vital in reducing eye strain and headaches. The Dell XPS 15 9570 and Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS both feature anti-glare technology.
• Even if you rely on the cloud for storage, you’re going to need space for applications. Whether you need it or not, 1TB is pretty much the standard storage space for Dell laptops, with all of these models coming with it.
• When you compare the lowest-priced model with the highest-priced, you’ll probably ask yourself whether you really need the extra features you get with the most expensive laptops. By far the most expensive is the Dell XPS 15 9570, which retails for well over $2,500. Compare that to the price tag on the Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″, which retails between $300 and $400, and you start weighing your options. You can still get power for a decent price, though, with the Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS, which retails for less than $1,000 while featuring an Intel Core i7. For a compromise between all of them, though, consider the Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard, which sells for $600-$700.
• When it comes to laptops, touchscreen capabilities seem to be a matter of personal preference. The Dell XPS 15 9570, Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″ and Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard all feature touchscreen technology. If you prefer to confine your controls to the touchpad or external mouse, go with the Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS.
• One newer feature that’s also a matter of personal preference is fingerprint reader technology. The Dell XPS 15 9570 features this. Simply place a finger or thumb in the upper-right corner, on the power button. This will make it easy to log in every time you return to your laptop.
• Fan noise is an ongoing issue with laptops, but you need to keep your device cool. The Dell XPS 15 9570 builds in twin fans that provides almost noiseless operation during low-intensity work, although you’ll find it quite a bit noisier when your laptop starts heating up.
• While you may spend most of your computing time looking at your monitor, most of your contact is with the keyboard and mouse. One feature that matters to many users is a backlit keyboard, which makes it easy to see the keys when you’re in a dark room. The Dell XPS 15 9570 and Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard both feature backlit keyboards.
• If you use your laptop’s USB ports, you’ll need to pay close attention to what’s provided since these ports seem to be reducing with each new release. The Dell Inspiron with Intel Core i3, 15.6″ and Dell Inspiron i5577-7359BLK-PUS each feature three USB ports, while the Dell XPS 15 9570 and Dell Inspiron 15, Backlit Keyboard have only two.