Overall, the provided a meaningful bump in performance over the with a 45-watt, 4-core/8-thread Core i7-11800H. The XPS 15’s thermal performance was predictable given the laptop’s size. That’s different than the XPS 15 9510, which didn’t demonstrate a meaningful difference in performance mode in all but one benchmark. As you can see from the XPS 15 9520’s scores, switching to its performance mode made a significant difference in most of our benchmarks, particularly in its single-core performance. Given the prevalence of manufacturer utilities that allow the user to choose between modes that tune the fans and CPU speed to run cooler, more quietly, or faster, I’ve started reporting both “balanced” and “performance” mode benchmark results. Still, it’s a thin laptop that can only move so much air, and I was looking forward to seeing its Intel 12th-gen performance.Ī quick note about performance modes. Dell paid a lot of attention to thermal design with the XPS 15, using two fans and heat pipes along with hidden exhaust vents and a slight angle to increase airflow. It’s been a solid performer in other laptops we’ve tested, most of which have been larger and/or thicker machines. My review unit was equipped with the 12th-gen Intel Core i7-12700H, a 45-watt CPU with 14 cores (six Performance and eight Efficiency) and 20 threads. Wireless connectivity is robust with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. Dell includes a USB-C to USB-A and HDMI adapter, but the lack of legacy ports on the machine is disappointing and one of the costs of such a thin chassis. PortsĬonnectivity is limited to three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a full-size SD card reader. The HP Spectre x360 16 is one such laptop, and it’s wider and deeper than the XPS 15 while being thicker at 0.78 inches and heavier at 4.45 pounds. We’ve seen more 16-inch laptops arriving with displays that are just slightly larger. The XPS 15 is thin at 0.71 inches and light at 4.31 pounds, but the Surface Laptop 4 is thinner and lighter at 0.58 inches and 3.4 pounds. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 comes close, being almost as wide while being deeper thanks to its taller 15-inch 3:2 and larger bezels, but it’s not nearly as powerful. The XPS 15 is about as small as you can make a laptop with a 15.6-inch 16:10 display, thanks to the tiny bezels mentioned above. The overall attention to detail is palpable and helps justify the laptop’s high price. Even the hinge is well designed, with a dual-clutch mechanism that makes opening with one hand a breeze while holding the display firmly in place. Apple’s MacBooks Pros, Lenovo’s ThinkPads, and HP’s Spectres are as well-built, but few others can match the XPS 15. It’s also incredibly well-built, with no bending, flexing, or twisting in the lid, keyboard deck, or chassis bottom. The design isn’t just aesthetically perfect. The only laptop that comes close to providing such an attractive design is HP’s Spectre x360 16, which is also more extravagant. Thanks to the smallest display bezels you’ll find in a 15-inch laptop, which make up a 92.9% screen-to-body ratio, the XPS 15 looks ultra-modern with a screen that seems to float in the air. The overall attention to detail is palpable and helps justify the laptop’s high price.Įach model has the same diamond-cut, double-anodized side edges that are attractive and functional, providing scratch resistance that helps keep the metal pristine despite plugging and unplugging peripherals. In both cases, the keyboard deck is also warm and comfortable compared to bare metal. You can also get a frost chassis with a white woven fiber keyboard deck that’s simply beautiful. The angles are just right, and the silver chassis with a black carbon fiber keyboard deck on my review unit is elegant without being ostentatious. The XPS 15 benefits from years of design iterations that have culminated in a streamlined and cohesive aesthetic. The XPS 15 retains its place as the king of 15-inchers. However, you’re getting a large laptop with a chassis that makes it seem much smaller than it is and enough performance to please all but the most demanding users. It’s not the fastest 15-inch laptop you can buy (and I’ll include 16-inch laptops in the same class given the small differential in screen size). After putting the laptop through its paces, I can say that it’s just as good as before, only faster. It runs $2,253, placing it solidly in premium laptop territory. ![]() I reviewed a midrange configuration of the XPS 15 with an Intel Core i7-12700H and the 3.5K OLED display.
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