Review: Dell XPS 15

Conclusion

How do you go about making the ultimate 15in Windows laptop? For Dell, the formula turned out to be disarmingly simple: take the smaller XPS 13, make it bigger, add a discrete GPU and a gorgeous 4K display, and Bob's your uncle.

The resulting XPS 15 is a beautifully designed piece of kit, and for a laptop measuring only 17mm at its thickest point, it packs a meaningful punch courtesy of a latest-generation Intel Core i7 processor, DDR4 memory and an NVMe SSD. Add a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU into the mix and you also get a modicum of gaming potential.

Dell's core components hit many of the right notes, yet it's the optional 4K InfinityEdge display that really catches the eye. This is without a doubt one of the best 15.6in panels available, however it does carry a hefty price tag, and it also makes a significant dent in battery life.

So should you buy one? That's an interesting question as I'd tentatively earmarked the system as a replacement for my 2012 ThinkPad X1 Carbon and personally, the XPS 15 hasn't quite managed to win me over. It's a delightful machine with many attractive attributes, yet despite Dell's best efforts to shrink the 15.6in form factor, I still find the XPS 15 a fraction too large and heavy to serve as my go-everywhere PC.

Those who favour portability over performance may want to look elsewhere, but if you're certain 15.6in is the right size for you, Dell's XPS 15 should be near the top of your list.

Dell XPS 15

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The XPS 15 laptop is available to purchase from Dell.

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