When it comes to productivity powerhouses, the Dell XPS 15 vs Dell XPS 17 is a debate any serious buyer will want to have. Both offer incredible performance and value for money, offering great hardware, great design, and even fantastic battery life.
But there are some key differences between the two and it’s important that you get the right laptop for your needs and budget. Fortunately, we’ve extensively tested and reviewed both of the best-in-class Dell laptops, and we’re here to help you break down the pros and cons of each.
Whether you’re looking for the best laptop for work or one of the best creative workstations with a bit of serious gaming power, we’ve got you covered with our in-depth match breakdown across the key categories for each.
Dell XPS 15 vs Dell XPS 17: Price and Availability
Regardless of whether you are looking for the Dell XPS 15 or Dell XPS 17, you are in luck as both laptops are now available for purchase on the Dell website.
The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,449 / £1,549 / AU$3,229, while the configuration in our Dell XPS 15 (2022) review sells for $2,253 (about £1,900 / AU$3,280). The top configuration costs $3,899 / £3,199 / AU$6,609.
The Dell XPS 17 starts (obviously) more expensive at $1,749 in the US, £2,099 in the UK and AU$3,999 in Australia. The configuration from our Dell XPS 17 (2022) review costs $2,749 / £2,599 / AU$4,798. The Dell XPS 17 is priced at $4,143 (about £3,500 / AU$6,030).
All in all, if you want to save some money on an already expensive item, the Dell XPS 15 is a better choice.
Dell XPS 15 vs Dell XPS 17: Design
Functionally, there is little difference between the Dell XPS 15 and the Dell XPS 17 in terms of design. Both retain the same awesome looks of their predecessors, and while the Dell XPS 17 is understandably slightly larger, the Dell XPS 15’s dimensions are 13.56 W x D x H x 0.73 inches (344.4 x 230.1 x 18.54mm). while the Dell XPS 17 is 14.74 x 9.76 x 0.77 inches (375 x 248 x 20 mm), so in the end there isn’t much of a difference.
Both laptops have options for OLED displays with UHD+ resolution (3840 x 2400p), and probably the biggest difference is the type and number of ports. The Dell XPS 15 (2022) features 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (with DisplayPort and PowerDelivery), 2 x Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 1 x SD card slot and 1 x slot for a Kensington lock.
The Dell XPS 17 (2022), on the other hand, has 4 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm combo jack, 1 x SD card reader and 1 x slot for a Kensington lock. The additional space in the XPS 17 allows Dell to fit an additional Thunderbolt 4 port.
That being said, the exterior of the Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 cases is the same beautiful brushed aluminum shell with carbon fiber palm rests as their predecessors, and those put off by the Dell XPS 13 Plus will feel right at home with the two laptops. Both have meh-style 720p webcams, but that’s the sacrifice you’ll have to make for the ultra-thin bezels you get with the XPS line of laptops.
Dell XPS 15 vs Dell XPS 17: Performance
The performance of the two Dell laptops will vary significantly depending on the spec, but either way you’re getting fantastic performance that’s pretty much the same, spec for spec.
Dell did a fantastic job designing both systems regardless of their configuration. And honestly, it can be easier to compare the two systems against the best 15-inch laptops and the best 17-inch laptops, respectively, rather than comparing them head-to-head.
The XPS 17 with the Intel Alder Lake Core i7-12700H comes within striking distance of the model in our MSI Creator Z17 test, which is equipped with a Core i9-12900H. The same is true for the XPS 15, which comes in similarly close to the model in our Asus ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition review, which also packs an Intel Core i9-12900H.
In terms of gaming performance and creative workloads, you don’t get the same level of performance as the best gaming laptops. But you can get an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU in the Dell XPS 17, while the Dell XPS 15 comes out on top with an RTX 3050 Ti, so neither machine is a dimwit when it comes to gaming.
However, the advantage in gaming performance and creative workloads always goes back to the higher-end XPS 17. So if that’s what matters most to you, you should definitely look up.
Dell XPS 15 vs Dell XPS 17: Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, there’s not really a huge difference between the Dell XPS 15 and the Dell XPS 17. The XPS 15 model we tested had an 86 Wh battery, while the XPS 17 had a 96 Wh battery. Battery included, but that extra size was pretty much negated by the larger display.
Thankfully, both XPS laptops managed to break the 10-hour mark in our battery tests, with the XPS 15 even surviving 12 hours in our PCMark 10 battery test.
Which ones should you buy?
Ultimately, if you get the same package of specs, the performance difference between the Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 is going to be fairly marginal, so what really matters is whether you want the extra umph on the high-end with the XPS 17 or yourself worth the extra screen real estate (and cost) to you.
However, you will sacrifice some of the portability that the XPS 15 offers, which in many ways represents a perfect balance of portability, price and performance in the XPS lineup. However, depending on what you want, the XPS range offers a laptop that fits your needs and looks great doing it.
