Best Products > Computer & Laptops 98 98 people found this article helpful The 7 Best Dell Laptops of 2022 Check out Dell's latest and greatest laptops By Adam S. Doud Adam S. Doud Twitter Writer Adam has been writing about mobile technology since 2011. He is the former host of the Android Authority podcast, and his work has appeared in numerous publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 17, 2021 Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh Fact checked by Stephen Slaybaugh New York University London Metropolitan University Stephen Slaybaugh is a fact checker and music writer with with more than 20 years experience writing about internet retail and consumer tech. He has been featured in Digital Trends, DealNews, and TechRadar. He is a content designer at Bose Corporation and is completing his Master of Arts in Digital Media. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Computer & Laptops Audio Camera & Video Car Audio & Accessories Computer & Laptops Computer Components Gaming Gifts Networking Phones & Accessories Smart Home Software Tablets Toys & Games TVs Wearables We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Dell is known for providing a wide range of different laptops suited to a variety of needs. However, finding the option that's right for you can be difficult. We've collected what we think are the best options available from the Dell repertoire for different situations. Whether you need a tough notebook that feels at home on a construction site or a budget-friendly college-bound option, Dell has something for everyone. But read on for our selections of the best Dell laptops you can buy today. Dell isn't very creative in their naming schemes and it can be hard to sort through the alphabet soup. That's why we've laid out our picks for you in a nice, neat list. The Rundown Best Overall: Dell XPS 13 9360 at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Business: Dell Inspiron 15.6" at Amazon Jump to Review Best Rugged: Dell Latitude 5420 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Gaming: Alienware m17 R4 at Dell Jump to Review Best Budget Gaming: Dell G3 15 at Amazon Jump to Review Best 2-in-1: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 at Amazon Jump to Review Best Splurge: Dell Latitude 7420 at Dell Jump to Review in this article Expand Our Picks About Our Trusted Experts What to Look For in a Dell Laptop Best Overall: Dell XPS 13 9360 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Great keyboard Great battery life Beautiful design What We Don't Like Poorly placed webcam Dell's XPS line has long been some of the best in the Dell laptop department, and the Dell XPS 13 9360 is a great example of that. Everything about the design is just gorgeous, especially with the Infinity Edge display that virtually eliminates the bezel on the top and side of the screen. It's a very immersive experience, but it also means the webcam is placed in the bottom bezel below the screen. The result is an unfortunate angle for video conferencing. Be sure to trim your nose hairs. But beyond that, this laptop has a luxurious keyboard that's amazing for typing. The rest of the body is covered in a soft-touch carbon material that simply feels great. The laptop isn't too heavy, slipping in under 3 pounds, but it's also not the lightest out there. All the same, the great keyboard and screen really make this the best overall pick for a Dell laptop. They're just that good. How to Take a Screenshot on a Dell Laptop Best for Business: Dell Inspiron 15.6" Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Ample memory and SSD space Lots of input/output What We Don't Like Intel Celeron Window 10 S The Dell Inspiron comes in a number of different configurations, but this one is particularly good for business. It's not terribly powerful, having a fairly low-end Intel Celeron processor and Windows 10S, but that can actually be good for business applications. Windows 10 S won't install apps from outside the Windows 10 app store which is flush with business applications. Windows 10 S is also resistant to a lot of different malware due to those restrictions. But the Celeron itself is underpowered and will really work only for some web surfing and document creation, which is perfect for business. On the plus side, this laptop offers a lot of everything else. There are 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage that will keep you going for a long time. There are also several ports on this computer, including an SD card reader, HDMI output, three USB Type-A ports and a headphone jack. There's a lot to like here, but don't plan on doing anything more than the basics on this laptop. 6 Great Windows 10 Apps You Should Be Using Best Rugged: Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged Extreme Tablet Amazon View On Amazon View On Dell What We Like Bright display Impact resistance Built-in handle What We Don't Like Stylus is hard to access Touch screen is not accurate If you need a rugged laptop, the Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged laptop even has "rugged" in the name. It's built like a tank to withstand anything the outdoors might throw at it. It has built-in impact resistance and can withstand drops of up to 3 feet. Like any device designed to work outside, this laptop comes with a bright screen that you can read in direct sunlight. The keyboard has a great feel with nice pitch and 1.5 millimeters of travel. The base configuration doesn't include a touchscreen, but a small upgrade gets you a multi-touch display. You might not want it, though, because the touchscreen is not terribly accurate. Adding to that headache, the stylus, which has its own bay in the body of the laptop, can be difficult to get out. These might fall under the category of first world problems, however. If you have the base model, or don't plan to use the touchscreen, this is a tough laptop with a built-in handle that's easy to carry and will stand up to the elements. The 7 Best Rugged Smartphones of 2022 Best Gaming: Alienware m17 R4 Alienware View On Dell What We Like Fast performance 360 Hz screen What We Don't Like Terrible battery life Bottom firing speakers Alienware is Dell's gaming line of laptops, and they come by their reputation honestly. The Alienware M17 R4 is an absolute beast of a machine with an amazing graphics processing unit (GPU) that will punch through gaming, video editing, and more. You can choose between NVidia's Geforce 3070 and 3080, either of which is more power than you'll know what to do with. All of this comes with a quick, smooth 360 Hz screen which will be next-level for gaming. But with great power comes great battery depletion. This laptop won't last long when disconnected from the power cord—an unfortunate reality with these GPUs. Bottom firing speakers are also a choice I would not have made when designing this laptop. The sound gets muffled and a little distorted when the laptop is on a desk. You'll want to pack your gaming headphones along with this laptop. Best Budget Gaming: Dell G3 15 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Dell What We Like Good performance Solid battery life What We Don't Like Dull display Mid-range GPU If you're a gamer on a budget, Dell has got you covered, too. The Dell G3 15 is an inexpensive gaming laptop with a mid-range GTX 1650 GPU. The plus side of this is that the laptop actually gets good battery life when you leave your cable at home. The laptop comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Bear in mind, you might want to get an external hard drive if you plan to install a lot of games. But overall, the Intel Core i5 and GPU will give you really good gaming performance in a pretty slim package. The display is a bit dull, though, so you might not get the best graphics for your gaming. It's a compromise that Dell made here. But if you can look past that, this will give you all the power you need to grind out some games when and where you need to. Best 2-in-1: Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop 4.6 Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Sears.com What We Like Lightweight Good battery life Flips into tablet mode What We Don't Like Keyboard takes some getting used to Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 Laptop Review One of our favorite kinds of laptops is the 2-in-1 because you get both the laptop and the tablet experience. The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 is a great example, with a great build that is very lightweight. It comes in at under 3 pounds which is great to hold in tablet mode. The keyboard takes some getting used to. It has a MagLev design, resulting in a 24 percent reduction in thickness. But if you can get used to it, you'll have a great laptop with awesome performance and great battery life that can also turn into a tablet. All that is a pretty enticing package, which is why the XPS line is one of our favorites. It's a versatile and powerful laptop that will do anything you need it to. It's a good all-arounder. "The Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 laptop is an impressive competitor in the laptop space. It’s nicely designed, lightweight, and packs a big, high-resolution touchscreen display." — Nick Jaynes, Product Tester Lifewire / Nick Jaynes Best Splurge: Dell Latitude 7420 Dell View On Dell What We Like The best of everything Great display Lots of input/output Good battery life What We Don't Like Heavy Expensive If you want the best of everything that Dell has to offer, this is the laptop for you. The Latitude 7420 has a great display, good battery life, and top-of-the-line specifications in almost every category. There's no discrete GPU, but the Intel Core i7 and 32 GB of RAM should be able to power through just about anything. Plus, the lack of GPU gives you better battery life, which is great. The laptop is on the heavier side, at least compared to competitors in the field, but it's not too bad. It justifies every dollar of its almost $3,000 price tag, but it wouldn't be a “splurge” item if it wasn't expensive. Basically, if you want a laptop that can handle any peripheral you have without #donglelife, this is a solid option, and its power is unmatched. This is a great laptop that will be great for years to come. Final Verdict The Dell XPS 13 9360 (view at Amazon) is an easy choice for best overall. You get a really great balance of power and price. This laptop will power through anything, including some light gaming at a price that won't break the bank. There are better laptops on this list, but this one offers the best quality for the best price. That's an easy call. About Our Trusted Experts Adam Doud has been writing in the tech space for almost a decade. He's used several Dell laptops and falls in love with them every time. Dude, he's got a Dell. Nick Jaynes is a tech writer whose writing has been published by Mashable, Digital Trends, Cool Hunting, and Travel+Leisure, among other publications. FAQ Can you upgrade your laptop? Sometimes. Laptops are usually harder to upgrade than desktop computers because of space. In order to have as slim a profile as possible, laptops are usually designed with specific components fitting in and around other specific components. Keeping space free for upgrades isn't a very space-efficient design. Usually, you'll want to get the highest specifications you can afford at the outset. Why does your laptop get so hot? Laptops rely on air cooling to keep them from overheating. One of the most common reasons a laptop will overheat is lack of air flow. This often happens when the laptop is set down on a bed or couch or other soft fabric surfaces that don't allow air to properly flow. A lap desk or cooling pad is a great solution to prevent this from happening. What is Dell's warranty policy? Dell covers all of its laptops with a 2-year limited warranty. That will generally cover you in terms of hardware failure that happens outside of damage resulting from misuse or abuse. If any parts fail, or you have software issues, Dell should have you covered. Andy Zahn / Lifewire What to Look For in a Dell Laptop Battery Life Battery life is critical in a laptop because of its portability. The last thing you want to do is lug around a charger along with your laptop and hunt for outlets at your local coffee shop. Battery life is usually measured in hours, and six hours is a median benchmark to look for, but obviously longer is better. Screen Size One component that cannot be upgraded is obviously the screen. Of course, the screen size will ultimately determine the size of the laptop itself, so you'll want to go as large as you're comfortable with, but not so large as to make the entire machine unwieldy. 13 to 15 inches is a good ballpark. Andy Zahn / Lifewire Specifications The other specifications inside the laptop will ultimately determine its performance. You'll want to see high numbers for RAM, hard drive, battery capacity, etc. Since laptops can be hard to upgrade, you'll generally want to get as much as you can afford when you initially make your purchase. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit