Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 2024: everything you should know

The XPS line of laptops from Dell has always been the place to go for high-end ultraportables, and they are some of the best laptops Dell has to offer. But if you need a lot of work done in 2022, you’re probably thinking about the Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 because the bigger models give you more space to work.

They’re both good at a lot of things and proud of it. They’re the kind of people you can show off at a coffee shop and then take home to watch Netflix in bed. The Dell XPS 13 may be the thinnest and most mobile of the XPS line, but the 15-inch and 17-inch models pack more into their larger silver or black frames while still keeping the series’ trademark portability.

After a redesign in 2020, the XPS 15 and XPS 17 will look a lot like each other. The 17-inch model is bigger and a little bit heavier than the 15-inch model, but the keyboard, materials, and shape are all the same. The 15-inch model has two Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports, an extra USB 3.1 Type-C port, a full-size SD card reader, and a headphone jack.

The 13-inch model only has one Thunderbolt 3/USB-C port and one USB 3.1 Type-C port. The 17-inch model, on the other hand, keeps the SD card and headphone slots but switches to four Thunderbolt 3/USB-C ports. Any of them can be used to power the laptop. It works a lot like the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but you also have an SD card ready. Also, it’s nice that you get a USB-C/Thunderbolt to HDMI and USB-A adapter in the box.

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 Price & availability

You’re in luck if you’re looking for either the Dell XPS 15 or the Dell XPS 17. Both laptops are now available on Dell’s website. The Dell XPS 15 starts at $1,449, £1,549, or AU$3,229. The configuration we tested for our Dell XPS 15 (2022) review costs $2,253, which is about £1,900 or AU$3,280. The most expensive configuration costs $3,899, £3,199, or AU$6,609.

The Dell XPS 17, on the other hand, starts at $1,749 in the US, £2,099 in the UK, and AU$3,999 in Australia, which makes sense. The Dell XPS 17 (2022) configuration we reviewed costs $2,749, £2,599, or AU$4,798. The most you can pay for a Dell XPS 17 is $4,143 (about £3,500 or AU$6,030). Overall, the Dell XPS 15 is a better choice if you want to save money on an already expensive item.

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17: Comparison Table

FeatureXPS 15XPS 17
Display15.6-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge display17-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) or UHD+ (3840 x 2400) InfinityEdge display
Processor11th Gen Intel Core i5, i7, or i9 processors11th Gen Intel Core i7 or i9 processors
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti or 3050 Ti or 3060 GPUNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or 3070 GPU
RAMUp to 64GB DDR4-3200MHzUp to 64GB DDR4-3200MHz
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSDUp to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Ports2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, SD card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack, 1 USB-C 3.1 port, 1 HDMI 2.0 port, and a wedge-shaped lock slot4 Thunderbolt 4 ports, SD card reader, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a wedge-shaped lock slot
DimensionsHeight: 0.71 in (18 mm) x Width: 13.57 in (344.72 mm) x Depth: 9.06 in (230.14 mm)Height: 0.77 in (19.5 mm) x Width: 14.74 in (374.45 mm) x Depth: 9.76 in (248.05 mm)
WeightStarting at 4.0 lbs (1.83 kg)Starting at 5.53 lbs (2.51 kg)
Battery LifeUp to 16 hours and 49 minutes with FHD+ display and up to 8 hours and 27 minutes with UHD+ displayUp to 11 hours and 45 minutes with FHD+ display and up to 8 hours and 30 minutes with UHD+ display
PriceStarting at $1,149.99Starting at $1,499.99
Official WebsiteVisit WebsiteVisit Website

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 Design

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17

There are no big differences between the Dell XPS 17 and its smaller sibling in terms of design. In 2020, the XPS 15 got a new look, and it came out at the same time as the XPS 17, which was the first of its kind. Since then, there have been some small changes to the two laptops, but the overall design has stayed the same.

The XPS 17 has the same keyboard and large touchpad, and the palm rests, lid, and chassis are all made of the same black carbon fiber and silver aluminum. The one big difference is that the XPS 15 can come in a different color scheme, with a Frost aluminum body and a white glass fiber palm rest. The only thing that makes these two laptops different is their size. The difference in diagonal screen size between the two is 1.4 inches, which makes the XPS 17 both bigger and heavier.

The XPS 15 is about three-quarters of a pound lighter than the XPS 17 at 4.62 pounds. You can tell the difference when you carry it in your backpack or put it on your lap. That also holds true for how big these devices are. At 0.73 inches thick, the XPS 15 is 5% thinner. The XPS 17 is also 17% bigger in every way. If you choose the models without touch screens, both XPS laptops are lighter (starting at 4.22 or 4.87 pounds, respectively), but the difference is the same percentage.

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 Display

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17

The big difference is in the graphics, not in the screens or sizes. The XPS 15 will go from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070. It will also have an entry-level Intel graphics option in the Arc A370M. The XPS 17 will go from the RTX 4050 to the RTX 4080. But when it comes out, the XPS 15 will only have the most powerful graphics option, while the XPS 17 will have the top two. All of the less powerful GPUs will be available “after launch.”

Both laptops will still have Dell’s nearly bezel-free InfinityEdge screens. Both the 15 and 17 will come with high-resolution OLED screens (3840 x 2400 on the XPS 17 and almost 4K at 3456 x 2160 on the XPS 15) or more standard-definition screens without OLED. Dolby Vision works with every display option.

Maybe Dell isn’t changing the look because it still helps creative people in some ways. The Dell XPS 13 went a little too far when it got rid of the headphone jack and went with a touchpad made of glass. Video or sound editors may want the full-sized SD card slot and the headphone jack for high-end headphones. Apple made its MacBook Pros thicker so they could have an HDMI port, which is the thing I’d want most from a redesign.

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 Performance

Depending on the specs you choose, the performance of the two Dell laptops will be very different. However, in either case, you’ll get great performance that’s pretty much the same as the other, spec for spec.

No matter how the two systems are set up, Dell has done a great job building them. And, in all honesty, it might be easier to compare the two systems to the best 15-inch laptops and the best 17-inch laptops instead of directly to each other.

For instance, the XPS 17 with an Intel Alder Lake Core i7-12700H is close to the model in our review of the MSI Creator Z17, which has a Core i9-12900H. The same could be said about the XPS 15, which is similar to the model we looked at in our review of the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED Space Edition, which also had an Intel Core i9-12900H.

You won’t get the same level of performance as you would from the best gaming laptops when it comes to gaming and creative tasks. But you can get an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU in the Dell XPS 17, and the best you can get in the Dell XPS 15 is an RTX 3050 Ti, so neither is bad for gaming. But the higher-specced XPS 17 will always be better at gaming and creative tasks, so if that’s what’s most important to you, you should definitely look higher up the list.

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17 Battery life

Dell XPS 15 vs XPS 17

The XPS 17’s bigger screen and better performance come at the cost of a shorter battery life. Even though the battery capacity of the XPS 17 is 97 watt-hours and that of the XPS 15 is 86 watt-hours, the smaller device did better in most of our tests. Surprisingly, the XPS 15 is likely to last a full day of normal productivity work on a single charge, while the XPS 17 will need to be plugged in for the whole day.

This is true for the high-resolution models I tested, of course. The Full HD+ models should last at least an hour or two longer, but I haven’t tested them yet to confirm these numbers. No matter what, the smaller screen helps the XPS 15’s battery last longer.

Dell XPS 15: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Looks and feels like a high-end product.
  • Options for beautiful displays with FHD+ or UHD+ resolution
  • Thunderbolt 4 and an SD card reader are among the many ports.

Cons

  • Start-up costs are high
  • No separate keypad for numbers
  • Can get warm under heavy workload

XPS 17: Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Large 17-inch display with high resolution and color accuracy
  • High-quality build and premium materials
  • Long battery life
  • Good selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI

Cons

  • Expensive compared to other laptops in its category
  • No SD card slot or Ethernet port
  • Limited upgrade options, especially for RAM and storage

Which one should you consider?

Ultimately, if you get the same specs, the performance difference between the Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17 isn’t that big. The most important thing is whether you want the extra power on the high end with the XPS 17 or if the extra screen space (and cost) is worth it for you.

You will lose some of the portability of the XPS 15, which is in many ways the best balance in the XPS line between portability, price, and performance. Depending on what you want, though, the XPS line has a laptop that will meet your needs and look great while doing it.

FAQs

What is unique about XPS 15 and 17?

In addition to the built-in Intel Iris Xe and Intel UHD graphics, the XPS 15 can be configured with up to an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti laptop GPU, while the XPS 17 can have up to an Nvidia RTX 3060 discrete GPU.

Why does Dell XPS 17 get so hot?

If the Dell XPS’s air vents on the bottom are too dirty or blocked, the device could overheat. To clean the air vents, you must first turn off the device and then use compressed air to blow dust and other debris out of the device.

Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds
Lucas Simonds is a skilled content editor at Bollyinside, specializing in "How to" and "Tips & Tricks" articles focused on Gaming, Software, and Apps. With a genuine passion for video games, he not only writes about them but also actively engages in gaming. His commitment to providing insightful and approachable content has earned him a trusted reputation within the online community.

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