Best Dell laptops 2021 | TechRadar
Take a closer look at the best Dell laptops if you’re searching for a quality machine to cover all your computing needs. After all, there may be a lot of great Windows laptops to consider, including from the likes of Acer, Asus, and HP. But, no manufacturer is as consistent as Dell, whether you’re looking for a budget machine to a premium model like the undeniable XPS 15.
Dell deserves a lot of credit for going toe-to-toe with the best MacBooks and pushing the envelope of what you can expect out of the best laptops. And, though the company’s flagship offerings come with very high price tags, there are quite a few models at much more affordable prices that still provide great performance and build quality.
Whether you’re on the hunt for the best Ultrabooks, Chromebooks, or gaming laptops, Dell has you covered. It even has some of the best 2-in-1 laptops out there. To help you pick the right machine for you, we’ve collected the best Dell laptops of 2021 right here.
Best Dell laptops at a glance
- Dell XPS 15 (2020)
- Alienware M15 R3 (2020)
- Dell XPS 13 (Late 2020)
- Alienware m17 R4 (2021)
- Dell XPS 17 (2021)
- Dell Latitude 7490
- Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
- Alienware Area-51m
- Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
- Dell G3 15
The Dell XPS 15 might be a bit pricey for regular students, but it’s easily one of the best laptops for students in the creative field. Combining staggering power in a stylish thin and light chassis, this laptop doesn’t hold back when it comes to internals and features that improve your computing experience overall, making this the best Dell laptop of 2021. Among those amazing features are a gorgeous bright display with 500 nits of brightness, an extremely comfortable keyboard, impressive speakers, and a terrific trackpad. We’re not saying that this laptop is perfect, but our coveted 5 out of 5 rating should speak for itself.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15
Dell’s Alienware gaming laptop line has established itself as among the very best on the market. But for 2021, one of the best Dell laptops is back and better than ever, rocking the best internals for gaming that money can buy. Of course, that means that its configurations cost a pretty penny, but if you have the money to spare, it’s certainly worth the splurge because of its sublime gaming performance. That’s without factoring in its quirky yet attractive design, excellent build quality and display with fast refresh rates. We’ve been fans of the line since its design overall a couple of years ago, and that hasn’t changed.
Read the full review: Alienware M15 R3 (2020)
At this point, we doubt that the Dell XPS line can do anything wrong. Its yearly updates have consistently made it to our best laptops list, and they’re only getting better. The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is not only a gorgeous piece of kit. It also comes, as expected, with excellent performance, a stunning display and long battery life, alongside a few others. Much like its predecessor, it’s a pricey investment – but that is barely reason enough for us to discourage Ultrabook fans. This is among the best Dell laptops of 2021, and it’s worth every penny.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020)
Dell’s best gaming portable is back for 2021 and better than ever, cementing its status as among the best gaming laptops out there. This breathtakingly powerful gaming laptop doesn’t compromise, tackling all the latest AAA games without even breaking a sweat. Those tired of the same dated “gamer” aesthetic will also appreciate its thicc yet attractive design decorated with lots of RGB lighting, which sets it apart from everything else out there. It’s a little on the pricier side and its battery life could use a boost, but if you want the best of the best, you’ll want this one.
Read the full review: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)
The Dell XPS 17 (2021) is pricey but for good reason. It comes with the kind of components that can get you through any task including up to an Intel Core i9 CPU, 64GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060. The laptop also offers a beautiful screen and a design that will take your breath away. All of this fits into a 0.77 inch thin chassis that makes this among the most portable 17-inchers out there. We wish it came with more ports, but it is a nearly perfect laptop in every other way.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2021)
Despite the derivative design, the Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer and one of the best Dell laptops 2021 has on offer. It’s all thanks to its excellent performance, a long battery life, and more than decent memory and storage options. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s definitely worth the price.
Read the full review: Dell Latitude 7490
Though Dell has its premium lines, it’s also been very good at building excellent budget machines. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is a very good example of that, touting impressive AMD specs, especially in the CPU department, to keep cost down without compromising performance. Here’s an affordable gaming laptop that delivers a staggering performance for the price, with a stunning display to boot. Of course, being a budget laptop, some sacrifices have been made – namely, its build and heat management. However, for the budget-minded, this is certainly among the best Dell laptops out there for gaming.
Read the full review: Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
Hands down, the Alienware Area-51m is a stunner of a gaming laptop, with a beautiful yet unique chassis and a comfortable keyboard to complement it. But it goes beyond looks; it’s also by far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market right now (and obviously, one of the best Dell laptops). Not that it’s perfect, as it does get really hot and its fans can get very loud. However, it’s a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards, and your gaming experience with it will be an absolute pressure.
Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m
The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a versatile 2-in-1 with a lot going for it under the hood. This premium laptop is more than just about its premium design; it also has high-end internals to compete with the likes of the more powerful Dell XPS 13. Rounding that out is a 4K display, and a clever stylus slot that makes us wonder whether they actually beat Microsoft to the idea. Granted, the display is a bit of a battery drain, and the speakers impressive, but this is still among the best Dell laptops out there.
Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
When it comes to gaming, more often than not, you have to invest in premium parts to get that gaming edge you want. That’s especially true if you’re going for smooth 1440p or 4K gaming. In other words, while there’s a number of budget gaming laptops out there, very few really get you to where you want to go. Among those few is the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop, Dell’s affordable answer for gamers who want solid performance without splurging. It’s all thanks to those latest yet economically-priced internals it’s fitted with. It’s probably not going to get you competitive level, but if you want a cheaper laptop to game on for the sake of gaming, this will go a long way.
Read the full review: Dell G3 15
