Best Dell Laptops in 2026: 12 Picks From XPS to Precision

By Paul Syverson · Last updated Oct 20, 2026

The Dell 16 Plus with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V is our top Dell pick for most buyers: its listing combines 32GB of memory, 2TB of storage and a 16-inch touchscreen at 1.87 kg, on a chip Microsoft lists for Copilot+ PCs. For travel, the 1.19 kg XPS 13 is the lightest Dell here; for gaming, the Alienware 16X Aurora; for engineering, the Precision workstations. We chose all 12 from stated specifications and makers' published information, without handling the units.

12 picks from 41 laptops that match this guide with a price we can quote today. Every price below is live and carries the moment it was read.

The picks at a glance

Which one should you buy?

• For a home or school laptop that lasts: The Dell 16 Plus lists 32GB of memory, 2TB of storage and a Copilot+ class Intel chip on a 16-inch touchscreen. See pick 1
• For frequent travel: The XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite is the lightest Dell in the pool at 1.19 kg and states a 55Wh battery. See pick 2
• For gaming: The Alienware 16X Aurora pairs an RTX 5070 with a 240Hz WQXGA screen and 2TB of storage. See pick 3
• For CAD, simulation and big datasets: The Precision 7780 with an RTX 3500 Ada lists 128GB of memory and 4TB of storage. See pick 5

The 12 picks

1 Best overall Dell laptop

Dell 16 Plus Laptop DB16250 Intel Core Ultra 7 258V 32GB LPDDR5X 2TB SSD

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 7 258V

RAM

32 GB

Storage

2000 GB

Screen

16 in

Weight

1.87 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$1,599.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

The Dell 16 Plus lists an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, 32GB of memory, 2TB of storage and a 16-inch touchscreen at 1.87 kg, with Windows 11 Pro. The Core Ultra 200V series is on Microsoft's Copilot+ PC processor list, and it is an x86 chip, so it avoids the Arm driver question of the XPS 13. No other everyday Dell pick matches its storage.

Pros

• 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage
• Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, a Copilot+ PC processor family per Microsoft
• 16-inch touchscreen
• Windows 11 Pro

Cons

• 1.87 kg, 0.68 kg more than the XPS 13
• Battery capacity and refresh rate not stated by the seller
• Integrated graphics only

Good fit if

• Families and students who want one large-screen laptop for years
• Home offices that keep many files locally

Skip if

• You carry a laptop all day
• You play recent 3D games

Verdict: The Dell most people should start with: big screen, lots of storage, current x86 chip.

2 Lightest Dell laptop

Dell XPS 13.4" Laptop

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

RAM

32 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

13.4 in

Refresh

120 Hz

Weight

1.19 kg

Battery

55 Wh

OS

Windows 11 Pro

View on Amazon

At 1.19 kg this XPS 13 ties the other XPS 13 listing as the lightest Dell in our catalogue. It lists a Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB of memory, 512GB of storage, a 13.4-inch 120Hz screen and a 55Wh battery. It is the only everyday Dell pick that states a 120Hz screen.

Pros

• 1.19 kg, the lightest Dell in the pool
• 32GB of memory
• 13.4-inch screen at 120Hz
• 55Wh battery stated

Cons

• Arm processor: Microsoft states emulation does not support drivers
• 512GB of storage, a quarter of the Dell 16 Plus

Good fit if

• Travelers who want a small, light laptop
• Writers and managers who work in a browser and office apps

Skip if

• Your work needs a VPN, printer or security tool without an Arm driver
• You keep large media libraries on the laptop

Verdict: The Dell to carry, if your software runs on Windows on Arm.

3 Best Dell gaming laptop

Dell Alien-Ware 16X Aurora Gaming AI Laptop 16" WQXGA 240Hz

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

GPU

GeForce RTX 5070

GPU memory

8 GB

RAM

32 GB

Storage

2000 GB

Screen

16 in

Refresh

240 Hz

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$2,730.68 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

The Alienware 16X Aurora listing pairs an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with an RTX 5070 (8GB of video memory), 32GB of memory and 2TB of storage. The title describes a 16-inch WQXGA 240Hz screen covering 100% of DCI-P3. It has the strongest GeForce GPU and the fastest screen among the Dell listings.

Pros

• RTX 5070, the strongest GeForce GPU in the Dell pool
• 16-inch WQXGA screen at 240Hz, 100% DCI-P3 per the title
• Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with 32GB of memory
• 2TB of storage

Cons

• Weight not stated by the seller
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller
• 8GB of video memory limits very large textures and local AI models

Good fit if

• Gamers who want high frame rates at 2560x1600
• Creators who edit color-critical video on the laptop screen

Skip if

• You need to know the carry weight before buying
• You want more than 8GB of GPU memory

Verdict: Dell's strongest gaming configuration here, with a fast, wide-color screen.

4 Lightest Dell with a dedicated GPU

Dell Alienware 15 AI Gaming Laptop 15.3" WUXGA 165Hz FreeSync AMD 8-core

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 260

GPU

GeForce RTX 5060

GPU memory

8 GB

RAM

64 GB

Storage

2000 GB

Screen

15.3 in

Refresh

165 Hz

Weight

2.25 kg

$2,749.00 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

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At 2.25 kg the Alienware 15 is the lightest Dell with a stated weight and a dedicated graphics card. It lists an RTX 5060 with 8GB of video memory, a Ryzen 7 260, a 15.3-inch WUXGA 165Hz screen, 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage. The memory and storage come from a third-party seller configuration.

Pros

• 2.25 kg, the lightest Dell with a GPU and a stated weight
• 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage
• 165Hz WUXGA screen with FreeSync per the title

Cons

• RTX 5060, one tier below the 16X Aurora's RTX 5070
• Ryzen 7 260 is not on Microsoft's Copilot+ PC processor list
• Seller-built configuration rather than a stock Dell model

Good fit if

• Gamers who want a smaller Alienware
• Students who game and run large projects

Skip if

• You want the most GPU power Dell offers here
• You prefer a factory configuration

Verdict: A smaller Alienware with generous memory and storage.

5 Most powerful Dell workstation

Dell Precision 7780 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core i9-13950HX

GPU

RTX 3500 Ada

GPU memory

12 GB

RAM

128 GB

Storage

4000 GB

Screen

17.3 in

Weight

3.05 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$6,299.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

This Precision 7780 lists 128GB of memory, the most in the Dell pool, with 4TB of storage, an Intel Core i9-13950HX and an NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada with 12GB of video memory. The 17.3-inch screen is the largest Dell size here. NVIDIA certifies its professional laptop GPUs for professional software such as CAD, which matters to engineering buyers.

Pros

• 128GB of memory, tied for the most in the Dell pool
• 4TB of storage
• RTX 3500 Ada professional GPU with 12GB of video memory
• 17.3-inch screen

Cons

• 3.05 kg, the heaviest stated weight among the picks
• 13th-generation Intel processor, not the newest
• Refresh rate and battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Engineers running large simulations or assemblies
• Data scientists who load big datasets into memory

Skip if

• You travel with your laptop
• You play games more than you run professional software

Verdict: A desk-bound workstation with more memory than anything else Dell lists here.

6 Best 16-inch Dell workstation

Dell Precision 7680 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core i7-13850HX

GPU

RTX 2000 Ada

GPU memory

8 GB

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

16 in

Weight

2.68 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$2,599.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

The Precision 7680 brings a professional RTX 2000 Ada GPU with 8GB of video memory, an Intel Core i7-13850HX, 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage to a 16-inch FHD+ screen at 2.68 kg. It is 0.37 kg lighter than the 17-inch Precision 7780 pick while keeping a professional GPU.

Pros

• RTX 2000 Ada professional GPU with 8GB of video memory
• Intel Core i7-13850HX, an HX-series chip
• 0.37 kg lighter than the Precision 7780

Cons

• 32GB of memory, a quarter of the Precision 7780 pick
• 2.68 kg
• FHD+ screen, lower resolution than the Alienware 16X

Good fit if

• CAD users who need certified professional graphics
• Engineers who move between office and site

Skip if

• Your models exceed 32GB of memory
• You want a light laptop

Verdict: A mid-size workstation with a professional GPU.

7 Best compact Dell for professionals

Dell Precision 3490 Mobile Workstation Laptop

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 135H

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

14 in

Weight

1.4 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

View on Amazon

The Precision 3490 is a 14-inch mobile workstation at 1.4 kg, the lightest Dell pick with an x86 chip. It lists an Intel Core Ultra 5 135H, 32GB of memory, 1TB of storage and Windows 11 Pro. It has no dedicated GPU in this configuration, so it suits CPU and memory work rather than 3D.

Pros

• 1.4 kg for a 14-inch workstation-class laptop
• 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage
• x86 Intel chip, so drivers install normally
• Windows 11 Pro

Cons

• No dedicated GPU listed
• Core Ultra 5 135H is not on Microsoft's Copilot+ PC processor list
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Consultants and developers who travel with heavier workloads
• IT buyers who want a business-grade 14-inch machine

Skip if

• You need GPU acceleration for CAD
• You want a large screen

Verdict: A light, well-equipped 14-inch Dell for work that travels.

8 Best Dell business laptop

Dell Pro 16 PC16250 Business Laptop

CPU

Intel Core 5 120U

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

16 in

OS

Windows 11 Pro

$1,229.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

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The Dell Pro 16 carries Dell's current business name and lists a 16-inch 2K anti-glare screen, an Intel Core 5 120U, 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage with Windows 11 Pro. The same seller offers 16GB and 64GB versions; the 32GB model is the balanced one. Dell uses the Dell Pro and Pro Max names for its business and workstation ranges.

Pros

• 16-inch 2K anti-glare screen per the title
• 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage
• Windows 11 Pro

Cons

• Intel Core 5 120U, a low-power U-series chip
• Weight and battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Small businesses that want Windows 11 Pro and a large screen
• Office workers with long spreadsheet days

Skip if

• You need strong processor performance
• You need a known weight for travel

Verdict: A sensible 16-inch business Dell with enough memory.

9 Best AMD-powered everyday Dell

Dell 16 Inch FHD+ Touchscreen AI Powered Laptop

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7 170

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

16 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.9 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

View on Amazon

This Dell 16 lists an AMD Ryzen 7 170, 32GB of memory, 1TB of storage and a 16-inch FHD+ touchscreen at 1.9 kg. It is the AMD alternative to the Dell 16 Plus, with half its storage. The title states a 16 TOPS NPU, below Microsoft's 40 TOPS Copilot+ threshold.

Pros

• 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage
• 16-inch FHD+ touchscreen
• Windows 11 Home

Cons

• 16 TOPS NPU per the title, so not a Copilot+ PC
• 1.9 kg
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Home users who want a large touchscreen
• Students who prefer an AMD system

Skip if

• You want Copilot+ PC features
• You carry the laptop daily

Verdict: A large-screen everyday Dell with plenty of memory.

10 Best 15-inch everyday Dell

Inspiron 15 3530 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core i7-1355U

RAM

32 GB

Storage

1000 GB

Screen

15.6 in

Touchscreen

Yes

Weight

1.65 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$894.95 (as of 10/20/2026 15:21 PDT - Details)

View on Amazon

The Inspiron 15 3530 listing states an Intel Core i7-1355U, 32GB of memory, 1TB of storage and a 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen at 1.65 kg. It is lighter than the 1.94 kg Dell 15 touchscreen listings with the same processor.

Pros

• 1.65 kg, lighter than the Dell 15 touchscreen listings
• 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage
• 15.6-inch touchscreen

Cons

• 13th-generation Intel U-series chip
• Not a Copilot+ PC processor
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Students who want a 15-inch touchscreen
• Home offices on a 15-inch screen

Skip if

• You want the newest processor generation
• You need Copilot+ PC features

Verdict: A practical 15-inch touchscreen Dell with generous memory.

11 Best basic Dell laptop

Dell 15.6 Laptop

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 225U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

512 GB

Screen

15 in

Weight

1.66 kg

OS

Windows 11 Home

$719.99 (as of 10/20/2026 15:20 PDT - Details)

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For simple home and school work, this Dell 15 lists an Intel Core Ultra 5 225U, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage at 1.66 kg. That meets Microsoft's 16GB memory floor for Copilot+ PCs, although the 225U itself is not on the Copilot+ processor list. It has double the memory of the 8GB Dell 15.6 listing with a Core 3 100U.

Pros

• 16GB of memory
• Intel Core Ultra 5 225U, a current Intel generation
• 1.66 kg for a 15-inch laptop

Cons

• 512GB of storage
• Screen size given as 15 inches in the specs and 15.6 in the title
• Battery capacity not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Students and families with everyday needs
• Buyers who want a current Intel chip without extras

Skip if

• You multitask with heavy apps
• You want a touchscreen

Verdict: A straightforward everyday Dell with sensible memory.

12 Best renewed Dell

Dell Latitude 5440 14" Laptop i7-1365U 16GB Ram 256GB SSD Windows 11 Pro

CPU

Intel Core i7-1365U

RAM

16 GB

Storage

256 GB

Screen

14 in

Weight

1.5 kg

OS

Windows 11 Pro

View on Amazon

This is a renewed (refurbished) Latitude 5440 from Dell's business line, sold by BuyRefurbished. It lists an Intel Core i7-1365U, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, Windows 11 Pro and a 14-inch screen at 1.5 kg. Of the three renewed Latitudes in the pool, it has the newest processor and, unlike the Latitude 5430 listing, no low battery health warning in its title.

Pros

• Newest chip of the three renewed Latitudes
• Windows 11 Pro
• 1.5 kg 14-inch business chassis

Cons

• Renewed unit, not new
• 256GB of storage
• Battery health not stated by the seller

Good fit if

• Small offices that want business laptops on a tight budget
• Students who need Windows 11 Pro for coursework

Skip if

• You want a new unit with full warranty
• You store large files locally

Verdict: A renewed business Dell for basic office work, bought with eyes open.

Side by side

How we picked

How we picked: our catalogue held 42 Dell laptop listings with a live price. Dell's range spans consumer laptops (the Dell, Dell Plus and XPS names), business machines (Latitude and Dell Pro), Alienware gaming laptops and Precision mobile workstations, so we chose the strongest stated configuration for each type of buyer. We removed near-duplicates, such as the same Dell 15 touchscreen model sold in several memory and storage mixes, and preferred new units with complete spec sheets. One renewed Latitude is included and labeled as such. Many Dell listings here come from third-party sellers with their own memory and storage choices, which we point out. Prices are live and read from the store listing, with the time shown. Nobody tested these units.

How to choose

Dell's names, old and new

Dell has been reorganizing its laptop names, and its own site now sells workstations under the Dell Pro Precision and Dell Pro Max names. Our pool shows the mix of old and new: listings are titled Dell 15, Dell 16 Plus, Dell Pro 16, XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision and Alienware.

The practical reading is simple: Dell and Dell Plus are for home and school, XPS is the premium thin line, Latitude and Dell Pro are for business fleets, Precision is for engineering and design, and Alienware is for gaming.

Workstation or gaming laptop?

Only 10 of the 42 Dell listings have a dedicated graphics card: two Alienware gaming laptops with GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5060, and eight Precision workstations with NVIDIA professional GPUs such as the RTX 2000 Ada and RTX 3500 Ada. NVIDIA certifies its professional GPUs for professional applications such as CAD, which is why engineers choose them.

For games, a GeForce GPU is the better fit. For certified CAD and simulation, pick a Precision.

Memory: Dell listings run high

Thirty of the 42 Dell listings state 32GB of memory or more, and the two Precision 7780 listings reach 128GB. Microsoft sets 16GB as the floor for Copilot+ PCs; 32GB is a comfortable level for development, heavy spreadsheets and photo work.

Much of this memory is added by third-party sellers to stock models, so ask who covers the warranty on upgraded parts.

Arm or x86

The XPS 13 picks use a Snapdragon X Elite, an Arm chip. Microsoft's documentation says Windows on Arm runs most x86 apps through emulation but does not support drivers, so check VPN clients, printer utilities and security tools. The Dell 16 Plus with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V gives Copilot+ PC features on x86 if that is a concern.

Renewed and seller-built units

Three renewed Latitudes appear in the pool, and one Latitude 5430 listing names low battery health in its title. If you buy renewed, check the seller's warranty and battery condition. Many new Dell listings here are seller-built configurations; the base model is Dell's, the upgrades are the seller's.

Questions

Which Dell laptop line is best?

It depends on use. For most home and school buyers, the Dell and Dell Plus lines (our top pick is the Dell 16 Plus) cover everyday needs. XPS is the thin premium line, Dell Pro and Latitude are for business, Precision is for engineering and CAD, and Alienware is for gaming. The awards above map each pick to one of these uses.

What is the lightest Dell laptop here?

The XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite, at a stated 1.19 kg; two XPS 13 listings share that figure and are the lightest of the 42 Dell listings in our catalogue. The lightest x86 Dell pick is the Precision 3490 at 1.4 kg. The lightest Dell with a dedicated GPU and a stated weight is the Alienware 15 at 2.25 kg.

Is a Precision laptop good for gaming?

It can run games, but it is not built for them. Precision models here use NVIDIA professional GPUs such as the RTX 2000 Ada, which NVIDIA certifies for professional software. For gaming, the Alienware 16X Aurora with a GeForce RTX 5070 and a 240Hz screen is the better match, and it carries 2TB of storage.

Is it worth buying a renewed Dell laptop?

It can be for basic office work, as long as you check the warranty and battery condition. Our renewed pick, the Latitude 5440, lists an Intel Core i7-1365U, 16GB of memory and Windows 11 Pro. Another renewed Latitude in the pool warns of low battery health in its own title, which shows why the listing details matter.

Which Dell laptops are Copilot+ PCs?

Microsoft requires a processor from its list (AMD Ryzen AI 300 or 400, Intel Core Ultra 200V or 300V, or Snapdragon X), 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. Among our picks, the Dell 16 Plus with a Core Ultra 7 258V and the XPS 13 with a Snapdragon X Elite qualify on those terms.

Recent updates

• 2026-09-28: First published.

Sources

• Dell: Dell Pro Max and Dell Pro Precision laptops
• NVIDIA: professional laptops and software certifications
• NVIDIA: GeForce RTX 50 Series laptops, specifications
• Microsoft: Windows 11 specifications and Copilot+ PC requirements
• Microsoft Learn: How emulation works on Arm