• HP and Asus are moving some PC production from Thailand and Vietnam back to China as AI-driven component costs climb
• The work is going to Chinese assemblers like Luxshare and Huaqin rather than Taiwan's server-focused ODMs, partly for access to Chinese memory
• TrendForce expects the share of notebooks built outside China to slip from 24% to 21% this year, with no sign yet of cheaper PCs as a result of said move back to the country

HP and Asus have started moving some of their PC manufacturing out of Thailand and Vietnam and back into China, as AI-driven price increases for memory, storage, and other components eat into already-thin hardware margins.

The shift was reported by Nikkei Asia, whose reporters Lauly Li and Cheng Ting-fang cited unnamed industry sources.

Acer is also among the brands rebalancing output, while Dell, the world's third-largest PC maker, is reportedly evaluating a similar move as manufacturers chase efficiency amid ballooning bills of materials.

Reversing the China+1 strategy as memory silicon costs hit home

The move partly reverses the "China+1" strategy the industry has pursued since the first round of US-China trade tensions.

Nikkei reported in 2023 that HP planned to move a large share of its laptop production out of China, and some PC makers even explored building plants in Saudi Arabia to sidestep tariffs on Chinese-made goods. Asus told investors in August 2025 that it had already shifted more than 90% of its US-bound motherboard and PC production to Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

"The move is really driven by cost pressures," a chip industry executive whose company supplies all major PC makers told Nikkei. The executive added that prices have climbed sharply for far more than just memory, leaving PC makers struggling to absorb the increases, and that Chinese contract manufacturers are winning work largely because they can undercut on price.

The scale of the squeeze shows up in the bill of materials (BOM). According to TrendForce, processors, DRAM and SSDs accounted for roughly 68% of a mainstream notebook's BOM in the third quarter of 2026, up from about 45% in the first quarter of 2025.

Omdia arrives at a similar picture from a different angle, with memory and storage rising from around 15% of a PC's total price to roughly 40%, according to figures reported previously by TechRadar Pro.

The move is a bit interesting considering that relocating assembly does not make DRAM cheaper; It implies that roughly a third of the bill, plus assembly, logistics and engineering costs, is the only place a factory move can save money, unless the new factory also comes with cheaper memory.

That is, however, precisely the pitch from Chinese contract manufacturers: a supply chain manager told Nikkei that these firms are marketing better access to Chinese-made memory chips to prospective clients, and TrendForce reports that they are waiving engineering and tooling fees to win orders. China also keeps an edge in peripheral and structural parts that other countries still struggle to match, Counterpoint analyst Ivan Lam told Nikkei.

The memory angle is not theoretical by any measure: HP, Asus and Acer qualified DRAM from China's CXMT around mid-2026 and have begun shipping it in small volumes, in a handful of notebooks sold outside the United States.

A lack of leverage meets new players vying for orders

More interestingly, the brands are not going back to their traditional partners; Quanta, Compal, Inventec and Foxconn, which have long dominated PC contract manufacturing, are pouring capacity into higher-margin AI servers.

That leaves room for Chinese assemblers such as Luxshare, Huaqin Technology and Longcheer Technology to win PC orders, and one supplier executive told Nikkei these firms are actively sending representatives to court the big brands with lower prices.

Who builds the machines may matter as much as where they are built. Servers made up more than 80% of Quanta's revenue in the second quarter of 2026, per TrendForce, and the balance of power has shifted with it. In September, Quanta reportedly halted HP notebook production for about a week after price talks stalled, resuming only once senior HP executives agreed to a cost adjustment. Neither company has confirmed the account, and Quanta has said it does not comment on individual customers.

This indicates that brands are not simply courting cheaper labor; an ODM that earns most of its money from AI racks can afford to walk away from a laptop contract, and a pool of hungry Chinese assemblers is the obvious counterweight that has sprung into action in what one can only describe as a 'needs must' situation.

The cost of the reversal lands on the suppliers that followed the brands south. One manager at a PC component supplier told Nikkei that the firm built two new production lines in Thailand for PC customers, only to watch substantial orders move back to China. "Those two lines have not yet turned profitable," the manager said, according to Tom's Hardware, adding that the firm has no idea when those orders will come back.

TrendForce estimates that the share of global notebook production outside China will fall from about 24% in 2025 to 21% in 2026, and could slip below 20% in 2027. Flipped around, that means China's share climbs from roughly 76% to 79%. In hindsight, China+1 never really dislodged China; what is being relocated back is a few points of share that the industry paid heavily to move in the first place.

The reports do not say where the China-built machines are headed, and that part is crucial because the original exodus was about US tariffs: Asus's 90% figure quoted above referred specifically to US-bound production, and the CXMT-equipped notebooks were limited to non-US markets.

One could read this as brands splitting output by destination, keeping US-bound lines in Southeast Asia while pulling the rest back to China, but nothing confirms this so far, directly or indirectly. What we do have, however, is a market backdrop that explains the urgency in play: Global PC shipments fell 20.1% year over year to 62.7 million units in Q3 2026, according to IDC, with HP suffering the steepest decline among the top five vendors at 30.9%. Asus, by contrast, slipped just 8.6%.

The memory makers see no quick fix either; SK hynix said alongside record quarterly results last week that it expects demand to outstrip supply through 2030, and Intel finance chief David Zinsner told investors, "Make no mistake, we are not optimistic about next year in terms of memory."

Acer chairman and CEO Jason Chen expects average PC prices to rise by between 5% and 20% in the fourth quarter, so any efficiency gains look set to protect margins rather than cut sticker prices in a market doomed to short-term volume decline. Chen remains an interesting outlier, however, insisting that, "It's impossible for the shortage to last until 2030!" and predicting prices will start to ease from mid-2027.

Until that happens, cost continues to matter more than diversification to avoid hemorrhaging global market share for many PC makers, and the cheapest place to build a laptop is once again the country the industry spent years trying to leave.

Dell makes some of our favorite laptops, and the company's 15.6-inch touchscreen model offers a useful combination of performance, screen space, and connectivity.

For Black Friday, it's on sale for $650 (was $1000) at Best Buy. That's a 35% saving on a laptop with a 2K resolution touchscreen and Core i7 processor. And we'd definitely recommend it.

• Best for: Remote and hybrid workers who need a dependable Windows laptop for spreadsheets, video meetings, browser-based applications, and everyday office tasks.

• What we like: Dell's business laptop range has also proved reliable in our tests - for general work, it's well-specced. However, the real highlight is the lifted hinge that angles the keyboard slightly when opened. It's a small design detail, but one that could improve typing. The enlarged keyboard gives you more room to tap away, and the separate numeric keypad will be handy for anyone who regularly enters figures into spreadsheets or accounting software.

Why we recommend it

There's a lot we like about this business-oriented laptop. Under the hood, Intel's 10-core Core i7-1355U processor offers enough performance for everyday use. The processor can boost to 5GHz when additional performance is needed. Dell's ComfortView software helps reduce blue light emissions, which will make working long hours more comfortable.

Price context & historical value

The $350 reduction represents a massive 35% discount and at $649.99, you're getting a touchscreen Windows laptop with a capable processor and a reasonable amount of memory and storage for everyday business use. This is the cheapest we've seen this particular model on sale, and coming from Dell it's a great deal.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy Dell's 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop if...

You want a well-equipped Dell laptop for home office duties, general productivity, and occasional travel. The combination of a large display and physical number pad makes it particularly suitable for administrative work.

❌ Skip Dell's 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop if...

You need a lightweight machine for frequent commuting, a brighter display for working outdoors, or dedicated graphics for demanding creative applications and modern games. A more portable laptop or one with a powerful GPU would be a better fit.

• Shop all Windows laptops at Best Buy

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 is one of those desktop workstations that immediately resonated when we tested it. It's fast, performance-driven, and scored 4.5 stars in our review. It's a beast for professional workloads. But here's something else I noticed.

The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 workstation can be configured with an Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 Blackwell GPU for $16,780 (was $18,645) at Dell when you sign up to receive newsletters with one of our Dell coupon codes, which gives you 10% off your first purchase.

And when you consider that the Blackwell 6000 graphics card costs $15,799 at EmpoweredPC and $17,999 at Newegg, that makes the whole bundle a bit of a steal.

• Best for: Enterprise professionals, AI developers, and creative studio engineers.

• What we like: The machine itself is superb, blazing through our benchmark tests. It's highly configurable for a range of workloads. But it's the fact that you're getting a full tower workstation for almost the cost of the GPU alone that stands out.

• What to know: Because of how Dell's website works, you'll need to spec out the Pro Max T2 with the Nvidia RTX Pro 6000 GPU - the deal below takes you to the base configuration, but it's easy enough. The newsletter signup is the way to get that extra saving.

Today's best Dell PC deal

Why we recommend it

This workstation scored 4.5 stars in our review, and we awarded it a TechRadar Pro Highly Recommended badge.

To see how it fared, we ran Dell's Pro Max T2 alongside engineers working with large data warehouses, AI, 3D modeling, 4K and 6K video editing, and large-scale visual events. And it performed beautifully in that role - it's what it was built for.

In our review, we found it "a beast of a machine for professionals who need uncompromising power in engineering, AI, and all-around business performance, and who want a machine that is capable today and upgradable for the future."

For more work-oriented PCs, we've tested out the best business computers.

Price context & historical value

The workstation's price, configured with this GPU, is about what I'd expect in today's volatile market. However, the value comes from getting it specced with a Blackwell 6000 graphics card for about the same price as buying the GPU on its own.

I've listed the cheapest Blackwell config here. However, for truly demanding tasks, I'd recommend bumping up the memory to 32GB - although you can go as high as 128GB, and potentially increasing storage from the base 256GB (Dell sells configurations up to 4TB).

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell Pro Max T2 if...

You want a high-performance workstation desktop for complicated workloads, AI, or production-grade creative projects.

❌ Skip the Dell Pro Max T2 if...

You need a business PC for largely administrative or general content creation tasks. You could spec out the Pro Max T2 for that, but personally, I rate the highly configurable Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250).

• See all desktop PCs at Dell

In our experience, when it comes to business laptops you can't really go wrong with a Dell. But while the likes of the XPS dominate the high-end, I'm not convinced most professionals need a machine like that.

For remote and hybrid workers the Dell 15 laptop for $900 (was $1200) at Best Buy, is an easy pick for productivity that doesn't compromise on power for general office work, emails, video calls, and - of course - streaming movies in your downtime. For me, laptop checks every box and gives you plenty of room for files.

• Best for: students, families, and home workers who want a dependable, big-screen everyday laptop with lots of storage.

• Why we like it: a 15.3-inch touchscreen with 400 nits of brightness, a generous 1TB SSD, 16GB of memory for smooth multitasking, a backlit keyboard, and a light 3.34-pound design.

Why we recommend it

Dell’s mainstream laptops have long been a safe pick for anyone who wants a reliable machine without paying for premium extras, and the 2026 Dell 15 brings a thinner, lighter design and Intel’s new Core Series 3 chips. We haven’t tested it yet, although we've reviewed plenty of similar models from Dell, and have a couple in use at home precisely as WFH machines. The specs are great here, and the 1TB SSD stands out, since most laptops at this price still ship with 512GB.

Price Context & Historical Value

This is $300, or 25%, off Best Buy’s $1,199.99 comparison price, but since this model just launched, there’s little price history to compare it to. Personally, I think the $1,199.99 list price flatters the discount.

Still, $899.99 for 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a touchscreen is a fair price given how much memory costs have climbed this year. It’s a sensible buy if you need a laptop, but it may well get cheaper as Black Friday nears.

Should You Buy It?

✅ Buy the Dell 15 (2026) if... you want a reliable office laptop with a big touchscreen, need plenty of storage for photos and files, or want a light machine that’s easy to carry around the home office, into work, or to class.

❌ Skip the Dell 15 (2026) if... you need a laptop capable of graphics-intensive workloads, as that's beyond what this Dell machine can handle.

• Check out all laptop deals at Best Buy.

Prices for the highly coveted Nvidia DGX Spark mini PC are wallet-squeezing right now. Direct from Nvidia, the Mac mini-sized supercomputer is $6,950, and elsewhere, prices are massively inflated by third-party resellers (there's one for almost 10Gs at Newegg, and another for $9K at Best Buy). But there is a cheaper way to get the same level of performance without the extra cost.

Currently, the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 is listed at $5,903 at Dell. The SFF machine runs Nvidia DGX OS 7 on the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip with 128GB LPDDR5x, up to 8533 MT/s, and 2TB SSD storage. You can even shave a little extra off that cost, too, by opting for 1TB SSD configuration for $5,523.

• Best for: AI engineers running larger local AI models.

• Why we like it: Running the same chip and memory as Nvidia's machine, Dell's Pro Precision is a much better price than the DGX Spark, which is fast becoming like gold-dust on the market.

Why we recommend it

Although we've had excellent experiences with Dell desktops in the past, price is the primary driver for highlighting this machine. You're saving over a thousand bucks compared to Nvidia's DGX Spark.

The chip itself combines an Arm-based CPU with a Blackwell GPU, paired with a massive 128GB memory for AI-oriented tasks. For local AI inferencing and development, it has exactly the right specs.

Value verdict

Compared to the Nvidia DGX Spark, which boasts the same specs as Dell's mini PC, you're making a significant saving of $1,047. I'd ignore the inflated prices from third-party sellers - for me, the decision is really, choosing whether to buy what amounts to the same machine from Dell or get the original from Nvidia.

I'd recommend the 1TB or 2TB configurations and offload additional files to an external drive. The 4TB model adds an outlandish $2,830 to the price tag over the base model.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 if...

You plan to run large AI models locally - it's where this Grace Blackwell chip excels.

❌ Skip the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 if...

You want a general high-performance machine for non-AI tasks, or you'd prefer the official Nvidia SFF.

• See all Dell Pro Max desktops at Dell

I've finished my weekly search across the web for all of the best laptop deals available right now, and I've whittled it down to 12 top picks in the US and the UK.

Whether you want a super-cheap option, a great value budget machine, or a performance powerhouse, there should be an ideal laptop for you right here — with several choices that would work well for work, school, college, or home use.

If I had to pick one, then this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x at Best Buy for $549.99 (was $849.99) is my top recommendation in the US. It's a powerful and modern machine with a super-efficient Snapdragon CPU that ensures great performance and exceptional battery life.

For the UK, I'd go with this Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook at Argos for £269 (was £399). It's definitely a more entry-level choice, but it offers a surprising amount of power for the price, including 8GB of RAM, so it can more comfortably handle everyday jobs and light work.

Those are just two of the best laptop deals I've found this week that I think are worth the cash. Have a browse through all of my top picks below for more.

US laptop deals

UK laptop deals

I've found a very weird deal here on the Dell Pro Max Tower T2 workstation with Blackwell GPU for $15,149 at Dell. The Pro Max T2 is a great pro-level desktop, and when we tested it out, it earned 4.5 stars and a Highly Recommended award.

But that's not the most interesting thing about a workstation built pure, uncompromising performance in intensive workflows. What intrigues me is the inclusion of that GPU. Because Nvidia RTX Pro Blackwell 6000 graphics card alone is priced at $15,799 at EmpoweredPC (and $17,999 at Newegg).

Essentially, you can buy the Blackwell graphics card cheaper than anywhere else, and getting a free desktop PC.

• Best for: Enterprise professionals, AI researchers, and creative studio engineers.

• What we like: I still can't get over the cost of this machine relative to the price of a standalone Blackwell 6000 GPU. As ever with Dell machines we've tested, it's hugely upgradeable and configurable for just about any demanding workload.

• What to know: Most business professionals won't need Blackwell graphics - this is best for those who want to run complex tasks direct from the desktop.

Today's best Dell PC deal

Why we recommend it

Scoring 4.5 stars in our review, and awarded a TechRadar Pro Highly Recommended badge, the Dell Pro Max T2 impressed us as we ran it alongside engineers working with large data warehouses, AI, 3D modeling, 4K and 6K video editing, and large-scale visual events. The workstation never missed a beat. We called it "a beast of a machine for professionals who need uncompromising power in engineering, AI, and all-around business performance, and who want a machine that is capable today and upgradable for the future."

For more top-performing PCs, we've tested out the best business computers.

Price context & historical value

The price for the workstation with this GPU is about what I'd expect in today's market. The real value is getting that Blackwell 6000 graphics card for less than you can buy it on its own.

I've listed the cheapest Blackwell config here. However, for truly demanding tasks, I'd recommend bumping up the memory to 32GB - although you can go as high as 128GB, and potentially increasing storage from the base 256GB (Dell sells configurations up to 4TB).

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell Pro Max T2 if...

You want a high-performance workstation desktop for complicated workloads, AI, or production-grade creative projects.

❌ Skip the Dell Pro Max T2 if...

You need a business PC for largely administrative or general content creation tasks. You could spec out the Pro Max T2 for that, but personally, I rate the highly configurable Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250).

• See all desktop PCs at Dell

• Dell Pro Max 18 Plus leads current local AI rankings, yet Nvidia's launch could unsettle results
• RTX Spark offers 128 GB shared memory for larger locally run models
• Spark's 300 GB/s bandwidth trails Dell's graphics memory at 896 GB/s

The Dell Pro Max 18 Plus still holds the title of fastest AI laptop, topping local AI rankings ahead of every other machine tested.

Its RTX PRO 5000 chip reached 185.1 tokens/s on the Phi model, 140.5 tokens/s on Mistral, and 119.7 tokens/s on Llama 3.

However this lead faces a test on October 16 2026, when Nvidia's RTX Spark laptops go on sale from several manufacturers, with preorders already open.

RTX Spark arrival

Microsoft is expected to field the Surface Laptop Ultra from $2,599, while Dell is bringing the XPS 16 Creator Edition from $3,799.99.

Asus, HP, Lenovo and MSI are also launch partners, while Acer and Gigabyte are expected to add models later.

Nvidia rates RTX Spark at up to 1 petaflop of FP4 AI performance, with 6,144 CUDA cores and up to 128 GB of shared memory.

The 1 petaflop figure covers only FP4 calculations that exploit sparsity, an upper limit that everyday workloads may not reach.

The company also claims the chip can run large language models of about 120 billion parameters locally, with a context window of one million tokens.

That is slightly above the 109 billion parameters that the Dell Pro Max 18 Plus can reportedly handle locally.

This does not automatically mean that RTX Spark will outperform Dell's workstation in AI workloads, as model capacity alone does not determine inference speed.

The price Dell buyers paid for the lead

The Pro Max 18 Plus offers Core Ultra 5, 7, or 9 processors and RTX PRO 1000 to 5000 graphics, with prices starting at $3,488.

Dell's top configuration, equipped with an RTX PRO 5000, 128 GB of memory and two 1 TB drives, cost $9,245.52 when the laptop launched.

A similar configuration later appeared at roughly $14,000, while the laptop now sells for almost $18,600, double its launch price after 14 months.

The top model is built around the Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor with 24 cores, a 5.5 GHz boost clock and a 55 W rating.

Its RTX PRO 5000 graphics chip has 24 GB of GDDR7, a 175 W power ceiling and a graphics clock of 1,807 MHz.

Memory comes from a single 128 GB CAMM2 module running at 6,400 MT/s, while storage consists of two 1 TB Gen5 SSDs configured in RAID 0.

The 18-inch QHD+ display runs at 2560 × 1600 and 120 Hz, covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour space and contributes to a minimum chassis weight of 7.17 lb.

Nvidia's case for displacing Dell rests partly on RTX Spark's shared memory, which can accommodate AI models exceeding Dell's 24 GB graphics capacity.

However, Spark's shared memory delivers about 300 GB/s of bandwidth, compared with 896 GB/s for Dell's RTX PRO 5000. Spark also has 6,144 CUDA cores, fewer than Dell's 10,496

To overtake Dell, an RTX Spark laptop must beat its token-generation rates for Phi, Mistral and Llama 3 under the same UL Procyon tests.

Matching those results while consuming 45 W to 80 W of chip power could also improve battery endurance beyond Dell's recorded three hours and 39 minutes.

Via StorageReview

If you're looking to improve your home office without spending a fortune, I've always found Dell business monitors to have the right balance of features for work - and they've always performed well in our tests.

The Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM is a prime example that's currently on sale. The 27-inch IPS panel has a 2560 x 1440 resolution, and the IPS technology provides wide 178-degree viewing angles. The matte screen helps reduce distracting reflections from nearby windows and overhead lighting.

• Best for: Home office workers, students, and anyone wanting a larger, sharper display for everyday computing, multitasking, and entertainment.

• The deal: The Dell 27 Plus QHD Monitor is now $170 (was $220) at Amazon, saving you $50.

Today's best Dell business monitor deal

Why we recommend it

Although we haven't reviewed this particular model, in his four-star review of the Dell 27 Plus S2725HSM — which is essentially the same monitor but with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution — our expert Collin said: "For me, it does everything a remote worker or general office staff needs it to do, and does it well."

The 27-inch QHD resolution provides more desktop space than Full HD, while dual 3W speakers eliminate the need for separate audio equipment. Height, tilt, pivot, and swivel adjustments let you position the screen to suit your needs.

Dell specifies a 1500:1 contrast ratio, 350 nits of brightness, a 144Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync support. The monitor also includes two built-in 3W speakers and an adjustable stand.

Dell also includes ComfortView Plus technology and TÜV Rheinland 4-star eye comfort certification, with reduced blue light emissions.

Price context & historical value

Amazon has reduced the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM from $219.99 to $169.99, saving you $50. This isn't its lowest recorded price however. The monitor has previously sold for $161.49, making the current deal a tad more expensive than that earlier low.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM if...

You want an affordable 27-inch monitor for everyday use. The QHD resolution gives you more room for applications than a 1080p display, and the built-in speakers and fully adjustable stand are very useful.

❌ Skip the Dell 27 Plus S2725DSM if...

You need 4K resolution, USB-C connectivity, or a monitor that can charge your laptop through a single cable. Its 1440p resolution is suitable for most everyday tasks, but a 4K model will offer sharper text and more detail.

• Shop all the best monitors Amazon

Running AI locally is becoming an increasingly attractive option for small businesses that want more control over their data, predictable computing costs, and the ability to experiment with the technology without relying on cloud services. Nvidia's new RTX Spark laptops could make that easier, combining powerful processors, Blackwell graphics, and large amounts of unified memory in portable computers.

Pre-orders are now open, with the first models scheduled to ship on October 16. Prices start at $2,599.99, although more powerful configurations can cost considerably more.

There are models from all of the major manufacturers, including Microsoft, Asus, Lenovo, HP, and Dell, but for small businesses looking to run local AI models and develop applications, these are the three laptops I'd recommend.

• See all RTX Spark laptops at Best Buy

My top 3 RTX Spark laptops for AI

Why RTX Spark makes sense for small businesses

One of the main attractions of running AI locally is the ability to process information without sending every request to a cloud-based service, which could be handy for anyone working with confidential documents, proprietary code, customer information, internal research, and so on.

Nvidia's RTX Spark platform combines a Grace CPU with a Blackwell GPU, with unified memory configurations ranging from 24GB to 128GB. The full chip includes a 20-core CPU and 6,144-core GPU, while the lower-end version has an 18-core CPU and 5,120-core GPU.

The memory configuration is particularly important for local AI, since larger models can require much more memory than conventional business applications. That said, memory capacity alone doesn't guarantee performance. The size of the model, its precision, software compatibility, and available GPU resources all affect how well it runs.

For a small business taking its first steps into local AI, I'd start by looking at the Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, which is one of the more affordable RTX Spark options.

If your business needs more memory for larger models, HP's OmniBook Ultra 16 is worth considering, particularly in its 64GB and 128GB configurations.

For companies combining AI development with video editing, image generation, and other creative applications, the Asus ProArt P16 offers another option.

The new RTX Spark laptops are scheduled to start shipping on October 16, with pre-orders available through Best Buy and other manufacturers.

• See Windows laptops at Best Buy

Newegg is throwing a massive spanner in Amazon’s well-oiled Prime Day engine in the shape of the best-value laptop you can buy this October.

The Hasee X5 is no ordinary laptop. It is the only one with a Core i7 (not one of these obsolete 10-year old ones), 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and a humongous 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD. All this for a mere $549.99, a saving of 38% off its SRP of $899.99.

Let’s start with the processor. This is an Intel Core i7-13620H with 10 cores and contains an Intel UHD Graphics. It is usually found inside gaming laptops, paired with a discrete GPU. None of this here unfortunately.

That said, this is probably the most powerful CPU in a sub-$649 laptop. I chose that price specifically because it relates to Apple’s iconic MacBook Neo.

The 13620H is about 2X faster than the A18 Pro that powers the Neo (based on figures from CPUBenchmark). This is both a compliment to Apple’s exceptional hardware team and to Hasee for how good of a deal the X5 is.

Next there’s 16GB LPDDR5 (albeit in one slot) with a huge 1TB Foresee PCIe 4.0 SSD. Both rarities on a desktop PC let alone a laptop at this price point.

A quick hop over to Dell shows that a Dell 15 laptop with 16GB of inferior DDR4 and 1TB SSD will set you back a massive $1,050, almost 2X more expensive. Oh and the 13420H is about 50% faster than the Ryzen 7 7730U that powers the Dell laptop. Mic Drop.

The Hasee X5 feels reasonably premium as well thanks to a silver finish and a metal chassis. I like the dedicated keypad, the backlit keyboard, the fact that the 15.6-inch full HD IPS screen can lay flat and the privacy shutter for the 2-megapixel webcam.

I don't know the expected battery life of this laptop but don’t have high hopes. The CPU is a power hungry one and the battery capacity is a mere 62.7Whr. You’d be lucky to get for hours out of it although Hasee claims you can get nine ours out of it.

As for connectivity, there’s WiFi-6 (courtesy of Intel), a microSD card reader, something we don’t see often, three USB 3.2 ports, a HDMI one, a Type-C connector and an audio interface. The power port is a barrel type which is not my preference.

Read more: We're currently live-tracking all the best Prime Day home office deals.

• Dell, Apollo and Jera plan up to 4GW of AI infrastructure within five years
• A $15bn Tokyo project will launch Japan’s biggest AI infrastructure push yet
• Jera wants gas power and AI computing facilities developed at unprecedented speed

Japan is preparing a major expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, with Dell, Apollo and Jera planning investments potentially reaching $140bn.

The companies intend to develop between 3GW and 4GW of AI computing facilities alongside gas-fired generation during the next five years.

Their first project is expected to cost $15bn and deliver 400MW near Tokyo, with operations scheduled to begin around 2028.

Speed and power drive the plan

A Jera executive said the companies are seeking faster development by linking electricity generation directly with computing facilities.

“The keyword is speed to power. If you see Asia outside China, Japan is a major data centre market,” said Yukio Kani, global chief executive of Jera.

Kani said Jera’s annual LNG trading volume of 35mn tonnes could support power plants serving computing facilities for planned sites.

The proposed Tokyo-area development would operate independently from Japan’s national electricity network.

Apollo will finance the initial $15bn facility, while Dell and Jera will contribute technology and energy infrastructure capabilities.

The estimated cost of $35bn to $45bn for each gigawatt places the potential programme near $140bn in investment.

The partners also intend to standardise construction methods for computing facilities and electricity infrastructure.

That approach could allow projects to be replicated elsewhere, with companies considering additional developments beyond Japan.

The planned capacity would give the partnership a substantial presence in Japan’s expanding market for electricity-intensive artificial intelligence services.

However, the proposed scale depends on delivering both generation assets and computing facilities within five years.

Japan seeks more AI capacity

The proposed facility near Tokyo is expected to become one of Asia’s largest artificial intelligence computing projects outside China when operations begin.

Its independent electricity supply could reduce reliance on the existing grid, although there are no details about generation capacity.

The partners have not limited their ambitions to Japan, saying facilities and power projects could be developed elsewhere across Asia.

Japan already hosts major operators including NTT Data and SoftBank, while Blackstone has announced a separate $30bn expansion programme in the coming years.

Despite those investments, Japan remains well behind the United States and China in electricity use associated with installed computing facilities.

According to the International Data Center Authority, US data centres consume 29.2GW of electricity, representing 43% of global data centre consumption.

China accounts for 8.5GW, while Japan consumes only 1.7GW, equivalent to approximately 12.5% and 2.5%, respectively.

However, Japan’s figure could rise as the government seeks ¥32.7tn, equivalent to $206bn, in public and private investment through 2035.

This investment forms part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to support strategically important sectors.

The programme includes cloud computing and data centre infrastructure among the areas designated for strategic investment through 2035.

These planned investments therefore give Japan a larger role in the regional expansion of AI computing infrastructure and electricity supply.

Via Financial Times

Dell's XPS range has long focused on combining premium design with portability, and this 2026 model continues that approach. The Dell XPS 13 packs plenty into a remarkably slim aluminum chassis.

• Best for: Professionals, remote workers, and students who want an exceptionally light premium Windows laptop with a high-resolution touchscreen for working on the move.

• The deal: The Dell XPS 13 (2026) is now $800 (was $1000) at Best Buy.

• Why it matters: At just 2.2lb and 0.5 inches thick, the XPS 13 is exceptionally portable, while its Core 5 320 (Wildcat Lake) processor, 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and 512GB SSD provide plenty of power and storage for everyday productivity.

Today's best Dell XPS 13 (2026) laptop deal

Why we recommend it

It's powered by a six-core Intel Core 5 320 capable of boosting to 4.6GHz, accompanied by integrated Intel graphics and an NPU rated at up to 16 TOPS. You also get 16GB of LPDDR5X-7467 memory and a 512GB PCIe SSD.

In his three-and-a-half-star review, our expert Christian said: "Positioned as a rival to Apple's new budget-friendly MacBook Neo, the Dell XPS 13 returns for 2026 with an all-new design and lower price point. It's a bold move, and while Dell doesn't quite stick the landing, the end result is still a solid choice of laptop for anyone who prefers Windows over macOS."

Price context & historical value

At $799.99, Best Buy is taking $200 off its previous $999.99 price. That's a terrific reduction on the current 2026 model, especially given the combination of high-resolution touchscreen, premium aluminum construction, and low weight. It was priced at $899 at launch.

For more shopping options, take a look at our roundup of the Best Dell Laptops, the Best Business Laptops, and the Best Laptops.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell XPS 13 laptop if...

You're looking for a laptop with portability and high display quality. It will be particularly appealing for working while traveling, commuting, or regularly moving between locations.

❌ Skip the Samsung T9 Portable SSD if...

You need lots of physical connectivity or expect to upgrade the memory later. The 16GB of RAM isn't expandable, and the laptop has only two USB-C ports, so a hub or dock could quickly become necessary.

• Shop all Windows laptops at Best Buy

• AMD's Athlon Silver 10 is a quietly renamed 2022 Athlon Silver 7120U with two Zen 2 cores and no SMT
• Asus, HP, and Lenovo are selling it in laptops now, some with 4 GB of soldered memory to barely meet Windows 11's minimum RAM requirement
• Both the Core 3 100U and Core i5-1334U score over four times the Silver's 95-sample multi-threaded average, making laptops powered by them a no-brainer alternative

AMD's Athlon Silver 10 seems to be a new-generation CPU targeting budget-conscious consumers who want a modern, entry-level laptop with enough processing power for basic tasks.

Nothing could, however, be further from the truth here; Its own specifications page lists what is a very basic mobile chip, offering two Zen 2 cores, skipping simultaneous multithreading (SMT) and a 15W TDP to go with its 3.5 GHz boost clock, essentially establishing itself as a rebadged Athlon Silver 7120U from 2022.

While the current AI-induced memory, storage, and compute shortage continues unabated, buying an entry-level laptop with only 4GB of soldered RAM in 2026, even if it is presented as a 'new' choice by laptop manufacturers, is disingenuous when better Intel-based options exist in the same price range that offer up to four times the multi-threaded performance and twice the RAM as a de facto configuration.

Skipping a rebadged chip from 2022?

AMD's spec page lists the Athlon Silver 10 with a launch date of October 1, 2025, but no launch event accompanied it. The underlying Zen 2 cores are even older than the Athlon Silver 7120U's launch date, with the company first unveiling the architecture in 2019, and the performance numbers show it.

Its PassMark score is a low 3,543 on multithreaded workloads, at a time when Intel's competition in the same price bracket, a Core 3 100U CPU configured with 2 performance and 4 efficient cores, clocks in at nearly four times the speed, with a score of 12,308.

This isn't a new phenomenon either; the similarly positioned Intel Core i5-1334U, a 2023 chip, offers a similar 12,991 score across its 2 performance and 8 efficient-core configuration.

The performance gap hasn't stopped manufacturers such as ASUS, Lenovo, and HP from selling Athlon Silver 10 or 7120U laptops, often with as little as 4GB of soldered memory, which allows for no upgrades whatsoever.

While Windows 11 can technically work on the 4GB it prescribes as its absolute minimum, it idles at anywhere between 2.5 and 3GB of memory, leaving very little headroom for applications even as lightweight as a word processor or a browser.

Better alternatives exist in the same price range

The irony is that better alternatives exist and are being sold in the same $350-500 price range as Athlon Silver 10-based laptops currently. Dell offers at least two alternatives, including a 6-core Core 3 100U option under $500 and another just $100 above that, with 4 more cores under the hood. ASUS also offers a similarly configured and priced option in the same range, though with a smaller SSD than either Dell option.

All of these would be significantly faster than their Athlon Silver 10 alternatives and, perhaps more importantly, offer 8GB of RAM, which should be the absolute minimum, in my opinion, for a laptop, but we do have an in-depth analysis of that question here.

One could argue that calling AMD Athlon Silver 10 laptops e-waste might be a bit too extreme here, but given that more powerful and well-configured alternatives exist that do not slap on CPU cores from 2019 into a rebadged CPU from 2022 that might not even keep up with modern smartphones, it is an easily justifiable position.

These laptops would be short-lived at best and have limited utility at a time when e-waste continues to be an increasingly bigger issue for society: the UN's Global E-waste Monitor 2024 counted 62 million metric tons of e-waste in 2022, with only 22.3% documented as properly collected and recycled, and found the world's e-waste "rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling."

Buying a laptop that is slower than a modern smartphone when better alternatives exist, despite an AI-led price gouge, and can not be upgraded is simply not only a waste of money but one that is harmful to the environment, even if you can handle the pace of a laptop that offers performance that desktops from over a decade ago would embarrass.

• A Vladimir Putin press call showed the Russian president casting an online vote for the country’s parliamentary elections
• The short clip has revealed that not only is Putin using a US-built Dell PC, it is running Windows 10 – and the license has not been activated
• Putin’s example of voting online is intended to encourage voters to take part, but has instead raised eyebrows and launched memes

Parliamentary elections in Russia took place on Friday, September 18 2026, with online voting for positions in the State Duma open to the public for the first time. To demonstrate the ease of online voting, a press call highlighted Russian President Vladimir Putin casting his vote – but this hasn’t gone quite as planned.

While the president appeared to have difficulty reading the display, the real challenge seems to be that the Russian leader is using a version of Windows 10 that has not been activated. Furthermore, the PC is a Dell, rather than a Russian-built system.

The Putin publicity stunt has already launched memes, but the it also raises questions about his ability to use a computer, not to mention the suitability of the hardware for voting.

“You can’t go wrong”

With 73-year-old President Putin lined up for the cameras with the Dell PC set up on his desk, he goes through the motions of “voting online,” presumably to demonstrate how easy it is. (In person and mail voting options were also available.)

The press call has all the authenticity of an unlicensed copy of Windows 10. Ironically, this is exactly what is in use, as you can see toward the end of the video.

Watch to the end:

Although an initial reaction might be “Russian state IT is pretty weak,” it seems more likely that the state-controlled hardware overseeing infrastructure, networks, and military systems is far more up-to-date. What is more likely is that that PC was pulled out of a back room and an old copy of Windows quickly installed simply to provide President Putin with his short encouragement to vote.

Dell vs. Aquarius

The use of a Dell PC is curious, however. While Russia and the US have cordial relations, it seems strange for the Russian president to use a foreign PC. Sanctions aside, Russia has a policy of forcing the use of home-grown brands (such as Aquarius) over those from overseas.

After voting, the five-times elected Russian leader uttered the memorable line “you can’t go wrong,” in his native language, perhaps highlighting the futility of voting for any candidates not in his favoured party, United Russia.

While it is difficult to assess the legitimacy of the elections in Russia itself, the governments of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom have challenged the elections in occupied Ukraine territories. The nations have described the them as “sham elections” that violate “Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter.”

Dell XPS 13 (2026): Two-minute review

The new Dell XPS 13 (2026) is a shift from Dell's usual modus operandi, finally bringing the premium-quality XPS line down to a more affordable space. If that sounds familiar, it's because Apple did the exact same thing earlier this year: the arrival of the MacBook Neo has shaken up the laptop market, and evidently left other manufacturers scrambling to front their own competition to Apple's new wallet-friendly MacBook.

But before I delve into how effective a frontline soldier Dell's new effort is in the never-ending battle between Windows and Mac, it's time for a brief history lesson: the lore of XPS, if you like.

Dell's XPS brand was unceremoniously killed off last year, before being suddenly resurrected at CES 2026, presumably because their executives realised that shuttering your single most iconic and well-loved brand is a bad idea (shocker, I know). But as I mentioned above, the return of XPS has seen a paradigm shift; while the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 are still the pricey, high-end laptops I've come to expect from the XPS lineup, the new XPS 13 is an entirely different beast.

It's still identifiably an XPS laptop, there's no denying that. From the ultra-thin chassis to the all-metal casing and minimalist logo on the lid, you'd be forgiven for thinking at first glance that this was just another premium XPS model.

But opening up the laptop betrays its more budget-conscious nature immediately; gone are the giant, edgeless touchpad and zero-spacing keyboard seen on this year's 14- and 16-inch models, replaced instead by more traditional fare. The touchpad and keyboard here wouldn't look out of place on the average Chromebook.

A peek at the spec sheet further solidifies the new XPS 13's position as a MacBook Neo rival; a lower-end hexa-core Intel Core 5 chip and only 8GB of RAM in the base model all point to this being a more sensibly priced product.

I'll dig into the performance specifics later in this review, but the good news is that the lower-spec hardware doesn't render the XPS 13 dangerously underpowered. This laptop is perfectly capable of handling everyday work, even if it's not a performant powerhouse like its bigger siblings. The battery life is also excellent, and the display is very high quality for the price point. In short, there's a lot to love here.

Unfortunately, there are a few things that hold this new breed of XPS back. The base configuration features only 8GB of RAM, which is fundamentally insufficient in the current era of Windows software, and the measly port selection may prove frustrating for some users. It's also just a bit too expensive to be considered a true rival to the MacBook Neo.

Now, it's arguable that this isn't entirely Dell's fault. The ongoing RAM crisis, spurred by skyrocketing demand for AI data center hardware, is causing the prices of all kinds of computer components to spike sharply. Shifting to 8GB of RAM in the base configuration is very likely to be a cost-saving move. Overall, I'd say that this is a pretty solid effort from Dell – just don't expect too much from it.

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Price & availability

• Starts at $699 / £749 / AU$1,597.20
• Student discounts help a lot
• Available worldwide

Brace yourself: this is going to be one of the longest price sections I've written for a review in a while. There's a lot to talk about here, sorry!

Apologies to our readers outside the US: the pricing of the Dell XPS 13 beyond America is pretty damn awful, to the point where I'm worried it might have already scuppered any chance of this laptop being a genuine competitor against the MacBook Neo.

In the US, the base configuration comes with a 256GB SSD, Intel Core 5 320 processor, and 8GB of RAM. It'll cost you a very reasonable $699, or $599 with a student discount – in other words, exactly the same price as the 256GB MacBook Neo.

However, I'd generally struggle a little to recommend that version. 8GB of RAM is simply substandard for running software in Windows 11 these days, especially if you plan to run multiple programs at once. Stepping up to the safer recommended 16GB of RAM (which also mandatorily bumps up the SSD to 512GB) will cost you $899, already taking us a fair bit beyond the competing MacBook Neo. Of course, there's no 16GB version of the Neo available, but it's worth noting that the 'unified memory' used by Apple's laptops is a bit more efficient than traditional laptop RAM.

Outside the US, things start to look dicey. For starters, there's no 256GB SSD configuration available in Australia, with the cheapest available models starting at £749 / AU$1,597.20 – a far less attractive prospect after accounting for exchange rates. And if you want to bump things up to 16GB of RAM, you're looking at a fairly steep £1,099 / $1,897.50. My review unit is the 8GB UK configuration with 512GB of storage, which will cost you £899 (though at the time of writing, it's already on sale for £769)

There are higher-spec models available, too, with the RAM configurable up to 32GB and the SSD up to 1TB, as well as the option to upgrade the CPU to a significantly more powerful Intel Core Ultra 7 355. This top-spec model will cost you $1,799.99 / £1,899 / $3,698.20 – and quite frankly, at that point you might be better served by opting for the more premium XPS 14. Configurations with the Core Ultra 7 processor also benefit from an upgrade to Thunderbolt 4-capable USB-C ports.

Overall, I'm not too impressed by the pricing of the Dell XPS 13, especially considering its market position as a Windows-toting rival to the MacBook Neo. There's certainly still an argument that it deserves a place among the best budget laptops (for buyers in the US, at least), but it's not the phenomenal value product I was really hoping to see when I first heard about it. Still, if you're a US shopper who wants a basic but effective laptop for work or school, it's not a terrible choice.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Specs

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Design

• Impressively thin and light
• Premium build quality
• Port selection is feeble

Straight off the bat, despite its aggressive redesign and shift towards more conventional aesthetics, the 2026 Dell XPS 13 still feels like a premium product. I might have complained about the pricing further up in this review, but considering that the build quality remains solid regardless of which configuration you buy, I have to admit that I'm very pleased here.

The entire chassis is machined from high-grade aluminum, making it highly durable without compromising on weight. The whole thing weighs almost exactly one kilogram, and combined with the 13.4-inch display's slim bezels, it's a very portable laptop indeed.

It's also impressively thin, measuring just half an inch thick with the lid closed. The casing has rounded corners and a smooth matte finish, which is reasonably good at resisting scratches and fingerprint marks. It's available in a few different colorways, all muted metallic tones, with availability varying between regions and configurations.

The keyboard and touchpad are totally different from what we've seen on previous XPS 13 models, now trending towards functionality over style. The LED-backlit keys are reasonably spaced, comfortable to type on even for extended periods, and have a decent amount of travel despite the laptop's ultra-thin design.

They're perhaps a little spongy on full presses for my liking, with a bit of flex in the keyboard housing; something which I consider completely forgivable in a sub-$800 laptop, but might push some users towards the more premium typing experience of the XPS 14 or 16. Similarly, the touchpad has a satisfying click, but firm presses on the bottom corners feel a tiny bit flimsy – definitely not a dealbreaker for a budget laptop, but again, it gives me pause when it comes to recommending the higher-spec models.

Thankfully, some things haven't changed from previous models. The display is once again the star of the show here: a fantastic 2.5K touch panel, boasting good maximum brightness and impressive color reproduction, especially considering that the screen is the same regardless of which internal spec you opt for. If you get the cheapest configuration, you're getting plenty of bang for your buck when it comes to the display.

Looking at the rest of the physical design, it's all good without being spectacular. The speakers are integrated under thin slots on either side of the base and are reasonably loud for such a small laptop. Don't expect thumping bass here, but the volume is good without high notes sounding tinny.

The webcam is also decent, 1080p rather than the 720p resolution you'll find on many budget-conscious laptops. I've certainly seen sharper webcam footage, and the low-light performance is merely okay, but it gets the job done well for the most part. It also supports facial recognition logins via Windows Hello. The integrated microphone array is decidedly average, though, so I'd advise getting a decent headset if you plan to make regular video calls.

Lastly, we come to connectivity, which is perhaps the most mixed part of an already mixed bag. Wireless connectivity is top-notch; Wi-Fi 7 ensures speedy, lossless internet (assuming you're connected to a network that supports it!) while Bluetooth 6.0 is an exceedingly rare sight on any laptop under $1,000.

Physical connections, though? Yeah, this one's a wash. We criticised the MacBook Neo for only having two basic USB-C ports (no Thunderbolt 4 support), and it's the same case here. Granted, these are both USB 3.2, while one of the Neo's ports is a frankly pathetic USB 2, and springing for the higher-spec CPU upgrades both ports to Thunderbolt 4, but it's still just fundamentally not enough ports.

Considering that the only way to charge the XPS 13 is to use one of the only two ports available, you're down to just a single port any time it's plugged in. Power users who want to connect multiple peripherals are going to need to spend extra on a USB-C hub, and anyone who doesn't shell out for the more powerful CPU will be dealing with slower charging and data transfer speeds.

Overall, it's a well-designed laptop that feels like it should last for years, but I will be docking a point for the sheer dearth of ports. If you prefer to connect your hardware solely via wireless means, though, you should have very little to complain about here.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Performance

• Decent everyday performance
• Gets a little warm under load
• 8GB RAM is simply not enough for heavier workloads

I'm a big believer in setting realistic expectations, so once I learned that my XPS 13 review unit was the UK standard configuration with 8GB of RAM and the decidedly low-end Core Ultra 5 320 CPU, I immediately tempered my hopes of great performance.

Despite this, this XPS 13 performed a bit better than I'd expected overall. Performance in my everyday workloads – including web browsing, word processing, and some light image editing in GIMP – was good, with virtually no slowdown even with half a dozen Chrome tabs open and Spotify running in the background. Windows 11 generally felt snappy and responsive.

The more you start to load it down with tasks, though, the more it struggles. The simple fact is that in the current age of computer software, 8GB of RAM just isn't sufficient for more complex or varied workloads.

It was a telling moment when Apple finally relented and upgraded the minimum starting memory on the best MacBooks to 16GB rather than 8GB back in 2024; the demands of modern professionals have shifted, and I was rather upset to see that the MacBook Neo has reverted back to 8GB as standard. However, this is less of a problem for Apple, since the 'unified memory' used in MacBooks is faster and more efficient than traditional DDR laptop RAM, and the company's total control of the Mac software/hardware ecosystem makes optimizing for less memory a bit easier.

So let's break down how the XPS 13's 8GB of RAM actually performed. I'll start with the bad news: some of my tests failed to complete altogether, loading up but then aborting. I've not seen this happen in quite a while, with the 16GB industry standard evidently shielding me from such failures.

In total, the XPS 13 failed eight of our standard benchmark tests, most of which were the more demanding 3DMark graphical tests. However, I also noticed some instability in other tests; Cinebench crashed several times before I was able to get stable readings, and 3DMark also crashed once before I was even able to start running tests.

The tests that did run showed decidedly lackluster performance in 3D rendering and similar creative workloads. This isn't a laptop you'll be squeezing in a few rounds of Marvel Rivals on, though I did manage to get Slay the Spire II running fine, so perhaps some 2D indie gaming is still on the table here.

Outside of regular testing, I also tried to fire up Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro. Both initially loaded without crashing, but were sluggish in practice, and Photoshop ended up crashing after about five minutes of use.

The Dell XPS 13 (2026) got rather warm during the more intensive tests. The thermal exhaust is a thin slot nestled into the display hinge, and while the fans remained impressively quiet throughout my testing, the underside of the laptop did get too toasty to comfortably have it actually on your lap while running resource-intensive software. It did remain cool and near-silent during regular office work, however.

The takeaway here is that while the 8GB model of the XPS 13 is perfectly capable of handling basic everyday workloads, it just doesn't have the oomph for anything more demanding than straightforward office or schoolwork. If that's all you want to do, the budget-friendly 8GB configuration should be fine; if you've got grander designs than that, you'll need to pay extra for a more powerful model.

• Performance score: 3 / 5

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Battery life

Intel's third-generation Core chips are clearly putting in some work here. Although the Dell XPS 13 (2026) only has a 52Wh battery (far smaller than the batteries you'll find on many ultrabooks these days), the efficiency of this chip can't be understated; our video playback battery test saw the laptop sail comfortably past the 16-hour mark.

There are laptops that can go for longer, but at this price point, that's a very respectable effort. It outstrips the MacBook Neo by nearly three hours according to our tests. I found that even at maximum brightness, with a Bluetooth mouse and headset connected and the Windows power mode set to Balanced, it could comfortably make it through an eight-hour workday without needing a charge.

The laptop also holds charge fantastically when not in use. My partner got sick, and I had to shelve this review for a couple of weeks, during which time the XPS 13 simply sat untouched on a desk in my home office. When I finally opened it up to start my review process, it was still at 90% charge. When plugged in, it charges up to full in just under an hour (though the higher-spec model with Thunderbolt 4 ports will presumably charge faster).

My only real criticism here is that it doesn't come with a power adapter in the UK and EU. Much like Apple's approach with the MacBook Neo, this is ostensibly due to local regulations that mandate consumers' ability to buy a laptop without a charger, but come on; you could include the option to add one at checkout. I've criticized Apple for this in the past, too: it's malicious compliance, and it's simply irritating for the end user.

• Battery life score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Dell XPS 13?

Scorecard

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: Also consider

How I tested the Dell XPS 13 (2026)

• Tested for one week
• Used for a variety of workloads
• 8+ years of hardware testing experience

If you've read any of my other reviews, you'll already know the drill: I swapped out my daily driver (the excellent Asus Zenbook Duo 14) for the Dell XPS 13 for one full week, including the weekend.

This helps me get a proper feeling for how the laptop functions in everyday use scenarios, testing it out for a range of typical tasks including web research, writing articles, and image editing. Naturally, I also ran the laptop through our usual suite of synthetic benchmarking tests, including our looped video test for battery life.

I've been a computer hardware journalist for more than eight years, and working for TechRadar for half a decade. In that time, I've reviewed more laptops than I can remember for numerous different publications; the number is certainly in the dozens, quite likely into triple digits by now! I put every bit of experience and expertise I've gained over those years into my reviews, so you can rest assured that you're getting accurate, bias-free information.

• First reviewed: September 2026
• Read more about how we test

• Dell Technologies held the 14th edition of its parent-and-child PC assembly class at its Miyazaki Customer Center,
• where children learned how to build a 14-inch Dell laptop from nine parts and 23 screws
• Entries cost 113,275 Yen (approximately $730) and included keeping the finished laptop with a Core 5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, along with a year of on-site service

On the fifth floor of a building in central Miyazaki that once housed a department store, seven children spent a Saturday afternoon doing something almost no laptop owner will ever do.

They learned how to build a working Windows 11-based laptop from start to finish using spare parts on a tray that included nine different components and 23 screws.

The exercise concluded when they powered on their laptops, checked for a Wi-Fi connection, and were allowed to take the self-assembled laptops home.

An exercise focusing on reliability, self-service and promoting Dell's brand image

The event was Dell's 14th parent-and-child PC assembly class, who were given step-by-step access to the entire process. The event, which drew 14 parents and children, was divided into 6 groups, with one group including two children.

They were tasked with assembling a 14-inch laptop (Dell 14 DC14250) with an Intel Core 5 120U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The event focused on understanding the underlying hardware and how it worked once assembled, while underscoring the computer giant's focus on repairability and reliability.

Masashi Hayashida, head of Dell Technologies' Miyazaki Customer Center, stated during the event (translated): "Computers can do so many things. I want people to use their finished computers until they break down and get to know them completely. If they break down, they can be fixed. Technology is constantly evolving. I hope you will look forward to the future advancements in technology."

The event included an office tour, and Hii-kun, one of the three Miyazaki-ken prefectural mascot dogs, turned up and performed a dance routine as part of the event. Participants also received a brief history of how Dell Technologies started in 1984 and grew into the monolithic giant it is today, with a presence in over 170 countries, starting with only a $1,000 investment from its founder, Michael Dell.

The exercise, a compressed version of what a Dell service technician does for a living, included plugging in memory and attaching the display, speaker, keyboard, SSD, battery, and Wi-Fi modules.

The children also received a brief overview of AI, how it is important, and that it can make mistakes and should not be given access to personal information beyond what is necessary. University interns at the center followed up by running a ten-question true-or-false quiz on Dell, Intel, and PCs.

The event also featured Yoko Oishi of Dell's advanced technical support team demonstrating how to replace a USB-C module on a Dell XPS laptop to invited members of the press.

The same company that is making record profits building AI data center racks spent a Saturday afternoon teaching children how a laptop is assembled and works, making for a nice change of pace that doubles as a great marketing and public service play for a conglomerate that still makes a significant amount of its revenue from consumer electronics, indicating that it is still committed to the 'personal' side of computing.

I’ve been a huge fan of Dell displays for a long time. So, when I first saw the UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED (U3226Q), I thought two things: What a long name, and Wow, that looks incredible.

I have got really used to my 52-inch beast from Dell, so I know they are capable of delivering spectacular quality and novel ideas. So, the idea of Dell jumping feet first into a creative monitor is really exciting… and they did it very, very well.

This monitor has DisplayHDR True Black; it’s a QD-OLED anti-glare coating; it's a 120Hz, 4K panel; and it’s built from the ground up for color-critical workflows that are vital to getting the colors just right. There’s a magnetic shade for use in areas with harsh or inconsistent lighting, a built-in colorimeter, and up to 1000 nits of peak brightness.

The specs are incredible, and rightfully so; this monitor is truly brilliant in all of the best ways. As long as you forget that unseemly price tag.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Price and availability

The Dell UltraSharp 32-inch 4K QD-OLED can be purchased for $2,440 at Dell in the US. And in the UK, it's got an equivalent cost of £2,405 at Dell UK. It's also available from a range of other retailers, but not reliably so.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Unboxing and First Impressions

I haven't really used it on a monitor or with shaders before; however, I've recently seen several. I didn't really understand why it would be used, but now, after seeing half a dozen monitor shaders in the last six months, I have a pretty good idea of why you would want them, why you would need them, and why you wouldn't need them.

Right away, I noticed just how sleek and polished this monitor looks. Granted, I have very good experience with Dell monitors at this point, but I still recognize the build quality on this thing, even from first on most

The packaging is pretty straightforward. After testing all some of the best business monitors over the last couple of years, I've learned to expect a certain level of standard in packaging. The monitor itself had front and back protection to ensure that it won't break during transport.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Design & Build Quality

There is a reason why Dell monitors are insanely popular, especially in the business world. That's because, even though they don't have all the gimmicks that many other providers do, they have built their reputation on dependability.

This monitor, even though it is a high-end performance monitor, is built the very same way. It has the essentials covered, so the user can rely on it for any use case. It's able to fit in a really small project space all around.

The last thing I'll mention about design and build quality is the shader itself. It's made from a nice material. It doesn't look like it will sag at all, and it magnetically attaches, which is fantastic.

You may not always want to use this shader, but when you need it, you can easily slip it on to the display.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: In use

Using this monitor has been fantastic. It looks super sharp. It's clean. It's simple. It's not overstated. It mounts great on modern monitor arms. It has great ports. All these things result in very smooth, easy usability for me.

I was able to get this all set up very quickly, and once everything was set up, I was able to use it right away thanks to its single USB-C cable for connecting a laptop or desktop.

Now, if I want to add more to this monitor, such as a secondary machine or something, it does have great ports and several options, though. It doesn't have nearly as many options as some of the more advanced monitors I have seen.

My team and I have used this monitor for photo editing, for video editing, and for basic website design. So far, it's been spectacular to use. Its picture quality is spectacular, and the shader is super easy to disable when I don't need it.

One thing that I'm very thankful for is that this monitor is still bright. Most of the monitors and shaders I have seen have a really dim max brightness, but this one still looks great with max brightness.

Another thing worth touching on is the ports for the Dell Ultrasharp for the desktop setup in the photo. I use a single USB-C cable running directly from my laptop to the monitor.

If you've a more complicated setup where you're using one of the mini Thunderbolt docking stations or something similar, you can plug directly into it via USB-C or, of course, HDMI.

For the longest time, I would recommend Samsung or BenQ panels for creative work - in my experience, those companies produce some of the best monitors for photo editing and the like.

However, several more companies are stepping up when it comes to high-quality creative panels. Dell is clearly one of them, and honestly, I don't think its are too late to the game either. I think it's right on time, bringing its background of reliability and dependability to a growing demographic.

Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED: Final verdict

If you know that you are looking for a creative monitor with specific specs, the best panel possible, and you even know what a shader is and what it does, then this is the kind of 4K monitor you should be looking into.

If you have to wonder whether this is worth it, it probably isn’t. It's total overkill for running standard office software and streaming the occasional movie.

If you know you're looking for an absurdly nice monitor because you are a video editor, a photo editor, or a content creator in some way, and you need a high-quality one, then absolutely make sure you check this one out.

Best for: laptop users, home archivists, and anyone who needs access to CDs, DVDs, and disc-based software.

The deal: Dell DW316 Slim external USB DVD-RW drive for $38 at Amazon.

Why it matters: This slim 14mm external DVD writer is a USB-powered plug-and-play device that reads and writes CDs and DVDs, and includes CyberLink Media Suite 12. It's also useful if you're making physical copies of important files that can't be accidentally overwritten or deleted.

The catch: There's no Blu-ray support, and you'll need to pick up your own blank discs. In the UK, the Dell DW316 is £37 (was £50) for an imported drive, or £48 for one sent from the UK.

• Dell DW316 is also available for $40 (was $50) at Best Buy.

Why we recommend it

I put the Dell DW316 to good use myself this year when my wife and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. As I mentioned, our wedding video is still on DVD and this gave us an easy way to watch it again.

Beyond digital nostalgia, it's a really practical upgrade to access older software, music, movies and other physical media that would otherwise be left gathering dust.

And unlike files stored on a computer, in the cloud or on a storage device, data burned to a write-once disc can't be accidentally deleted, overwritten or changed, giving you a permanent physical copy. Write-once media can create a physical copy of important documents, photos or other files that can be kept offline and separate from your computer.

The drive is just 14mm thick and weighs 200g. Power comes directly from your laptop's USB port, eliminating the need for a separate power adapter. It can also create discs using CyberLink Media Suite 12 which comes supplied free.

Price context & historical value

This drive has never been priced above $52 (at least, not since 2015), while its lowest price was $16 back in 2020. General trends show it more or less holds its price at around the $35 to $40 mark. For comparison, Dell's external disc drive is also available at the same price, $40 (was $50) at Best Buy.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell DW316 if...

You occasionally need to access old CDs, DVDs or disc-based software, or want an inexpensive way to create physical copies of important files. The drive's small size means you can keep it tucked away until you actually need it.

❌ Skip the Dell DW316 if...

You need Blu-ray support or regularly work with large amounts of data. DVDs have limited capacity compared with modern storage devices, and this drive can't read or write Blu-rays.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The DW316 connects over USB and is an older optical-drive design, so don't expect the transfer speeds you'd get from an external SSD or flash drive. Its purpose is accessing and creating optical media rather than moving large files quickly.

You'll also need compatible blank writable discs if you intend to use it for backups or archiving, adding a small additional cost on top of the $35 price.

• Shop all CD/DVD drives at Amazon

Dell is running a surprisingly small Labor Day sale this year with hardly any laptop deals in it. However, there is one offer that rises above the rest and is really the only one that matters if you're shopping for a new device in today's sales: it's this Dell XPS 13 for $699.99 (was $999).

• Browse the full Dell Labor Day sale

Yep, I'm shouting about this one again, as I still don't quite believe that you can pick up one of our favorite and highly-rated laptops for such a terrific price. This particular model boasts a 3.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen display, an Intel Core 5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.

That's a decent all-around mid-range spec, which will have no issues with general everyday use, college and university work such as essay writing and research, and also allow for a bit of multitasking if you enjoy a bit of streaming in your downtime.

And, better still, if you're an eligible student, you can save another $100 off the sale price, bringing it to a super-low $599. When it comes to powerful, efficient and affordable laptops in this year's sales, I truly think that this one is hard to beat.

Dell XPS 13 Labor Day deal

Our 4.5-star Dell XPS 13 review explains exactly why we think this is such a brilliant little laptop. We had lots of praise for the gorgeous display, fantastic battery life, solid overall performance, and sleek design. It hits everything you'd want from an all-purpose laptop at a stunning price in today's market.

More of today's best Labor Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, AirPods, air fryers & vacuums
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Appliances: up to $1,200 at Samsung
• Best Buy: 60% off appliances, TVs, laptops & more
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses, 66% off bundles
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances, furniture, grills & tools
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: up to 50% off mattresses, deals from $349
• Saatva: up to $625 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $2,000 off 4K, QLED & OLED TVs
• Target: 45% off clothing, tech & furniture
• Walmart: 58% off back-to-school, furniture, & clothing

While the Labor Day sales are usually a bigger event for appliances, furniture, and outdoor goods to prep for fall, there are actually dozens of tech deals out there as well. And one big category is laptops, where savings of up to $900 are available at Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, HP, and more. I've searched through all of these sales and picked out the 9 best Labor Day laptop deals that are worth buying.

Best Buy is actually one of the strongest retailers when it comes to sales this week, with discounts of up to $900 off a wide selection of Chromebooks, laptops, and gaming laptops.

One of its top offers is this Acer Aspire Go 15 for $499.99 (was $699.99). It may have some older components, but you get a solid AMD Ryzen 7, 16GB of RAM, and a respectable 512GB SSD for storage. That's a set of components you don't always see for under $500, and is powerful enough to keep up with work, college, and just everyday use.

Elsewhere, Dell might not have the biggest sale, but it's going to be tough for anyone else to beat this Dell XPS 13 for $699.99 (was $899.99). Even better still, eligible students can get another $100 off on top, bringing this fantastic all-around device to a frankly ridiculous $599. It's near-unbeatable for a fast, powerful, and stylish machine.

Be sure to check out all of the best laptop deals I've found below, as well as the highlights from the Labor Day sales at various other retailers and manufacturers.

All the best Labor Day laptop sales

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $900 off laptops
• Dell: up to $700 off
• HP: up to 65% off
• Lenovo: laptops & tablets from $599.99
• Walmart: laptops from $219

9 best Labor Day laptop deals

• Alienware introduces two new monitors to expand its QD-OLED lineup
• The AW3226Q is a new 4K tandem OLED RGB stripe gaming monitor available this fall
• Alienware also has a new esports QD-OLED monitor with a 560Hz refresh rate

The gaming monitor market is heating up with new competition from Alienware, specifically via the new AW3926QW 5K2K ultrawide. However, it's not resting on its laurels.

As reported by Wccftech, Alienware has announced two new gaming monitors, further expanding its QD-OLED lineup: the AW3226Q is a new 32-inch 4K RGB stripe tandem OLED monitor that uses the same technology found in Alienware's flagship 5K2K display. For esports players, the AW2527HX is a 560Hz QD-OLED with great motion clarity and response time.

The highlight among both is clearly the AW3226Q 4K display, which is effectively the closest gamers can get to Alienware's flagship display. The new 4K display also uses the same RGB stripe layout, significantly improving text readability. The only major difference is 5K2K resolution on the AW3926QW, with 33% more pixels than 4K due to its ultrawide aspect ratio.

The AW3226Q will also feature 1,000 nits of peak brightness, alongside DisplayHDR True Black 400 and Dolby Vision. Having used the latter on the Alienware AW3426DW I reviewed, it's one of the standout benefits for consistent brightness levels and minimizing the brightness dimming issues that occur on OLED displays (which is also addressed by the tandem OLED layers).

It's increasingly clear that tandem OLED is quickly becoming the new standard for high-quality OLED displays, and using a four-stack tandem OLED layer should help boost and maintain high brightness levels.

Will it have an affordable price point?

Alienware surprised most consumers by announcing that its flagship 5K2K AW3926QW monitor would retail at $1,099 / £999 / AU$1,999.80. The competition from LG — two 5K2K displays — is significantly pricier, leaving many turning their attention to Alienware to experience higher-quality gaming via sharper images.

If Alienware's flagship monitor is anything to go by, the newly announced AW3226Q should be another affordable option for OLED hunters, and that's great news since OLED is arguably still the best display type for gaming.

There's no release date for the AW3226Q just yet — it's worth noting that Alienware's flagship monitor hasn't launched in all regions. However, gamers can expect this to hit the market in the coming months, with availability scheduled for this fall.

The AW2527HX QD-OLED, designed for esports, is set to launch in the first quarter of 2027, but there is no price confirmation.

I've been looking through Labor Day laptop deals, and for the specs on offer, this is my favorite one for business professionals so far, with the Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen laptop now $650 (was $1100) at Best Buy.

With that massive $450 discount, you're getting a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB PCIe SSD, which is good enough for everyday work, multitasking, browsing, and streaming.

The 15.6-inch 2K touchscreen adds even more value. And although there are some compromises, including integrated graphics, I haven't seen many Labor Day laptop deals that give you this much for under $650. For more laptop deals and WFH essentials, see our round-up of the best Labor Day home office deals.

Why we recommend it

At $649.99, you're getting a lot of laptop for your money. The 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1355U has 10 cores, 12 threads, and a maximum boost speed of 5GHz, giving it plenty of power for everyday tasks.

16GB of DDR5 is a solid plus at this price, and the 512GB PCIe SSD provides a decent amount of fast storage. You also get a 15.6-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi 6, USB-C, two USB-A ports, HDMI, an SD card reader, and a full numeric keypad.

For more top performers, see our guide to the best business laptops we've tested.

Price context & historical value

Best Buy normally lists this Dell laptop at $1,099.99, but its Labor Day deal brings the price down to $649.99, putting it firmly into mid-range laptop territory.

Of the Labor Day laptop deals I've seen so far, this is one of the best for anyone who wants plenty of everyday performance without spending anywhere near to $1,000. It isn't the cheapest it's ever been though. It was priced at $599.99 at Best Buy in August this year.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell 15.6" laptop if...

If you want a powerful everyday Windows 11 laptop for most tasks, $649.99 is an excellent price. The Core i7 processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM gives it considerably more staying power than a cheaper laptop with 8GB of memory.

❌ Skip the Dell 15.6" laptop if...

If you want a laptop for gaming, creative work, or anything else that depends heavily on graphics performance, I'd look elsewhere. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are the biggest limitation here, and there's no dedicated GPU.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The display is one area where Dell has clearly kept costs down. It's rated at only 220 nits of brightness with 45% NTSC color coverage, so it's better suited to indoor everyday use than working outside or doing color-sensitive work.

There are a few other omissions to be aware of, including the lack of a backlit keyboard and Ethernet port, plus the webcam is limited to 720p.

• Shop all laptops at Best Buy

• Michael Dell posts ten-second, AI-generated riff on the 2000-2003 "Dude, you're getting a Dell" ads swapping the desktop PC for a crane-delivered AI server rack
• The post, which seemingly uses a synthetic Ben Curtis lookalike, has received a "Made with AI" label on X
• The gag also underscores an important shift in Dell's business: its AI-optimized server revenue rose 757% to $16.1 billion last quarter against $14.6 billion for the entire PC division

Dell founder Michael Dell recently posted a ten-second video to X with a one-word caption: "2026." In it, a young man who looks like Ben Curtis, an actor who spent three years telling America "dude, you're getting a Dell", throws open a garage door with the same eager grin.

What arrives next is not a Dell desktop, but rather a dual-door compute cabinet, lowered into a suburban yard by a crane, with the deliveryman throwing in the famous catchphrase at the end for good measure.

The post, which has been viewed over 290,000 times since it was originally posted, underscores Dell's shift toward AI and high-performance computing as its new growth engine, which is already dwarfing its personal computer division in revenue.

Dell's most famous pitchman is back but in an AI-generated form and that might be the point

Despite the reach of the original post, there is no indication currently that Dell plans to run a new advertising campaign around the catchphrase again; it rather seems to be a joke by its CEO about how the business has morphed from a company selling PCs to consumers to AI datacenter compute to hyperscalers as its primary revenue generator.

The original videos were built to appeal to consumers looking to buy a brand-new PC, and they showcased its personal computers to buyers.

The original spots ran from 2000 to 2003 and were built by the agency Lowe Worldwide around a character called Steven, played by Curtis, who was 19 and on an acting scholarship at New York University when he was cast from an open call.

The ensuing deal saw him appear in 26 different commercials before Dell eventually terminated the contract under its drug policy after Curtis was arrested for buying marijuana in Manhattan, even as his character was on its way out, with Dell planning a campaign around Dell interns instead.

The meme, however, rings true despite its nostalgia, given how much Dell's revenue base has changed since. It now clearly indicates that AI-optimized server revenues will grow the most, and Michael Dell's joke might be poking fun at the fact that its biggest customers are now data centers rather than retail consumers.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2027, reported on May 28, Dell posted revenue of $43.8 billion, up 88% year on year and roughly $8 billion ahead of analysts' consensus.

The surprise came from its AI-related income, which came in at impressive levels: its Infrastructure Solutions Group brought in $29 billion, up 181%; AI-optimized server revenue alone was $16.1 billion, up a mammoth 757%. Client Solutions Group, the PC business the Dell Dude was invented to sell, grew a relatively measly 17% to $14.6 billion.

This means Dell, which is seeing explosive AI-centric growth, has changed lanes to focus on exactly what the 10-second video shows, even as it tells investors it is supply-constrained, with RAM, NAND, and CPUs as its primary restrictions.

Some irony is in play here, however: Dell actually has access to the real Ben Curtis, whom it hired back in late 2021 as a spokesperson and brand ambassador to promote its electronics recycling program, a collaboration Curtis has described in his biography as arising from Dell's interest in his wellness work.

It could very well have made a commercial without requiring AI. But in a joke that is literally about AI data centers and servers being prioritized by Dell, a "Made with AI" tag on X might just be an excellent cherry on top, and could be exactly the point being made here, even if assuming it as a de facto intention is a bit of a stretch at best.

If you need a good Windows laptop for work, college or general home use, Dell's 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop is currently $600 (was $1100) at Best Buy.

Designed to comfortably handle everyday tasks, its 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U has 10 cores and can boost to 5GHz, backed by 16GB of DDR5-4400 memory and a 512GB PCIe SSD. The 15.6-inch IPS touchscreen gives you a large working area, and a dedicated numeric keypad makes it particularly useful for spreadsheets, accounts and other business or college work involving lots of numbers.

Why we recommend it

The combination of a Core i7 processor, 16GB DDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD gives this Dell a well-balanced specification for everyday use.

Alongside Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth, there are USB-C 3.2, USB-A 3.2 and USB-A 2.0 ports, HDMI 1.4, an SD card reader and a headphone jack. The full-size keyboard and numeric keypad also make it a sensible choice for business and college work.

At 4.28 pounds, it's reasonably portable for a full-size 15.6-inch laptop, although this is more of an everyday workhorse than an ultraportable.

Price context & historical value

Best Buy has slashed the price of this Dell laptop from $1,099.99 to $599.99, saving you $500, a substantial cut on a laptop with a Core i7 processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD.

At its $1,099.99 regular price, several of the compromises would be harder to overlook, particularly the basic integrated graphics, 220-nit display and lack of a backlit keyboard. At $599.99, it's a good all-rounder for someone primarily interested in productivity and everyday computing tasks.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop if...

You want a full-size laptop for business, studying, home working or everyday computing. The Core i7 processor provides plenty of performance for office applications, web browsing, video calls and other everyday workloads.

The touchscreen adds another way to navigate Windows, and the separate numeric keypad is useful if you spend much of your day working with spreadsheets or figures. Its 15.6-inch screen also provides considerably more workspace than smaller 13-inch and 14-inch laptops.

❌ Skip the Dell 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop if...

You need serious graphics performance. This model relies on Intel UHD integrated graphics, so it isn't designed for demanding gaming, 3D rendering or GPU-heavy creative workloads.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

The main compromise is that this isn't a laptop for demanding graphics-heavy creative work. Intel UHD integrated graphics are fine for everyday productivity and media, but you'll want a dedicated GPU for more intensive visual workloads.

The 220-nit display is also relatively modest in brightness, particularly if you plan to work outdoors or in brightly lit rooms. There's no backlit keyboard either, which is worth bearing in mind if you regularly work after dark.

• Shop the full 60th anniversary sale at Best Buy

The laptop deals keep rolling in this week, with several new and returning offers that are great buys if you need a new device for work, school, college, or for home use.

I've picked out deals for both the US and the UK, including some super-cheap Chromebooks that will just get the job done, mid-range laptops that offer good levels of performance for the price, and high-end powerhouses for more demanding tasks. There should be something below that suits both your budget and needs.

For example, in the US, I think it will be hard to beat this Dell XPS 13 for $599 (was $899.99) when you apply the student discount. Even if you aren't eligible for the extra $100 off, it's still a tempting $699.99, which is a fantastic price for a fast, powerful and stylish machine.

That's just one option, so do have a browse through all of the best laptop deals I've found right now.

US laptop deals

UK laptop deals

The Dell Tower Plus is one of those machines that impressed us during testing. It's such a versatile and configurable tower desktop that's suitable for everything from basic office use to full-blown creative workstation, whether out of the box or upgraded later down the line.

So, we were really pleased to see the Dell Tower Plus Desktop (EBT2250) is now $2000 (was $2530) at Dell. It's our top-ranked business computer for all professionals, with this performance-driven model equipped with a Core Ultra 7 CPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD, and RTX 5060 Ti GPU.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell Tower Plus if...

You want one machine that covers both productivity and gaming without compromise. This configuration's RTX 5060 Ti and 20-core Ultra 7 chip give it real headroom for creative work, multitasking, and modern games alike, and the tower format leaves room to upgrade later.

❌ Skip the Dell Tower Plus if...

You want a compact or small-form-factor build, or care about aesthetics — our review flagged the minimalist, fairly plain design as one of its few weak points, along with the basic wired keyboard and mouse it ships with.

Why we recommend it

In our 4.5-star review, we found the Dell Tower Plus is a machine that "does it all," praising how the same chassis scales from a barebones office machine up to a genuine creative or gaming rig, while staying quiet and easy to upgrade later.

What makes the Tower Plus line worth considering is just how configurable it is without changing the chassis or port layout. For that reason, we rank it the best business PC in our guide. Every professional can get something from this machine.

This particular build lands in a genuinely useful middle ground: enough GPU for 1440p gaming and GPU-accelerated creative work, enough CPU for heavy multitasking, and a straightforward path to upgrade RAM or storage down the line rather than being boxed in by a sealed or proprietary design.

Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, Windows 11 Home, and a wired keyboard and mouse round out this deal.

Price Context & Historical Value

It's usually tricky to track pricing history from Dell, but based on our previous coverage $1999.99 is the standard deal price for this desktop PC. Not an all-time low, but still a significant discount compared to full price.

You can check out all the EBT2250 configurations currently discounted at Dell by clicking here.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Our review's main criticisms were about presentation rather than performance: the design leans minimalist to the point of looking plain, and the included keyboard and mouse are basic wired accessories rather than anything premium.

In our opinion, neither affects how the machine performs, but budget for your own peripherals if that matters to you.

For a desktop that flexes between work and play without complaint, this configuration is a strong buy at $1,999.99.

• See all desktop deals at Dell.

TechRadar's Computing team tests dozens of laptops each year, and Dell models consistently impress. I know, because when I came to round up our top-scoring options for this article, I struggled to find any duds. I was spoiled for choice. Below, you'll find a showcase of the Dell laptops that we've reviewed over the past year or so, and which managed to earn four stars or higher when put through our demanding review process.

Most are high-end laptops that rival the best the likes of Apple have to offer, but you'll also find some brilliant affordable options, and some versatile 2-in-1s that would make a top choice for students. I've also included a standout gaming option, as well as a stellar laptop for professionals.

To find out more about each one, click the View details button — this will provide a rundown of our main pros and cons for each model, plus a link to our full review. Alternatively, if you want to see how these laptops compare to one another, check out our best Dell laptop ranking, or for our favorites from a range of brands, head to our comprehensive best laptop guide. Have I missed any models you'd recommend? Let me know in the comments section.

4.5-star Dell laptops

4-star Dell laptops

• Michael Dell marked 42 years since PC's Limited by reposting its 31 July 1984 statement, showing ~$135,000 of net income on roughly a million dollars of sales from $1,000 of starting capital
• The document, which he also showed in March 2018, served as a baseline for him to persuade his parents to let him skip university
• The decision helped make him a billionaire and turned Dell into a company that is currently worth over a quarter of a trillion dollars thanks to an AI-centric surge of late

Michael Dell has posted a photograph of a fairly unique single sheet of paper to X and LinkedIn: the quarterly financial statement for PC's Limited, dated 31 July 1984, produced from a dorm room at the University of Texas at Austin.

The page shows roughly a million dollars in sales, about $198,000 in gross profit, and net income of $134,762.75 for the three-month period.

The then 19-year-old Dell had just finished his freshman year as a pre-med student, and had started the business with $1,000. He used the statement to persuade his parents that he should not go back for his sophomore year.

A multi-billion dollar decision backed by receipts

Nothing on the page suggests or requires a leap of faith. It suggests the opposite: a 19-year-old who had already been running a business through an academic year, who had generated close to a million dollars of turnover, who had kept books well enough to separate gross profit from net income, and who understood that the way to win an argument with two skeptical parents was to hand them a profit and loss statement.

The decision to leave college was not a gamble that happened to pay off. It was the conclusion the numbers already supported, and Dell was sharp enough at 19 to know that presenting them in a document would carry more weight than simply presenting them as enthusiastic conversation starters.

The decision that followed allows Michael Dell to command a $236.7 billion net worth, as reported by Forbes, and to lead a company with a market cap north of $270 billion. What makes Michael Dell's story unique, however, is that it isn't the typical dropout-founder story usually told as one about conviction outrunning evidence. The document he brought to the table is evidence outrunning conviction.

It raises an interesting parallel: The question one needs to ask is not whether to bet on yourself, but at what point do you have enough data to stop calling it a bet and start calling it a data-driven conclusion.

It is also worth noting that this is not the page's first outing. Dell posted the same statement to Twitter in March 2018, describing it then as the document he used to convince his parents "it was OK for me to not go back to college".

What the document shows, when read carefully, is a teenager who has figured out something about persuasion that many people twice his age never do. His parents were not going to be moved by a description of the market for IBM-compatible upgrades.

They were going to be moved by a number they could check, printed on a page, covering a period that had already happened. Dell did not ask them to believe in the future of the personal computer. He showed them what he had already earned and let them draw their own conclusions.

The result was a computer-centric giant that makes many of the desktops, laptops, and servers that power the modern world and is synonymous with reliable tech for many users. One could argue that the singular page did not change his life. The quarter behind it did. The page was just the format he could use to prove it, and the rest is history.

There's no question about it - Dell is behind some of our favorite business laptops, and right now the Dell 16 is down to $760 (was $980). And whether you're prepping for back-to-school or looking for an office upgrade, this everyday productivity machine is ideal.

The laptop is powered by Intel's Core 5 120U processor with 16GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. The 16:10 touchscreen delivers a 1920 x 1200 resolution with ComfortView technology to help reduce eye strain during long sessions.

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Dell 16 if...

You want an affordable productivity laptop with a large touchscreen laptop for documents, spreadsheets, web browsing, and multitasking. The Intel Core 5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and fast SSD promise smooth everyday performance. We think it's particularly well suited to students, home workers, and office users who spend hours in front of their laptop each day.

❌ Skip the Dell 16 if...

You need dedicated graphics for demanding creative software or modern games, or portability is your highest priority. At 4.37 pounds, it's designed as a desktop replacement rather than an ultraportable, and the integrated Intel graphics are more for productivity purposes rather than graphics-intensive workloads.

Why we recommend it

The Dell 16 focuses on the features most people use every day rather than chasing headline-grabbing specs. The large touchscreen, comfortable 16:10 display, DDR5 memory, fast SSD storage, and practical connectivity make for a dependable laptop for work, study, and home use.

Wi-Fi 6, USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, HDMI, and a full-size keyboard with numeric keypad make it well equipped for productivity, and it comes with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

Dell is very well known for producing reliable business and consumer laptops, and its products often feature in our roundups of the best business laptops. In our experience, you can't really go wrong with other models from the company either.

Price context & historical value

Saving $220 brings the Dell 16 comfortably below its usual retail price and makes it competitive with many smaller 15-inch (and below) laptops offering similar hardware. Considering the larger 16-inch touchscreen, DDR5 memory, and Intel Core 5 processor, the current price represents good value for buyers, and you'll pay a lot more for it elsewhere.

For more savings, every week we track all the best business laptop deals.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

Dell's 16 Laptop is designed for everyday productivity rather than demanding creative or graphical workloads.

The integrated Intel graphics comfortably handle office applications, streaming, web browsing, and light photo editing, but they aren't intended for modern games or professional 3D rendering.

The 41Wh battery is also relatively small for a 16-inch laptop, so frequent travelers may want something with greater endurance away from a charger.

• Shop all laptop deals at Dell

I'm seeing lots of laptop deals at retailers and manufacturers right now, as many have launched back-to-school sales for the upcoming year. That's good news if you're searching for a new device for yourself or a loved one, with a variety of options available to suit several different budgets and needs. Using my deals hunting experience, I've picked out my six top picks in both the US and the UK.

Below, I've included everything from cheap Chromebooks to big discounts on modern and powerful laptops from the likes of Dell and Apple. I've not only considered price in these hand-picked deals, but also the views of TechRadar's expert computing team who have tested and reviewed several of the models below — and rated them highly.

For example, in the US, you can find the fantastic Dell XPS 13 for a shockingly low $599.99 when you apply for the student discount. That's very hard to beat if you want a capable and portable all-around laptop.

Meanwhile, in the UK, there is a handful of great laptop deals at Amazon, such as this modern and efficient Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for £429.99 (was £649.99). It boasts a Snapdragon X processor and 16GB of RAM to ensure speedy everyday performance and impressive all-day battery life. That's ideal to last you a full day at school or college, and beyond.

All of my top picks are below, with prices starting as low as $199 / £159. No doubt I'll be updating this page with more offers as sales start or expand throughout the rest of the month.

US back-to-school laptop deals

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $600 off laptops
• Dell: up to $900 off
• Lenovo: up to 33% off laptops & tablets
• Walmart: laptops from $199.99

UK back-to-school laptop deals

• Amazon: from £159
• AO: save on HP, Lenovo and Acer
• Currys: up to £300 off laptops
• Dell: new XPS 13 from £699
• EE: save up to £1,000
• John Lewis: best deals on MacBooks
• Very: HP and Lenovo from £248

With the new school year approaching, it's the ideal time to check that your tech is up to the task. One area you may be looking at for an upgrade is your laptop, and fortunately, there are dozens of deals available in the back-to-school sales. So, I've taken a look and picked out 10 of the best laptop deals I'd recommend right now.

The biggest battle when it comes to bagging the best bargain is between these two options: the Dell XPS 13 or the MacBook Neo. With a student discount, both can be yours for $599.99, which is outstanding value for money for a pair of powerful and efficient laptops.

The choice, ultimately, comes down to whether you prefer a Windows or an Apple device, as I really don't think you can go wrong with either if you want a capable laptop for school, college, and general use.

Alternatively, if you have less (or more) to spend, then I've picked out several other options that are on sale and I think are worth buying in the back-to-school sales. There's everything from super-cheap Chromebooks for basic use starting at $159, to performance powerhouses that come with the extra juice you might need for more demanding or creative tasks such as coding, photo editing, or video editing.

Have a browse through all of my recommendations below, which I've chosen based on the opinions of our expert testers, my experience hunting down laptop deals for TechRadar, and exactly what you get for your cash.

Today's best back-to-school laptop sales

• Amazon: big savings on laptops
• Apple: up to $150 gift card
• Best Buy: up to $600 off laptops
• Dell: up to $900 off
• Lenovo: up to 33% off laptops & tablets
• Walmart: laptops from $199.99

10 of the best back-to-school laptop deals

• Samsung announces new OLED panels for laptops, capable of '1,600 nits' in peak brightness
• The new tandem OLED panels have a 40% higher brightness requirement than older single-layer OLED panels
• The new panels will be used in MSI, Lenovo, Asus, and Dell laptops that have the latest DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification

OLED panels are continuously improving year after year, as seen in recent tandem OLED displays from Samsung – and fortunately, the tech giant isn't resting on its laurels.

As reported by TweakTown, Samsung has introduced new tandem OLED panels for Lenovo, Asus, MSI, and Dell laptops, with claims of up to 1,600-nit peak brightness in small windows. This will apply to laptops that have the latest DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification.

Notably, the push up to 1,400 nits certification is a '40% higher' brightness requirement compared to older single-layer OLED panels, which is ideal for bright rooms and environments.

This is thanks to the presence of tandem OLED panels, which work by stacking at least one or more OLED layers together, providing significantly increased brightness levels and efficiency.

Samsung notes it has started a 'full-scale' supply of the new tandem OLED panels for laptops, starting with the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, and later for laptops from Asus, MSI, and Dell.

The boost to 1,600 nits is a significant enhancement for gaming and movie-watching experiences on these laptops. While the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura is certainly more of a premium laptop for creators, it's also capable of gaming using Nvidia's RTX 5000 series laptop GPUs.

With that in mind, issues with auto brightness limitations (ABL) that would often spoil bright gaming or movie scenarios should now be further diminished, as tandem OLED helps tackle those drawbacks.

Samsung hasn't mentioned any plans for its new panels being used for standalone OLED monitors just yet, but naturally, this should be the next step once these new laptops launch. For now, there are plenty of OLED gaming monitors (i.e., LG UltraGear OLED 27GX700A) capable of higher nits available on the market.

• Windows 11's July update was blocked from certain Dell laptops due to nasty issues with unexpected shutdowns and poor performance
• Microsoft just issued an emergency patch to fix those problems, so the PCs in question can install the latest update
• However, that patch might end up installed on non-Dell PCs if the user has enabled the option to get the latest updates as soon as possible

Windows 11's latest (July) update was blocked from Dell PCs as it was buggy on those systems, but the good news is that it's now fixed — but there's an additional wrinkle to be aware of here for those of you who don't own a Dell machine.

Windows Latest reports that Microsoft just deployed an emergency update (KB5121767) which fixes the problems with certain Dell laptops with Intel CPUs, which include unexpected shutdowns and generally poor performance (including running sluggishly and overheating, as well as increased battery drain).

Those with an affected Dell laptop — and that apparently includes some XPS models, as well as Dell Pro and Precision (business) notebooks, and possibly others — should install the emergency patch. As Microsoft makes clear, you'll find it under optional updates, which is reached via 'Advanced options' in the Windows Update panel.

However, the wrinkle that I mentioned is that Windows Latest observes that it's possible some Windows 11 PCs that aren't Dell laptops may automatically grab and install this update — if they have the 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' toggle on.

Analysis: a notable side effect

This feature is one that people turn on in the hope that they'll get Windows 11 updates, and more to the point, new feature rollouts, more quickly (there can be quite a wait for certain features to arrive, such as the Start menu revamp from last year, which some folks still haven't received even now).

So, bear in mind that if you've enabled this option, you may get certain updates automatically — like this emergency patch — when you don't actually need them on your PC. It doesn't help that this particular update is confusingly named, being called '2026-07 Update (KB5121767) (26200.8894)', which could leave you wondering what on earth it is exactly (until you look up the codename KB5121767).

At any rate, if you're not happy with this situation, to turn off 'Get the latest updates as soon as they're available' you need to head to Windows Update (in Settings) and adjust the relevant slider (at the top of the 'More options' panel).

Why is this option configured in this way? It seems especially odd in this case seeing as Microsoft tells us: "This OOB [emergency] update is only recommended for devices affected by this issue." That said, seemingly it doesn't do any harm to a non-affected PC (whether a Dell model, or not) if it does end up with this emergency patch installed.

At any rate, if you do enable the option to get the latest updates, just don't forget that this can have side effects, such as installing optional updates that you don't actually want. It would be a better idea if, in these cases, Microsoft simply flagged these updates as available, rather than having them install automatically.

It's also worth noting that this isn't the first time Dell laptops have run into trouble with Windows 11 recently, as last month an update to the firm's SupportAssist app left some notebooks crashing every half an hour or so.

Whether you're an office worker or a student, I always find now is a great time to pick up a laptop for work and study that's actually worth the money.

MacBooks might be expensive, Chromebooks can be underpowered, but there are plenty of big-brand Windows 11 machines under $600 right now that can handle productivity tasks, schoolwork, creative projects, and everyday use without issue, and will stay useful well beyond the next school year.

These are the three deals that stood out to me right now.

Today's best laptop deals

My top pick overall here is HP's OmniBook 3, which is currently $599.99 (was $949.99) at Best Buy. It runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processor with up to 32.25 hours of battery life, making it an excellent choice for office professionals and students planning to spend many hours away from a power outlet.

It comes with 16GB of memory alongside a 512GB SSD, making it far better equipped for multitasking and running Microsoft's growing collection of AI features. The laptop also features a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen, Wi-Fi 6E, and HDMI 2.1 for hooking up an external monitor.

Another great choice is Asus' Vivobook 14. Also on sale at Best Buy, the model is priced at an even more affordable $548.

It combines the same Snapdragon X processor as the OmniBook 3 with 16GB of memory, a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS display.

Although it skips the touchscreen, it does keep the Copilot+ PC AI features, 45 TOPS NPU, WiFi 6E, HDMI 2.1, USB4, and impressive 29-hour battery life.

At 3.28lb, it's also the lightest laptop here, making it a great fit for students carrying it between classes. If you don't need touch support, I'd say this is the best all-round buy of the three.

Finally, there's the Dell 15 Laptop for $550 (was $750) at Dell. Powered by a 13th Generation Intel Core i7-1355U processor, it comes with a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz IPS display which will make it useful for recording notes, writing essays, multitasking, and so on.

The laptop includes Wi-Fi 6, USB-A, USB-C and HDMI ports, as well as an SD card reader, and a headphone jack. My biggest reservation is that it only comes with 8GB of DDR5 memory, which really isn't enough in 2026. You can upgrade the laptop to 16GB of RAM if you want, but that will cause the price to skyrocket to $949.99.

For more top choices, we've also tested the best student laptops, best business laptops and the best laptops for engineering students.

Alienware AW3426DW: Two-minute review

There's a new 34-inch ultrawide powerhouse in town, with the brand-new Alienware AW3426DW QD-OLED. After testing it with several games and movies, it's clear to me that this monitor stands well above its predecessors in terms of quality.

Unlike its predecessor, the Alienware AW3425DW, this display uses 5th-gen tandem OLED technology, delivering significantly higher brightness, improved efficiency, and better text clarity. The Penta (five-layer) tandem OLED stack also solves one of the biggest issues I've had with previous QD-OLED monitors, where brightness dimming from the automatic brightness limiter (ABL) would result in inconsistent brightness levels.

Frankly, coming from a 45-inch LG 45GS95QE QD-OLED ultrawide display that utilizes an 800R curve, I wasn't expecting to be blown away with greater immersion — but the AW3426DW delivers so much that I don't think I can do without a tandem OLED display going forward.

It also helps that Dolby Vision HDR support is included, which uses dynamic metadata to help shift brightness levels and tone mapping for each scene, and it's best used on games or movies that specifically support it.

For example, Battlefield 6's visual quality is elevated to a new level, specifically in sequences with chaotic explosions and fire particles that spread across the screen. You can see how good Dolby Vision is, when bright highlights are incredibly detailed, and since tandem OLED minimizes the need for ABL, there are no noticeable brightness dimming issues.

In games that don't support Dolby Vision, you can switch this off from the on-screen display (OSD) and enjoy HDR using the HDR Peak 1300 Bright or Display True Black 500 modes, although the former might have slightly more noticeable ABL. Other than a few errors that forced me to restart my PC after switching HDR modes and losing display signal, HDR functionality is great on the AW3426DW.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best gaming monitors money can buy, and certainly one of the best ultrawide monitors in 2026.

Alienware AW3426DW: Price & Availability

• How much does it cost? $799.99 / £709 / around AU$1,150
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK

For everything that the AW3426DW ultrawide has to offer, effectively making it one of the best ultrawide OLED monitors money can buy right now, the $799.99 / £709 price is more than reasonable. It's around the same price as its predecessor, the AW3425DW, but is much better, mostly thanks to its tandem OLED tech, but also thanks to its new anti-reflective coating.

Having used a far more expensive LG 45-inch ultrawide, which still sells at just above $1,000 / £1,000 (original retail price was $1,699.99 / £1,699.99), the AW3426DW is a steal in my book.

The LG display might have a virtual reality-like 800R curvature, but it's heavily limited in comparison due to its older WOLED panel, and utilizes the same 3440x1440 display resolution as the new Alienware 34-inch monitor does at 45 inches, which means pixel density is worse on the 45GS95QE.

If you're not ready to make the jump to the flagship Alienware AW3926QW 5K2K ultrawide launching later this year, especially due to the leap in GPU power requirements (it'll be more demanding than gaming at 4K), then the AW3426DW is the best monitor to opt for.

• Value: 4 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: Specs

Alienware AW3426DW: Design

Dell has kept the design for the Alienware AW3426DW simple, and it's almost identical to the previous AW3426DW model. The new monitor features the same sturdy stand and base, and I love the shiny and sleek finish it has.

In terms of connectivity, it's effectively the same again with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support variable refresh rate (VRR), along with a single DisplayPort 1.4. Fortunately, you can charge your devices while using the display, thanks to the USB-C 5Gbps downstream port, with a charging output of 15 W.

I'd appreciate it if this display had a slightly deeper curvature (perhaps 1500R) over its 1800R curve; however, that's likely my own bias coming from near-constant use of an 800R curved monitor, which is overkill to say the least.

Most Alienware monitors keep OSD navigation easy via a simple button, and that's also the case here. However, one personal gripe of mine is the lack of a remote control.

Some of LG's UltraGear ultrawide displays come with a remote control, which eliminates the need to physically reach over to the monitor button to change display settings. Fortunately, though, the Alienware Command Center application on Windows acts as an alternative option to access and control some of the OSD options.

The biggest highlight of the AW3426DW's design is its new anti-reflective coating. There's almost little to no glare when using this display in a bright environment, even with sunshine beaming in from open curtains.

Yes, a lot of this is thanks to the 5th-gen tandem OLED panel and the display's high brightness levels, but the anti-reflective coating is just as important in this case, with a 30% glare reduction — and at night, brightness truly blossoms better than I've ever seen before.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: Features

The AW3426DW has a wide range of features available via its OSD, notably multiple HDR modes: DisplayHDR True Black 500, HDR Peak 1300, HDR Peak 1300 Bright, and Dolby Vision. The latter is what I used for most movies, specifically those that are made for Dolby Vision, especially since it dynamically shifts brightness levels and tone mapping based on each scene — but more on HDR later.

I'm not a massive fan of Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture (PIP or PBP) modes on monitors, specifically with multiple inputs. However, there are several options available in terms of positioning and sizing, which are more than welcome on any ultrawide display, where productivity is one of the main appeals.

For competitive players, the eSports mode should come in handy, as it transforms the display into a 25-inch monitor, with the option to position the active area at the top, center, or bottom of the screen. It's a reasonable option to include in a monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate, and one that has a 0.03ms GtG response time, and helps simulate a 25-inch monitor gaming experience.

VRR works fine on both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 inputs, ensuring frame rates are high, matching the 280Hz refresh rate, and reducing screen tearing. Nvidia's G-Sync is also enabled to improve smoothness and latency, so screen tearing isn't a concern on this display whatsoever.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

Alienware AW3426DW: Performance

I tested this monitor playing several games, such as Destiny 2, Crimson Desert, Dragon's Dogma 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and Battlefield 6, and I was left amazed at how impressive the AW3426DW performs. With Dolby Vision enabled in supported games (i.e., Battlefield 6), visuals are absolutely breathtaking, with highly detailed bright and dark areas on screen amid blood-soaked action.

With Dolby Vision enabled, there are effectively no ABL issues, or at the very least, if there are, it isn't very noticeable. Of course, it's not just Dolby Vision's inclusion alone doing the heavy lifting in this respect, but also the fact that this is a 5th-gen tandem OLED display, directly increasing brightness capabilities.

Not every game or movie has Dolby Vision support, and that's exactly why the other HDR modes are vital — and I'm happy to report that HDR Peak 1300 Bright is fantastic. It doesn't come without its faults, and in particular, gamers should be ready to deal with some level of ABL.

However, again, because of the tandem OLED layers, I could play games like Destiny 2 or Dragon's Dogma 2 and enjoy very bright experiences without losing detail in bright and dark areas on screen. It's also a huge benefit that the AW3426DW is seemingly well calibrated out of the box in terms of color profile and HDR calibration, as I hardly had to configure any settings in that regard.

Essentially, Dolby Vision should only really be used for movies and games where it's supported, and HDR modes such as HDR Peak 1300 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 for most games that don't support Dolby Vision.

There aren't many games that can reach the 280 frames per second mark (at least when playing on higher graphics settings), but if you have a powerful enough rig, it's a joy to experience a game that feels so smooth when in motion.

It's also pleasing to see that text clarity issues have been solved, which stems directly from the RGB stripe subpixel layout, and that makes this a great choice for any PC user looking for a QD-OLED display that caters to both work and play.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware AW3426DW?