The best Dell laptops should be at the top of your list if you’re in the market for one of the best laptops money can buy right now. There are plenty of fantastic Windows laptops out there, including options from companies like Asus, HP, and Acer. Yet, Dell has just as many excellent portables as any other company, whether you’re looking at something in the budget range or a top-of-the-line flagship like the XPS 15.
Dell has been pushing the envelope these last few years the way the best MacBooks used to, taking its laptops’ design and construction to the next level. While its flagship models can get expensive, the company does have quite a few reasonably priced models that provide great build quality and robust hardware.
No matter if you’re in the market for gaming laptops, Chromebooks, or Ultrabooks, Dell has something that will fit your needs. And, to help you find that perfect portable, we’ve collected the best Dell laptops of 2021 here for you.
Now that Prime Day 2021 is on its way, the best Dell laptops on this list are bound to show up on the Prime Day deals. In the past, we’ve seen high-end models like the Dell XPS 13 and XPS 15 get price cuts, if not on Amazon, then on Dell’s own website. Many of Dell’s more affordable laptops also get price cuts, so we’d recommend keeping an eye on prices in the run up to June 22, which is when Prime Day starts. You could save yourself a lot of money.
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Best Dell laptops at a glance
- Dell XPS 15 (2020)
- Alienware M15 R3 (2020)
- Dell XPS 13 (Late 2020)
- Alienware m17 R4 (2021)
- Dell Latitude 7490
- Dell XPS 17 (2020)
- Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
- Alienware Area-51m
- Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
- Dell G3 15
The Dell XPS 15 might be a bit pricey for regular students, but it’s easily one of the best laptops for students in the creative field. Combining staggering power in a stylish thin and light chassis, this laptop doesn’t hold back when it comes to internals and features that improve your computing experience overall, making this the best Dell laptop of 2021. Among those amazing features are a gorgeous bright display with 500 nits of brightness, an extremely comfortable keyboard, impressive speakers, and a terrific trackpad. We’re not saying that this laptop is perfect, but our coveted 5 out of 5 rating should speak for itself.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 15
Dell’s Alienware gaming laptop line has established itself as among the very best on the market. But for 2021, one of the best Dell laptops is back and better than ever, rocking the best internals for gaming that money can buy. Of course, that means that its configurations cost a pretty penny, but if you have the money to spare, it’s certainly worth the splurge because of its sublime gaming performance. That’s without factoring in its quirky yet attractive design, excellent build quality and display with fast refresh rates. We’ve been fans of the line since its design overall a couple of years ago, and that hasn’t changed.
Read the full review: Alienware M15 R3 (2020)
At this point, we doubt that the Dell XPS line can do anything wrong. Its yearly updates have consistently made it to our best laptops list, and they’re only getting better. The Dell XPS 13 (2020) is not only a gorgeous piece of kit. It also comes, as expected, with excellent performance, a stunning display and long battery life, alongside a few others. Much like its predecessor, it’s a pricey investment – but that is barely reason enough for us to discourage Ultrabook fans. This is among the best Dell laptops of 2021, and it’s worth every penny.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 13 (2020)
Dell’s best gaming portable is back for 2021 and better than ever, cementing its status as among the best gaming laptops out there. This breathtakingly powerful gaming laptop doesn’t compromise, tackling all the latest AAA games without even breaking a sweat. Those tired of the same dated "gamer" aesthetic will also appreciate its thicc yet attractive design decorated with lots of RGB lighting, which sets it apart from everything else out there. It’s a little on the pricier side and its battery life could use a boost, but if you want the best of the best, you’ll want this one.
Read the full review: Alienware m17 R4 (2021)
Despite the derivative design, the Dell Latitude 7490 has many of the makings of a great computer and one of the best Dell laptops 2021 has on offer. It’s all thanks to its excellent performance, a long battery life, and more than decent memory and storage options. It isn’t the cheapest, but it’s definitely worth the price.
Read the full review: Dell Latitude 7490
For a 17-inch laptop, the Dell XPS 17 (2020) is impressively thin and light, especially when you consider the fact that it boasts powerful specs for that top-notch performance that content creators require. Among the best Dell laptops out there, this is practically the whole package, touting a big, gorgeous screen, fantastic battery life that will last you the entire day and a gorgeous design on top of everything else. That’s without even mentioning its mid-range price of entry, giving the MacBook Pro 16-inch a good run for its money.
Read the full review: Dell XPS 17 (2020)
Though Dell has its premium lines, it’s also been very good at building excellent budget machines. The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) is a very good example of that, touting impressive AMD specs, especially in the CPU department, to keep cost down without compromising performance. Here’s an affordable gaming laptop that delivers a staggering performance for the price, with a stunning display to boot. Of course, being a budget laptop, some sacrifices have been made – namely, its build and heat management. However, for the budget-minded, this is certainly among the best Dell laptops out there for gaming.
Read the full review: Dell G5 15 SE (2020)
Hands down, the Alienware Area-51m is a stunner of a gaming laptop, with a beautiful yet unique chassis and a comfortable keyboard to complement it. But it goes beyond looks; it’s also by far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market right now (and obviously, one of the best Dell laptops). Not that it’s perfect, as it does get really hot and its fans can get very loud. However, it’s a performance beast fitted with high-end processors and high-end graphics cards, and your gaming experience with it will be an absolute pressure.
Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m
The Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a versatile 2-in-1 with a lot going for it under the hood. This premium laptop is more than just about its premium design; it also has high-end internals to compete with the likes of the more powerful Dell XPS 13. Rounding that out is a 4K display, and a clever stylus slot that makes us wonder whether they actually beat Microsoft to the idea. Granted, the display is a bit of a battery drain, and the speakers impressive, but this is still among the best Dell laptops out there.
Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
When it comes to gaming, more often than not, you have to invest in premium parts to get that gaming edge you want. That’s especially true if you’re going for smooth 1440p or 4K gaming. In other words, while there’s a number of budget gaming laptops out there, very few really get you to where you want to go. Among those few is the Dell G3 15 gaming laptop, Dell’s affordable answer for gamers who want solid performance without splurging. It's all thanks to those latest yet economically-priced internals it's fitted with. It's probably not going to get you competitive level, but if you want a cheaper laptop to game on for the sake of gaming, this will go a long way.
Read the full review: Dell G3 15
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