Dell Alienware XPS

Image via Dell.

Dell launches redesigned, high-performance Alienware and XPS laptops [video]

Dell hosted the press recently to run us through their latest machines aimed for business and home users. Here’s what you need to know.

Dell Alienware XPS

Image via Dell.

Dell’s newest devices aren’t just more of the same, but with upgraded hardware, a lot of work has been done on the look and feel as well as user experience.

A notable part of the new range is the many cues Dell seem to be taking from cellphone design. The new ranges were designed for high-performance users, be it for scientific researchers, filmmakers or music producers.

Dell launch: What you need to know

Processing power

For the longest time, the laptop user experience has been determined by the OS with OEM’s mainly focusing on what kinds and speeds of the processor to fit in their chassis or how much RAM to include.

In the meantime, companies like Google, Samsung and Apple have been upgrading the user experience on mobile devices; making use of a myriad of sensors, to the point that the laptop and desktop experience has become noticeably less intuitive.

Dell is one of a number of companies that are embracing the new reality in personal tech devices. Their newest consumer range matches great looks with the latest and greatest hardware.

Additionally, the entire new range of Dell hardware will ship with software that will be trying its best to make the user experience more intuitive.

User experience

Focusing on user experience is a theme that seems to cut across the different product ranges that are on its way to our shores in the coming months.

Two of the new ranges that Dell will be introducing are Alienware and XPS, which include their smallest ever 17″ laptop. With people frequently doing their work in multiple locations, laptops need to be capable and portable.

These products acknowledge the fact that users are increasingly looking for fit-for-purpose machines that can deal with gaming, video-editing or music production.

New Dell ranges

XPS

Described as Dell’s “most award-winning consumer laptop brand,” the XPS range now includes the redesigned XPS 15. It strikes a balance between power and portability “to fuel content creation on the go”.

As a (pre-pandemic) digital nomad who firmly believes in one-bag travel, I’m always on the hunt for thinnest, most light-weight laptop around. The XPS 15 has a high-performance 10th generation processor to boot.

In addition to the XPS 15, Dell also launched the XPS 17, the “smallest 17-inch laptop on the planet”. The borderless, 4-sided Infinity Edge display makes it more practical than about 48% of the 15-inch laptops currently on the market.

“Powerful processing and graphics horsepower in such a thin form is achieved by a unique thermal design that keeps the system cool through intensive creative projects.”

Watch: Dave Lee’s review of the XPS17 and XPS 15

SpecsDell XPS 15Dell XPS 17
Operating SystemWindows 10Windows 10
Display15.6-inch 4K UHD+ (3840 x 2400) touch
15.6-inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200)
7-inch 4K UHD+; InfinityEdge touch; HDR400 + Dolby Vision, 500 nits; 94% DCI-P3; anti-reflective
17-inch FHD+; InfinityEdge; Dolby Vision, 500 nits; 100% sRGB minimum; anti-glare
Processor10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H
10th Gen Intel Core i9-10885H
10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H
10th Gen Intel Core i9-10885H
GraphicsIntel UHD graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
Intel UHD graphics
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti
Memory8GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
16GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
32GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
64GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
8GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
16GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
32GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
64GB DDR4 Dual Channel SDRAM at 2933MHz
Storage256GB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
512GB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
1TB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
2TB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
256GB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
512GB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
1TB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
2TB PCIe 3 x4 SSD
Battery56WHr
86WHr
56WHr
97WHr
Ports2x Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery & DisplayPort
1x USB-C 3.1 with power delivery & DisplayPort
1 Full size SD card reader v6.0
3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
Wedge-shaped lock slot
4x Thunderbolt 3 (power delivery + DisplayPort)
1x Full size SD card reader
1x 3.5mm headphone.microphone jack
1x USB-C to USB-A 3.0 & HDMI 2.0 adapter included
AudioQuad-speaker design
Dual microphone array
Studio quality tuning w/ Waves MaxxAudio Pro & Waves Nx 3D audio
1.5W x2 tweeters
2.5W x2 woofers
WirelessKiller Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (2×2), Bluetooth 5Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (802.11AX) built on Intel chipset, Bluetooth 5
Camera720p720p
SizeHeight: 18mm (0.71″) x Width: 344.72mm (13.57″) x Depth: 230.14mm (9.06″)
5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Height: 19.5mm (0.77″) x Width: 374.45mm (14.74″) x Depth: 248.05mm (9.76″)
2.11 kg (4.65 lbs) to 2.51 kg (5.53 lbs)
Specs via Dell.com

Alienware

The Alienware m15 is designed for gamers who “prioritise mobility and performance”. It has 300 Hz FHD panels for out-of-this-world gaming sessions and has Cryo-Tech cooling to ensure a smooth ride.

In addition, the Alienware Area 51m features the 10th-gen Intel Core S-series processors, making it the first laptop to break the 5GHz frequency barrier.

The Area 51m’s performance is boosted with internal cooling tech, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX SUPER graphics card (or the AMD Radeon option) puts you right in the centre of the action.

SpecsAlienware m15Alienware m17
Operating systemWindows 10Windows 10
Display15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 7ms, 300-nits
15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) with G-Sync, 144Hz, 7ms, 300-nits
15.6-inch with 100 percent sRGB, 300Hz, 3ms, 300-nits
15.6-inch OLED UHD (3840 x 2160), 60Hz, 1ms, 400-nits
17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 9ms, 300-nits
17.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) with G-Sync, 144Hz, 9ms, 300-nits
17.3-inch with 100 percent sRGB, 300Hz, 3ms, 300-nits
17.3-inch UHD (3840 x 2160), 60Hz, 25ms, 500-nits
Processor10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980H
10th Gen Intel Core i5-10300H
10th Gen Intel Core i7-10750H
10th Gen Intel Core i9-10980H
GraphicsUp to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Max-Q
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Max-P
AMD Radeon RX 5500M
Memory8GB DDR4 2666MHz
16GB DDR4 2666MHz
32GB DDR4 2666MHz
8GB DDR4 2666MHz
16GB DDR4 2666MHz
32GB DDR4 2666MHz
StorageUp to 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD single storage
Up to 4TB (2x 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD) RAID0
Up to 4TB (2x 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD) RAID0 Plus
Up to 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD single storage
Up to 4TB (2x 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD) RAID0
Up to 4TB (2x 2TB PCIe M.2 SSD) RAID0 Plus
Battery56WHr
86WHr
56WHr
86WHr
PortsPower/DC-in
RJ-45 Killer Ethernet E3000 10/100/1000Mbps/2.5Gbps
2x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1
1x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 with Powershare technology
1x Thunderbolt 3 Port
1x Alienware Graphics Amplifier
HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2 Output
Mini-Display Port 1.4 (certified) Output
Audio Out 1/8″
microSD 5.1 UHS-II HD312 Card Reader
Power/DC-in
RJ-45 Killer Ethernet E3000 10/100/1000Mbps/2.5Gbps
2x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1
1x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 with Powershare technology
1x Thunderbolt 3 Port
1x Alienware Graphics Amplifier
HDMI 2.0b with HDCP 2.2 Output
Mini-Display Port 1.4 (certified) Output
Audio Out 1/8″
microSD 5.1 UHS-II HD312 Card Reader
WirelessKiller Ethernet E3000 10/100/1000Mbps/2.5Gbps NIC
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 802.11ax 2×2 Wireless LAN
Bluetooth 5.0
Killer Ethernet E3000 10/100/1000Mbps/2.5Gbps NIC
Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 802.11ax 2×2 Wireless LAN
Bluetooth 5.0
Camera720p720p