Comparing Dell’s premium XPS 15 to the Inspiron 15 7000

Dell’s XPS 15 (7590) is an impressive piece of hardware, complete with 4K display options, dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU, and 9th Gen Intel Core processors. It’s also quite a bit more expensive than the Inspiron 15 7000 (7580), which is an excellent laptop in its own right for those who don’t mind a more basic device.

Dell XPS 15 vs. Inspiron 15 7000 tech specs

	XPS 15 (7590)	Inspiron 15 7000 (7580)
Processor	9th Gen Intel Core i5-9300H Intel Core i7-9750H Intel Core i9-9980HK	8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U
RAM	8GB, 16GB, 32GB DDR4-2666MHz	12GB DDR4-2666MHz
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD	512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Display size	15.6 inches	15.6 inches
Display resolution	1920×1080 (FHD) non-touch, IPS 3840×2160 (4K) non-touch, OLED 3840×2160 (4K) touch, IPS	1920×1080 (FHD) non-touch, IPS
Graphics	Intel UHD 630 NVIDIA GTX 1650 (4GB)	Intel UHD 620 NVIDIA MX250 (2GB)
Ports	Thunderbolt 3 Two USB-A 3.1 HDMI 2.0 SD card reader 3.5mm audio	Three USB-A 3.1 Ethernet USB-C 3.1 HDMI 2.0 3.5mm audio SD card reader
Biometrics	Fingerprint reader (optional)	None
Battery	56Wh, 97Wh	42Wh
Dimensions	0.45 to 0.66 inches x 14.06 inches x 9.7 inches (11mm to 17mm x 357mm x 235mm)	0.74 inches x 14.23 inches x 9.63 inches (19mm x 361mm x 245mm)
Weight	From 4 pounds (1.8kg)	4.12 pounds (1.87kg)

Design and features

The latest XPS 15 hasn’t changed much over the last couple of generations, sticking with the carbon fiber interior and CNC machined aluminum chassis. The plain webcam (no Windows Hello) has, however, been moved back above the display, and you still get impressively thin bezel. The XPS 15 is slightly smaller than the Inspiron 15 7000, though not so much that you’d notice a big difference if they weren’t side-by-side.

The Inspiron 15 has an aluminum chassis that extends to the interior, keeping the silver finish throughout. The lack of carbon fiber and the slightly larger chassis make it a bit heavier than the XPS 15, at least to start. Once you add a 4K touch display and a massive 97Wh battery to the XPS 15, it does become heavier.

Both laptops employ a Precision touchpad, though the XPS 15’s is slightly larger, giving you more room for multi-touch gestures. As for the keyboard, both are backlit, and both should be fine for a day of productivity. If you type a lot, testing them both out before a final purchase is a good idea. Neither laptop has an IR camera for Windows Hello, though the XPS 15 does have an option for a fingerprint reader that’s built into the power button. This provides some extra security and is a welcome addition for anyone who’s often using their laptop in public.

Port selection is similarly generous on both devices — you get an SD card reader, multiple USB-A, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio — though there are some differences to note. The XPS 15 has the mighty Thunderbolt 3 port, while the Inspiron 15 7000 is stuck with USB-C 3.1. On the other hand, the Inspiron 15 features a full Ethernet port; if you want the same connectivity with the XPS 15, you’d have to invest in something like a Thunderbolt 3 docking station.

Display

The XPS 15 has seen some changes to its display options for the 7590 model, including standard non-touch FHD and a couple of 4K options. The FHD model, which is the most affordable, hits up to 500 nits brightness thanks to a WLED backlight, and it manages 100% sRGB and 72% NTSC color reproduction. Its high brightness means you can use it just about anywhere, and it will gobble up the least amount of power.

For those who love or require 4K for work, the IPS panel option hits 500 nits brightness and manages 100% AdobeRGB color reproduction, making it a reliable choice for photo editing. You get touch and pen support here, but it will eat up more battery life and will weigh more.

There’s also an OLED 4K non-touch display available, with up to 400 nits brightness and 100% DCI-P3 color reproduction for professional work. It has brilliant contrast and a 1ms response time, but it does suck up the most power.

As for the Inspiron 15 7000, there’s a relatively basic FHD non-touch display option with a matte finish and IPS panel. It’s all you’ll need for standard tasks, and it’s a looker in its own right, but it just doesn’t match up to the stellar options available with the XPS 15.

Performance and price

For general productivity tasks, the Inspiron 15 has all the hardware you’ll need (and a bit more). It’s available with an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U “Whiskey Lake” processor (CPU), 12GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), as well as a dedicated NVIDIA MX250 GPU with 2GB of VRAM. It’s enough for some quality low-impact gaming or a bit of extra horsepower for editing. If you’re trying to stick to a tight budget, the Inspiron 15 has a lot to offer for the $859 price tag.

On the other hand, if you want a thin and light 15-inch device that is packed with performance hardware, the XPS 15 7590 should be your first choice. With up to a 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9980HK CPU, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a 2TB PCIe SSD, and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 1650 GPU with 4GB of VRAM, it can pretty much handle anything you throw its way, including specialized work. Add in three display choices, including the stunning 4K OLED option, and you have one mighty Ultrabook.

A maxed-out XPS 15 is going to hit somewhere around the $2,695 mark, though, so it certainly won’t be for everyone. If you’re on a budget and still want to get in on some of the extra features the XPS 15 offers, like Thunderbolt 3 port, fingerprint reader, and knockout FHD display, models start at about $1,029.

The XPS 15 is an outstanding laptop if you have the budget

Overall, the XPS 15 is thinner, lighter (at least to start), and of overall higher quality. It has a more modern selection of ports despite no Ethernet, and it provides some extra security thanks to a fingerprint reader. There are three superb displays to choose from, and if you have the budget, it can become a true desktop killer for professionals thanks to powerful hardware options.

Go with the Inspiron 15 7000 for an affordable Ultrabook

If you don’t need all the extra power or fancy displays found in the XPS 15, the Inspiron 15 7000 is going to save you a lot of money and still be an excellent laptop. It’s built well, has a generous selection of ports, and a dedicated NVIDIA MX250 GPU adds some much-appreciated power.

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