The redesigned XPS 15 9570 ships with an 8th gen CPU, a wickedly fast graphics card, and better graphics.
The latest version of the Dell XPS 15 is designed for power users, thanks to new processors and graphics cards. The new XPS 15 is a sizable upgrade over the year before. Even though it keeps the same affordable price, it has some impressive and surprising specifications.
Specification
| Screen | 15.6” 1920 x 1080 (FHD), matte IGZO IPS, 400 nits |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-8750H 2.2-4.1GHz |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti Max-Q (4GB GDDR5) |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4-2666 (2x8GB Dual Channel config) |
| Storage | Lite-on m.2 NVMe 256GB SSD |
| Connectivity | Killer Wireless AC-1535 (802.11ac, 2×2), Bluetooth 4.1, on-button Fingerprint Scanner |
| Ports | 1x Thunderbolt 3 (x4 3.0 PCIe), 2 x USB 3.0, HDMI, 3.5 mm audio, SD card reader |
| Battery | 6-cell (97Wh) |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Home |
| Size | (H) 357 x (W) 235 x (D) 17 mm |
| Weight | 2 kg / 4.4 lbs (with 97WHr battery) |
Design
Dell hasn’t changed much on the outside of its new XPS 15 since we first reviewed it.
The XPS 15 9570 has a design that is somewhat different from its predecessor. There are also enough tweaks in the design to give it its own feel.
The Dell chassis has undergone a minor color change. It’s been lighter in tone and looks just as classy as last year. The updated logo is more refined and the branding is less impactful. The dimensions of this laptop are unchanged from last year’s model, and it has a slim width and depth of 357 x 235mm. It comfortably beats the vast majority of devices that are fitted with a 15.6 display.
LG’s Gram is a laptop among the few made with slimmer dimensions, but it weighs more than nearly all other laptops, at 1.09kg. At 17.7mm thick, it also has a greater layer of thickness as compared to Apple’s 15in MacBook Pro at 2kg and a thickness of 349mm by 241mm.
The redesigned chassis on the XPS 15 includes a deeper power button, repositioned camera, and more fluid hinges. The camera and lid stiffness were among our biggest complaints with the previous XPS 15, but these design changes fail to address either.
Dell’s InfinityEdge display design hinders the user in video chatting. When typing, you’ll end up with giant fingers occupying half of a black screen, which is off-putting. The 2019 XPS 15 may be able to better adjust for this. Additionally, the laptop lid may need more force to open; Dell has not yet alleviated this issue.
Display
One of Dell’s most impressive features that comes with the XPS 15 is its huge touchscreen. 1080p and 4K UHD are both surprisingly affordable options, even the lower-end 1080p option won’t leave you disappointed. It looks amazing and is extremely responsive – something that can be a little hit and miss on a laptop touchscreen, especially one this large.
This Dell XPS 15 has a ton of power, it’s very responsive and uses many high-quality parts. It’s the perfect tool for people working in the graphic design, photography, or film industries.
The InfinityEdge design creates a thin bezel that’s more aerodynamic and more visually appealing over the entire screen area. The glossy Gorilla Glass overlays a luxurious contrast onto the soft palm rest, providing an improved user experience.
Dell has removed the reflective coating from the new XPS 15 models. Although it leaves an attractive design and bolder colors, some users might find the reflections in bright conditions less than ideal if they’re used to a non-reflective surface.
Dell XPS 15 offers a unique color gamut in that it covers 95.5% of the sRGB color spectrum. This makes for vibrant visuals on an LED display with a contrast ratio of 1638:1 and a 428cd/m2 brightness.
Performance
The Intel Core i7-8750H processor is a 2.2GHz with six cores in the configuration we reviewed, and we are also available to purchase with an i5-8300H quad-core processor and an i9-8950HK Hexa-core processor.
For office-based tasks, a 16GB DDR4 RAM on our review model worked just fine. The device handled the opening of 20 Chrome tabs and Spotify streaming with 4K video playing in the background very nicely. The XPS is an incredible notebook. It scored top marks in performance benchmarks, beating out the 15in MacBook Pro and a Dell laptop with an i9-8950HK processor.
In addition, the device delivers high-performance levels across both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks – and proves a significant upgrade on last year’s model which scored 127 in our benchmarks.
Battery
Its battery life is disappointing, lasting 7hrs 14mins in our video test. This is a decent amount shy of the MacBook Pro’s 8hrs 1min lifespan, and approximately three hours shorter than the 2017 XPS 15’s 10hrs 27 mins. It’s worth pointing out that neither of those models was using a 4K display, however, which is notorious for gobbling up battery life. You likely get more mileage out of the 1080p version, but it’s worth considering how much you’ll use your laptop before you decide what to buy.
The machine became very sluggish when connected to an external monitor via USB-C, due to the low wattage of the power being supplied to the machine, and on one occasion performance became very sluggish.
Ports and Features
The machine has a strong collection of ports for high-end business users.
The XPS 15 offers the latest in computer technology. It has a slim chassis, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3 ports, along with dual USB 3.1 (one on either side of the chassis), HDMI 2.0, and SD card support.
The specs include a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader and a Noble lock slot for added safety. There are no reliability issues detected with the fingerprint reader, and the redesigned power button is deep and rigid enough not to accidentally demonstrated while signing in.
The machine has a small button that sits between the Noble lock slot and USB 3.1 port on the right-hand side of the chassis. It lights up five LED lights, each with a corresponding 20% battery level. This is useful when you’re switching off the machine.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Dell’s keyboard is the same as last year and delivers a strong sense of feedback. The keys are well-sized and well-spaced, making it easy for both novice and experienced typists to use without any issues.
Some people thought the XPS 15 would feature the new Maglev keyboard, but it doesn’t. The 2-in-1 keyboard uses magnets to reduce the perceived distance and feedback, but it’s not very appealing to typists.
Dell’s decision to place the screen between two sets of keys is in keeping with their aesthetic, but users may initially find it jarring. It also led to irritations.
The trackpad is large and smooth due to the glass finish. It has additional functions like pinch-to-zoom and left-clicks, which work well with no problems.
Price and availability
Dell’s XPS 15 is available country-wide from Dell, and prices vary significantly by region. If you can’t find the configuration you want, try looking under “XPS for work.” When in doubt, check Dell’s website to see what configurations are available.
You can also purchase products directly from Amazon. On Amazon, there are more options for availability and faster shipping times.
Prices provide a range of models starting at just $999. This has an extreme price with many features.
Final Thoughts
The XPS 15 9550 was originally the best laptop on release in 2015, but we’ve seen that lead get whittled down over the past three years.
The Dell XPS 15 has proven to be a powerful machine that is strong in both design and performance. There are a few flaws that have been glossed over with some other positive design tweaks and average battery life.
Though there are other laptops with quad-core hyper-threaded CPUs, the one with Hexa-core CPU, fit and finish, small footprint, competitive pricing, comprehensive support, and overall feature set of the XPS 15 9570 is why it still gets my recommendation.
