Dell XPS 15 (L521X) Pro Reviews

The key thing to remember about the Dell XPS 15 is that this notebook is the best combination of attractive design, solid construction and excellent performance that we've seen so far from Dell. Yes, more than a few people will probably criticize this Ultrabook for looking too much like a 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro. Regardless of the obvious visual similarities, the XPS 15 is no less an extraordinary notebook PC. The display might be annoyingly glossy (making it difficult to see outside or under bright indoor lighting) but the Gorilla Glass protective surface makes the screen far more durable than most laptops ... making it almost impossible to scratch or break the screen unless you're "trying" to break it. All the aluminum in this notebook combined with high-performance components and a full array of ports makes this notebook heavier than most 15-inch Ultrabooks but that metal construction and those features work together to make the XPS 15 one of the best notebooks in its class. A starting price of close to $1,300 means the XPS 15 isn't cheap but if you're looking for the best Windows-based alternative to a MacBook Pro ... this is it.

The Dell XPS 15 is a well-rounded mainstream multimedia machine that will give you plenty of power while still being portable enough to carry around if needed. The design is attractive enough, and the machine is comfortable to use. We’re fans of the beautiful HD display; though it lacks a touchscreen, it doesn’t make Windows 8 any harder than necessary. It’s unfortunate that it gets so hot and that the line’s legendary audio quality isn’t what it used to be. Clearly, those are minor quibbles. Overall, this is a solid machine. However, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that Samsung’s Series 7 Gamer is only $100 more and offers far better graphics, twice as much RAM, and a bigger display. Yes, that machine is made for gamers, but you don’t have to be a first-person-shooter fanatic to appreciate the power it offers. It is heavier and larger, though. For those who want a more compact laptop, the Dell XPS 15 is still a good choice.

Despite its thin profile, it may not be the best choice for frequent travel, but it's certainly not out of the question, and you'll get a full day's worth of battery life if you're unable to plug in. With its superb battery life, solid productivity performance, top-shelf parts, and premium design, the 2012 Dell XPS 15 earns our Editors' Choice award for mainstream entertainment notebooks.

Rarely has the evaluation of a notebook computer been so difficult as with the Dell XPS 15. Great performance in almost all disciplines on the one hand, the thermal issues on the other – a clear conclusion becomes very difficult. But let us recall the aforementioned test again in detail. Dell demonstrates independence at the casing already, but offers the same perfect manufacturing quality as the established Apple MacBooks. Aluminium and Gorilla Glass guarantee stability and velvety soft-touch surfaces for very elegant haptic. A notebook cannot be much more high-quality than this. Even with the input devices, the connectivity and the screen, there is almost nothing to criticize. Sure, the display has lost some colour gamut compared to its predecessor, but this restriction will affect very few users only. All others will enjoy the great contrastive range and a further increase in brightness. Despite a mirrored surface, one can work well with the new XPS outdoors, too. Here, the regular battery life of over 4 hours helps in daily use.