Why you should buy the newest Dell XPS 15 unless you can get a good deal

Newest model

Dell XPS 15 9500

From $1,078 at Dell

Pros

• Current model
• Newer components
• Gorgeous optional 4K OLED display
• Amazing battery life

Cons

• More pricey at launch

The newest XPS 15 from Dell packs everything you need for a powerful 15-inch laptop, including new options for an OLED 4K panel, GTX 1650, and an Intel Core i9 processor. If you want the latest and greatest from Dell, this is the laptop for you.

Capable laptop

Dell XPS 15 9570

From $1,250 at Amazon

Pros

• Generally more affordable
• Get a good deal on the second-hand market
• Still a super-capable notebook

Cons

• Older model
• Older components

Regardless of which Dell XPS 15 you purchase, it's going to be a killer notebook. The 9570 is an older generation, which means you're rocking older hardware, but you should be able to get a good deal on the used market with the newer model already out.

The newest XPS 15 9500 is one of the best Windows laptops you can buy, rocking newer 10th Gen Intel processors (with the choice of an Intel Core i9 CPU), a 4K OLED panel option, as well as the newer NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti dedicated GPU. While the 9570 could be considered the worse laptop here merely because it's the outgoing model, it shouldn't be overlooked, especially if you can get a good deal, and if having the latest features offered by the 9500 doesn't interest you.

Dell XPS 15 9500 vs. XPS 15 9570 specs

This latest refresh is a small evolution for the Dell XPS 15, adding the latest processors, newer dedicated graphics, and a 4K OLED panel option. Comparing the new 9500 against the older 9570 shows just how similar the two laptops are, aside from the now-confusing model numbers.

	Dell XPS 15 (9500)	Dell XPS 15 (9570)
OS	Windows 10	Windows 10
CPU	Up to 10th Gen Intel i9-10885H	Up to 8th Gen Intel Core i9
RAM	8GB DDR4 2933MHz 16GB DDR4 2933MHz 32GB DDR4 2933MHz 64GB DDR4 2666MHz	8GB DDR4 2666MHz 16GB DDR4 2666MHz 32GB DDR4 2666MHz 64GB DDR4 2666MHz
GPU	Up to NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6	Intel UHD Graphics 630 NVIDIA GTX 1050 (4GB GDDR5) NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5)
Display	15.6-inch IPS 3840x2160 500-Nits Touch support	15.6-inch 1920x1080 InfinityEdge 15.6-inch UltraSharp 4K 3840x2160 InfinityEdge
Storage	256GB PCIe SSD 512GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD	128GB SATA SSD + 1TB HDD 1TB SSHD 256GB PCIe SSD 512GB PCIe SSD 1TB PCIe SSD
Ports	2x Thunderbolt 3 with power delivery & DisplayPort 1x USB-C 3.1 with power delivery & DisplayPort 1x Full-size SD card reader v6.0 1x 3.5mm combo jack 1x Wedge-shaped lock slot	HDMI 2.0 USB 3.0 (x2) with PowerShare Headset jack SD card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC) USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3
Webcam	720p	720p
Battery	56Whr 86Whr	56Whr 97Whr
Security	Windows Hello fingerprint reader	Windows Hello fingerprint reader
Wireless	Killer AX1650 Bluetooth 5.0	Killer 1535 Bluetooth 4.1
Dimensions	0.71 x 13.57 x 9.06 inches (18 x 344.72 x 230.14mm)	0.45-0.66 x 14.06 x 9.27 inches (11-17 x 357 x 235mm)
Weight	Up to 4.55lbs (2.05kg)	Up to 1.8kg (4lbs)

Same beautiful XPS 15 design

Dell made sure not to touch the dimensions or weight of the XPS 15 (read our full Dell XPS 15 9500 review for all the details), and the design team failed to spend any time switching up the design. These are both excellent points for the new XPS 15 since the older generations' design was (and still is) amazing. It's one of the best-looking laptops out there. What makes this even better for owners of both models is you won't be able to tell them apart. If you stick with (or purchase) the older 9570, people will be hard-pressed to tell it apart from the new 9500 unless you know what to look for.

Visually speaking, the newer XPS 15 comes rocking smaller bezels, larger keys, and more touchpad surface that all make a considerable difference. The dimensions, weight, and overall look of the laptop looks similar to the older 9570. Internally, both laptops differ somewhat. The new 10th Gen Intel processors provide a substantial boost in performance over the older 8th Gen processors, and the GTX 1650 Ti is a step up from the GTX 1050 Ti.

There's also the inclusion of a fancy new 4K OLED panel, should you choose it as an option when configuring your new XPS 15. This is why it's also possible to recommend the older 9570 to those who don't require the additional headroom offered by the new Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPU, saving some money in the process.

Should you need immense performance, Dell lets you configure the new XPS 15 with a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti, all accompanied by a 1TB PCIe SSD.

Don't upgrade unless you need more power

As great as the new specs of the 9500 are, we can still recommend some owners to stick with their trusty XPS 15 9570. If it's still working just fine, the older processor handles everything you throw at it, and you don't technically require the advancements present in the newer 9500, stick with the older notebook.

Still, for most people, there's not much here that warrants another $1,400 to be dropped for such a similar portable PC. But if you can take advantage of the new 10th Gen processors from Intel, as well as better dedicated graphics, it's well worth it.

Choosing the very best from Dell

The latest iteration of the XPS 15 is the 9500, which was released in 2020 and confused everyone with the new model number. This notebook was refreshed with upgraded internals while retaining that stunning iconic XPS design. Not only are you getting the latest processors from Intel, but also a faster GTX 1650 Ti GPU and an optional 4K OLED panel. It's a strong contender for the best Dell laptop.

Newest model

Dell XPS 15 9500

Latest and greatest 15-inch laptop

From $1,080 at Dell

Dell's iconic XPS 15 received a substantial spec bump for 2020 with a new option for 4K OLED (non-touch), NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti for graphics, and new 10th Gen Intel processors including up to an eight-core Core i9 CPU for ultimate power. The massive 86WHr battery remains to make sure you get all-day battery life.

Go with the older XPS 15 to save a little

There's really no reason to choose the 7590 over the 9500 unless you're getting a solid deal on one. Whether a retailer needs to get rid of one or if you can find one on the used market, there are strong chances you can knock a few hundred off the original retail price of the older XPS 15.

Just watch out for some listings that cost a little more than the XPS 15 9500.

Capable laptop

Dell XPS 15 9570

A classic performer

From $1,250 at Amazon

$1,545 at Walmart

The XPS 15 9570 is a great laptop and one that should be considered if you want to save on the price of a new laptop. Sure, the internals aren't current, but it's still a workhorse that will perform well.