Dell launches new XPS 17 and redesigned XPS 15 with 16:10 edge-to-edge displays.
Dell is making some big changes to its XPS lineup today, with a redesigned XPS 15 and a new XPS 17. The design updates see Dell ditching legacy ports in favor of USB-C and 16:10 displays across its main XPS laptops.
The new XPS 15 design is the most significant update in nearly five years, with a bigger 16:10 15.6-inch display, Intel’s latest 10th Gen processors, and even models with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q graphics inside.
The new 15.6-inch display trims the bezels down on all sides and drops the ugly bottom chin bezel that has plagued the XPS line in recent years. It also enables the XPS 15 to support a 16:10 aspect ratio just like Dell did with the XPS 13 earlier this year. You can pick between a more than 4K display (3840 x 2400) or a regular FHD (1920 x 1200) display, and both include a tiny top-mounted webcam. You’ll also be able to configure the XPS 15 with up to Intel’s Core i9 10885H 45W chip, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.
Dell is also including two USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports, a regular USB-C 3.1 port, and full-size SD card reader. Much like the XPS 13, Dell is ditching legacy ports like USB-A and HDMI in favor of USB-C. These port changes do mean the XPS 15 now has a thinner profile, at 18mm high, and Dell is promising “the longest battery life of any 15-inch laptop,” with up to 25 hours on the FHD display model. Dell’s updated XPS 15 starts shipping today, priced at $1,299.99.
Alongside the updated XPS 15, Dell is reintroducing its bigger XPS 17. It’s been nearly 10 years since we’ve seen an XPS 17, and, as the name implies, it’s the larger 17-inch member of the XPS family. Dell describes the XPS 17 as its “most powerful XPS laptop ever,” and the company has certainly managed to squeeze a lot into a relatively small package for a 17-inch laptop.
“The XPS 17 is the smallest 17-inch laptop on the planet,” claims Donnie Oliphant, Dell’s marketing director of XPS products. It’s even designed to be smaller than nearly 50 percent of all 15-inch laptops that exist in the market today.
Much like the XPS 13 and XPS 15, Dell has opted for a 16:10 aspect ratio on the 17-inch display and there are beyond 4K (3840 x 2400) and FHD (1920 x 1200) panel options with the small HD webcam up top. Like the XPS 15, the larger XPS 17 can be configured up to Intel’s latest 10th Gen Core i9 45W processors, 64GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.
Dell is also offering either Nvidia’s GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q or the more powerful RTX 2060 for discrete GPU options on the XPS 17. At a height of 19.5mm and a starting weight of 4.65 pounds, it could make the XPS 17 an interesting option for those wanting to play some games on the go or creators looking to utilize the GPU options and 45W CPU performance for video editing and more.
Dell has also added a new thermal design to the XPS 17 to improve airflow, and it involves a custom vapor chamber to keep chips cool during load. Like the XPS 15, you won’t find any USB-A ports on this new XPS 17. Instead, there are four USB-C Thunderbolt 3 ports and a full-size SD card reader.
Dell’s new XPS 17 will be available in the summer, priced at $1,499.99.