Dell’s new XPS 17 pocket book.
Lots of you’re conversant in the Dell XPS line of laptops, the XPS 13, 15 and 17, the place the corporate sometimes debuts its newest, biggest applied sciences. This 12 months was no completely different, with a number of twists—Dell launched refreshed designs of each the XPS 13 and 15 (which historically leap-frog years) and reintroduced the XPS 17 after a 10-year hiatus. For the entire new options and updates, you’ll be able to learn my blog about this year’s entire XPS line. For the sake of this overview, nevertheless, we are going to give attention to the XPS 17—frankly, the very best non-gaming laptop computer I’ve ever used.
For context, I’m an influence person’s energy person. I wish to work on a number of issues concurrently, from penning blogs to enhancing pictures to enhancing video (for the Moor Insights & Strategy G2 on 5G podcast that I do with my colleague Will Townsend). I’m additionally principally a desktop person after I’m not touring, with a 49” Curved 5K Samsung Odyssey G9 gaming monitor as my main show and a 27” as my secondary aspect monitor (as a result of 49” is just not sufficient for my multitasking). As you’ll be able to think about, I hook this as much as a fairly highly effective desktop PC with an AMD Ryzen 5950X and an RTX 3080 GPU. I’m telling you all of this to emphasise how important efficiency and display screen measurement are to me as a metric with regards to laptops.
The configuration as examined
The XPS 17 is a powerhouse on paper. The mannequin that Dell despatched me contains a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H processor, 32GB of RAM (spectacular for any laptop computer, however anticipated for one thing that’s meant for photograph and video enhancing) and 1TB of SSD (which I’d advocate for any Home windows-based system at this time, particularly for content material creation). That mentioned, the XPS 17 is available in fashions that includes as much as a Core i9-10885H processor, 64GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD. The actual efficiency kicker on this laptop computer is its 6GB NVIDIA RTX 2060—within a pocket book that weighs 4.65 lbs and measures solely 0.77” thick. Whereas these specs in all probability aren’t a shock to many 15” pocket book customers, it took a substantial quantity of engineering for Dell to suit such a robust CPU and GPU in such a skinny pocket book.
With NVIDIA’s RTX 2060 within it, there’s completely no motive to get the XPS 17 with something lower than a 4K show—particularly contemplating {that a} 17” 1080P show is just not a very nice expertise. The inexpensive $1,399 configuration comes with built-in graphics, whereas the $1,899 mannequin comes with a 4GB NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti. As configured, my laptop computer sells for $2,999 on Dell.com, which is greater than double the worth of the $1,399 configuration. In case you are trying to spend that sort of cash on a laptop computer, I’d advocate one thing smaller like an XPS 13 or 15. I’d advocate aiming for the $2,999 configuration, when you’re shopping for the XPS 17—that is the configuration that enables it to shine. An NVIDIA RTX 2060 permits for important GPU-acceleration in functions like Photoshop and Premiere Professional, two fashionable Adobe apps for content material creation.
My day-to-day expertise
In relation to a laptop computer, I would like the efficiency and expertise to be as near a desktop as potential. I just lately reviewed the Alienware Space-51m gaming laptop computer—the primary laptop computer I had ever used that didn’t really feel like a compromise coming from my desktop. That mentioned, even with its 144 Hz G-Sync show, it was nonetheless a 17” pocket book with a 1080P display screen. The XPS 17’s 4K show is beautiful and it the primary 17” laptop computer I’ve seen that has an edge-to-edge ‘infinity’ show. This slender bezel show allows Dell to place the XPS 17 in the identical kind issue of many 15.6” laptops. This enables the XPS 17 to simply slot in most laptop computer backpacks and baggage, which generally designed for 15” notebooks. My XPS 17 simply matches into my Wandrd PRVKE 31L digital camera bag, sized for MacBook 15” laptops.
I liked utilizing the XPS 17 as my every day laptop computer whereas touring, particularly for offloading pictures from my digital camera and rapidly enhancing them. I additionally used the Dell Cellular Adapter Speakerphone for convention calls, and for attaching a keyboard and mouse after I wished or wanted to because the Cellular Adapter Speakerphone makes use of one USB Sort-C connector with Thunderbolt and doubles as a hub with two USB Sort-C connectors, an HDMI connector and one other Sort-C. Whereas the speakerphone was a lot louder than the built-in audio system on the XPS 17, the microphone is just not nearly as good. The built-in audio system on the XPS 17 are fairly good however pop at instances (principally at boot). The keyboard is an efficient measurement and the keys are acceptable, however I would like a extra tactile really feel and extra key journey. Nevertheless, I often sort on mechanical keyboards and like to have clicky keys with far more journey than any laptop computer might probably ship.
Connectivity
One factor to know in regards to the XPS 17 before you purchase is that it has 4 USB Sort-C connectors for energy supply, DisplayPort video and Thunderbolt three connectivity. Whereas this can be a deal-breaker for some customers, that is arguably the very best setup for customers that want most connectivity and expandability. With the business transferring in the direction of Sort-C changing into the usual USB connector, I believe Dell made the best selection to incorporate these ports. Not solely do they future-proof the laptop computer considerably, however they make the laptop computer’s skinny kind issue potential and allow it to help nearly limitless expandability. That mentioned, having different port sorts continues to be essential. Dell despatched me a brand new Cellular Adapter Speakerphone for convention calls together with this laptop computer, which provides two USB Sort-A ports, an HDMI port and yet one more Sort-C port to the XPS 17’s setup. The speakerphone itself has fairly good audio high quality, however I consider that the laptop computer’s built-in mics are in all probability higher. Nonetheless, I consider the Cellular Adapter Speakerphone is a workable possibility for individuals who balk at being restricted to the XPS’s 4 built-in USB Sort-C ports.
The XPS 17 contains a killer Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 with Bluetooth 5.1 modem, giving it the newest and biggest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth capabilities. I discovered the Wi-Fi sign and speeds to be superb—I by no means had any sign energy or connection stability points. This is similar chipset in my Space-51m gaming laptop computer, so I used to be already conversant in its wonderful latency and total throughput. For that matter, it’s laborious to inform the distinction between Wi-Fi 6 and wired efficiency. Whereas this isn’t a gaming setup, an honest Wi-Fi connection that may add and obtain rapidly continues to be important for work. I just lately needed to downgrade my Wi-Fi from a top-of-the-line AX router to an Intel-based AC router, and I nonetheless get 2ms ping, 500 Mbps obtain and 200 Mbps add on Speedtest.web—impeccable efficiency for a laptop computer.
Going into my overview, I used to be very curious to see how the reminiscence card carried out. I’ve at all times discovered this to be a ache level for laptops, and I don’t take pleasure in carrying round reminiscence card adapters (by no means thoughts the dangers of forgetting or dropping them). Many laptops don’t have reminiscence card readers, whereas others have inadequate reminiscence card readers which are a lot slower than USB-based reminiscence card adapters. I do numerous pictures and often take wherever from 500 to 1,000 pictures at a time. I shoot with a Sony A7iii and often run a Sony 128GB SDXC-II card with peak learn speeds of 260 MB/s. A lot to my shock, I used to be capable of hit the height speeds of 260 MB/s. Utilizing Sony’s quickest SDXC-II card, the 300 MB/s Robust Collection G Grasp, I maxed out at 265 MB/s. These switch speeds are a lot sooner than something I’ve ever seen in a laptop computer and successfully negates the necessity for an exterior card reader. Nevertheless, I do fear that the reminiscence card reader within the laptop computer might put on too rapidly and turn out to be problematic in the long run. That will be unimaginable to know with out hundreds of insertions, however I assume Dell has already stress examined the laptop computer and is aware of it’s going to cross muster. Normally, the reminiscence playing cards’ pins will put on down earlier than the reader’s capability to learn the playing cards does, and in my expertise, reminiscence card readers fail much less typically than the cables do.
Show and contact
The contact show on the XPS 17 is superb—so good that I don’t assume I’ll be capable of reside with out it on a laptop computer once more. Whereas the touchpad on the XPS 17 is sort of giant, I’ve had some blended experiences with it working as meant each time. Whereas this solely occurs not often, when it does, the expertise is considerably irritating. I favor utilizing a mouse and mechanical keyboard anyhow, so this isn’t such a giant deal for me. The touchscreen, alternatively, has labored flawlessly.
The show itself is unimaginable, with extremely correct 100% Adobe RGB colours. Moreover, the XPS 17 options 94% DCI-P3 panel with 16:10 side, which interprets to a 3840 x 2400 decision (versus the 3840 x 2160 decision with 16:9). The extra vertical pixels give the show extra workspace and vertical rows when engaged on spreadsheets or on webpages and even studying paperwork. I personally benefit from the return to 16:10, 4:three and three:2 side ratios as they lend extra to productiveness use circumstances and nonetheless help 16:9 when wanted with minimal black bars. The show on the XPS 17 can also be DisplayHDR 500 licensed, which implies that it has a 500-nit brightness and helps HDR. This show is just not solely beautiful, however its four-sided slender bezels give the laptop computer a footprint smaller than 34% of 15” notebooks, in keeping with Dell. I consider this declare that Dell makes when you account for the the numerous older 15” laptops in market with appreciable bezels and bigger footprints. There may be little or no backlight bleed—I discovered one spot on the entire show, however its very laborious to note until you will have a completely black display screen at most brightness.
Efficiency and thermals
As a result of the XPS 17 is mostly a creator’s laptop computer there’s no motive to check video games on this method (although it does have an RTX 2060 GPU onboard). I ran 3DMark and Cinebench for my commonplace efficiency benchmarks, as a result of there’s an ample physique of outcomes accessible for comparability. I selected 3DMark for uncooked GPU efficiency and Cinebench for CPU rendering functionality. I additionally ran UL Benchmarks’ new Procyon benchmark, which exams each the pictures and video enhancing workflows.
The XPS 17 scored 5655 in 3DMark’s Time Spy DX12 check, which is about according to different notebooks with the identical RTX 2060 GPU. With Cinebench, the Intel Core-i7 10875H scored 7598 on Multi-Core. That is fairly good however doesn’t inform the entire story. It’s essential to run a number of benchmarks like UL’s Procyon which makes use of actual functions and workflows (Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere). The Pictures rating of 5970 takes under consideration each picture retouching and batch processing duties which characterize actual world utility utilization. Since this benchmark is so new, there aren’t many outcomes to check towards. That mentioned, my 16-Core Ryzen 5950X system with an NVIDIA RTX 3080 is simply about 50% sooner than this laptop computer. It ought to arguably be method sooner than this laptop computer, provided that it has a mixed CPU and GPU TDP of 400W—greater than quadruple the laptop computer’s mixed CPU and GPU efficiency of 92W. That is a powerful feat when you think about the truth that the desktop has a liquid-cooled CPU.
Thermals throughout benchmarks did get into the 90s at instances on the CPU, however just for a second. For essentially the most half, they hovered across the 70s underneath load. The fan was audible however not deafening like some laptop computer followers. Underneath regular day-to-day utilization, the laptop computer often idles within the 50s and makes no noise in anyway. That mentioned, in case you are performing heavier workloads, I’d contemplate giving it extra airflow by placing it up on a stand.
Construct high quality
All the laptop computer’s supplies have held up within the months of every day use. The perimeters on the laptop computer are all easy and well-chamfered[WP7] with out exposing the sides to scratches. The hinge on the XPS 17 is strong and doesn’t rattle when typing on the keyboard. Moreover, the hinge has an excellent vary of movement and takes an applicable quantity of pressure to maneuver. That mentioned, I’d nonetheless favor the flexibility to open the laptop computer with a single finger. I loved the texture of the carbon fiber materials that the wrist relaxation is product of. That mentioned, the fabric and touchpad can and do accumulate oils simply. They could want periodic cleansing when you’ve obtained sweaty palms like mine.
Closing ideas
The Dell XPS 17 is the top of Dell’s engineering and design capability. Whereas it’s not essentially the most highly effective, thinnest or lightest laptop computer, it’s the finest stability of efficiency, show and design I can think about. I typically discover myself feeling constrained by 13” notebooks and their much less highly effective CPUs, smaller and decrease decision shows and fewer RAM. The XPS 17, alternatively, balances the wants of a cellular energy person with out making too many compromises in a single path or the opposite. Because the numbers point out, this laptop computer really comes near desktops in efficiency. Moreover, it’s spectacular that Dell match a 4K show, an eight-core CPU and 32GB of RAM within a 4.6 lbs., one-inch thick kind issue. The XPS 17 is mostly a marvel of engineering—a 17” pocket book that is ready to masquerade as a skinny 15” pocket book with out compromising on efficiency.
Disclosure: My agency, Moor Insights & Technique, like all analysis and analyst corporations, offers or has offered analysis, evaluation, advising, and/or consulting to many high-tech firms within the business, together with Dell. I don’t maintain any fairness positions with any firms cited on this column.
Supply: www.forbes.com
