Dell XPS 15 (2016) Review

Rating: 8.0.

Dell has been producing some of the most powerful gaming laptops since well before it purchased Alienware almost exactly a decade ago. The original XPS Gen2 was one of the most potent gaming laptops in its day, and the XPS brand has been synonymous with entertainment prowess ever since. However, 17in machines like the Gen 2 and its successors are usually monsters, and if you want a portable gaming platform you can actually carry around, a 15in unit is a much more sensible choice. So here we have the latest 15in model in the XPS lineage. Weighing in at a smidgen over 2kg, this is still a laptop that merits the title, and doesn't require a lap reinforced with steel girders.

The new XPS 15 is aimed at the 6th generation of Intel Core i7 processors, also known as Skylake. Up to 32GB of DDR4 memory can be specified, up to 1TB of PCI Express-based solid state storage, with some two-drive configurations also available.

There's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics as standard, and two 15.6in screen options available including a 4K touch model. So there's a massive amount of potential here. Let's see how the new Dell XPS 15 lives up to its promise.

Our Sample System Configuration:

• 2.6GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ
• 16GB 2133MHz DDR4 Memory
• 2GB NVIDIA GTX960M Graphics
• 15.6in 4K Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) InfinityEdge touch TFT
• 512GB Samsung PM951 NVMe SSD
• DW1830 3×3 802.11ac 2.4/5GHz + Bluetooth 4.1 wireless
• Backlit keyboard
• 357 x 235 x 11 – 17mm (WxDxH)
• Weight: 2kg
• Windows 10 Home 64-bit
• 1 Year Next Business Day warranty

Price for this system (at the time of writing): £1,599 (inc. VAT)

Become a Patron!