Dell has long been a leading manufacturer of Windows PCs and accessories, and its broad range of hardware includes some of the overall best laptops on the market today. Dell's stable of mobile PCs ranges from budget-minded Chromebooks to high-end gaming laptops, with a number of brands in between.

On the consumer side of Dell's mainstream laptops, the XPS and Inspiron brands are the two main choices. The former offers premium laptops with cutting-edge design and features, while the latter is affordable with many more models from which you can choose. This article aims to uncover the differences and similarities between these two brands to help you find the perfect laptop for your needs.

Build quality and design

XPS steps into the future

XPS laptops have evolved a lot over the years (just like Inspiron devices), but we've now arrived at one of the most futuristic laptop designs on the market. It all started in 2022 with the XPS 13 Plus and its radical redesign, which has now made its way over to the mainstream XPS 13, XPS 14, and XPS 16 laptops in 2024.

The newest XPS lineup made the move from 13-, 15-, and 17-inch devices to 13-, 14-, and 16-inch devices, although Dell still sells last year's 15-inch models. Most XPS devices are clamshell laptops, meaning they cannot be used in convertible modes (like tent, stand, or tablet). Some markets still sell XPS 2-in-1 laptops, though its aging hardware means it will likely soon be retired if Dell doesn't give it an update. As of the time of writing, you cannot purchase XPS 2-in-1s from the official Dell website.

The newest XPS laptops now all come with a haptic touchpad set beneath a seamless glass panel also covering the palmrest. The keycaps are essentially gapless, and instead of a regular row of function keys up top, there's a row of capacitive touch buttons that can switch between laptop shortcuts and F keys on the fly.

The aluminum and glass XPS body is second-to-none when it comes to build quality, and anyone who wants the best Dell laptop design will want to stick with the premium brand.

Inspiron laptops are available in 14-, 15-, and 16-inch sizes. The 14- and 16-inch models also have "Plus" and "2-in-1" options to go along with the standard design, while the Inspiron 15 is currently only available in a clamshell form factor. The Plus models essentially have more powerful performance hardware and some extra features, while the 2-in-1 models are actually convertible rather than detachable.

Because there is such a wide range of Inspiron models, the build quality can vary quite a bit. Many of the more affordable options used to use a plastic chassis, though that is changing with modern refreshes. Dell's Inspiron 16 Plus for 2023 we reviewed, for example, is made primarily from aluminum, and the same is true for all the Inspirons currently available through the Dell web store.

The keyboard and touchpad on Inspiron laptops have a more traditional design, with clear separation between the keys and pointer. The seamless design available on the XPS isn't for everyone, which is where the Inspiron really comes into play.

Bottom line? XPS laptops represent the pinnacle of Dell's design finesse. Even before the full 2024 refresh that brought the futuristic design, XPS laptops were the most premium in terms of design and build quality. It's also where you'll get the more compact 13-inch laptop.

However, Dell has done a lot of work to get its Inspiron laptops caught up to compete with the mid-range offerings of other manufacturers. Inspiron laptops also have a modern and durable design that should appeal to many people, especially if a convertible is the desired form factor.

Camera, speakers, and ports

Inspiron has a wider selection of ports

The camera has long been a sticking point for XPS enthusiasts, as it was only recently upgraded to an FHD resolution. Most modern XPS models now have an FHD camera with IR sensor for Windows Hello biometrics and extra features such as human presence detection. However, the 15-inch models you can still find have 720p webcams.

The latest XPS laptops have a quad-speaker design that provides above-average laptop audio. The XPS 14 and XPS 16 speakers flank their keyboard, while the XPS 13 hides its top-firing speakers beneath the keyboard due to its smaller form factor.

As for ports, you're essentially stuck with Thunderbolt 4. The XPS 13 offers two Thunderbolt 4, whereas the XPS 14 has three Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Meanwhile, the XPS 16 can include either three Thunderbolt 4 ports or two Thunderbolt 4s, plus a USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader.

If you hate relying on dongles or Thunderbolt 4 docks, the Inspiron brand should be more appealing. Thunderbolt 4 is available on many Inspiron laptops, but you'll also generally find HDMI, USB Type-A (and Type-C), SD/microSD card readers, and 3.5mm audio jacks.

Inspiron laptops keep to a more traditional dual-speaker setup for audio, but you can get top-firing hardware on a bunch of the 14- and 16-inch models. Sound quality won't match that of the XPS laptops, but for many people it won't really interfere with the overall flow of the device.

You're also going to find FHD webcams on most Inspiron models, with an IR sensor to boot. This can change based on the exact model you're checking out, but in most cases the hardware will be good enough for everyday video conferencing.

Bottom line? XPS laptops are designed to offer a superior camera and audio experience compared to Inspiron laptops. If you love listening to music or watching movies on your laptop, XPS should be the way to go.

However, with Inspiron laptops approaching an FHD camera resolution, many people will find that's enough for their workflows even without extra features like human presence detection. Also, if you hate being restricted mainly to Thunderbolt ports, Inspiron laptops generally offer a wider range of native connectivity options.

Displays

Stick with XPS for OLED options

The XPS brand is where you'll find the best display options, especially if you'd prefer to look at an OLED panel day in and day out.

Every modern XPS laptop offers multiple display options. For instance, the XPS 13 tops out at a 3K OLED display; the XPS 14 at a 3.2K OLED display, and the XPS 16 at a full 4K with OLED. The above offerings are all touch-enabled with an anti-reflective finish to cut down on glare.

XPS models also have lower resolution options with a more standard IPS panel if you find OLED technology overkill (or too expensive).

OLED displays are not exclusive to the XPS brand, though the options within the Inspiron lineup are less readily available - at the time of writing, Dell's website does not sell any. For now, Inspiron remains the place to go for the widest selection of IPS displays. Depending on the size and form factor, displays range from standard FHD+ to 2.2K to 2.8K and beyond, topping out at UHD+.

Bottom line? Dell's XPS laptops all have OLED display options, as well as IPS options with lower resolutions should you be looking to save some money. Inspiron laptops mainly stick with IPS screens, with few models offering OLED options.

Performance and price

Similar hardware, wildly different pricing

The latest XPS laptops primarily rely on Intel's Core Ultra H-series processors with Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and integrated Intel Arc graphics, with the latest XPS 13 also being available with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset now. Regardless of chipset, XPS laptops are more powerful than ever. Moreover, you can also add a discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 to the XPS 14, as well as an RTX 4050, 4060, or a 4070 to the XPS 16.

If you purchase an XPS 16 with an RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, you're getting a laptop that can easily handle photo or video editing and other creative assignments. Plus, an RTX 4070 can play many of the latest PC games without any issues. Battery life is also very good if you aren't always employing a discrete GPU.

Most Inspiron laptops are still split between 13th Gen Intel Core and the latest Intel Core Ultra CPUs. However, the Insipron 14 2-in-1s can ship with either an Intel or AMD Ryzen chipset, while the latest Inspiron 14 Plus comes with Intel and Snapdragon CPU options.

As for Inspiron discrete GPUs, you're again looking at a mixed bag depending on the model. For example, the Inspiron 16 Plus can be configured with up to an Nvidia RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, but most other models are limited to integrated graphics, whether that's from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm.

With everything from design to features and performance in mind, the XPS laptops come at a much higher price than their Inspiron equivalents. The XPS 14 (2024), for example, starts at $1,499.99 for a model with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD, and FHD+ display. The Inspiron 14 Plus (2024), on the other hand, starts at about $1,099.99 for a model with the same CPU, 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and 2.2K display. Even the smaller XPS 13 (2024) starts at about $1,299.

Bottom line? XPS and Inspiron laptops are available with similar Intel and Snapdragon CPUs, but you can only customize the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 with AMD hardware. XPS is also the place to go for the best GPU performance, though you can get up to an Nvidia RTX 4060 Laptop GPU on the Inspiron 16 Plus.

As for price, Inspiron laptops should be your first choice if you're shopping on a tighter budget. XPS laptops start at a higher price and climb quickly from there, helping to balance out the extra features and higher build quality.

In summary

XPS laptops have a higher build quality (and more futuristic design), better audio, more camera features, OLED display options, and strong performance hardware (including more powerful discrete GPUs). However, they are much more expensive than Inspiron laptops.

Inspiron laptops might not match the XPS lineup in the above categories, but most people turn to them when shopping at Dell. The manufacturer has done a great job of improving its mid-range laptops of late, and most people are going to love their Inspiron devices. This line might not have all the bells and whistles an XPS offers, but that's not going to matter much when it comes down to the more reasonable price.