The latest Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023), priced at $1,299 for the base model and $2,199 for the OLED variant, may seem similar to its predecessors, including the Dell XPS 15 2022. However, this doesn’t necessarily detract from its appeal, as it continues to be one of the top choices among laptops and Windows laptops.
The notable change in the 2023 XPS 15 OLED lies in its updated internals, featuring the latest 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPUs. For those seeking even more graphics power, there’s an option to configure the laptop with an Intel Arc graphics card. In addition to these improvements, the laptop retains its impressive features from before, such as the stunning 3.5K OLED display (if you opt for the upgrade), a generous selection of ports, and ample power for both everyday computing and gaming.
While the overall design and experience of the XPS 15 OLED may not have drastically changed, it remains a dependable and high-performing Windows laptop with minimal flaws. In this review, I will delve further into why this laptop continues to excel.
Pros:
- The Dell XPS 15 OLED boasts a stunning 3.5K OLED display, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks, resulting in a visually immersive experience.
- The laptop delivers impressive performance with its latest 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series laptop GPUs, catering to demanding tasks and gaming needs.
- Its sleek and elegant design exudes a premium feel, making it a visually appealing device.
- The comfortable keyboard ensures a pleasant typing experience, allowing for extended productivity and ease of use.
Cons:
- The 720p camera on the XPS 15 OLED is sub-par, failing to deliver high-quality video for video conferencing or online meetings.
- The laptop’s battery life is disappointing, failing to provide sufficient usage time on a single charge.
- The XPS 15 OLED falls on the expensive side of the price spectrum, which may make it less accessible to budget-conscious buyers.
DELL XPS 15 OLED (2023) SPECS
- Color : The exterior of the Dell XPS 15 is available in a sleek black color, while the interior features a black finish.
- Storage : The laptop offers storage options ranging from 512GB to 8TB PCIe 4.x SSD.
- CPU : The XPS 15 can be configured with up to the 13th-generation Intel Core i9-13900H processor.
- Memory : It supports memory options of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB DDR5.
- Operating System : The laptop comes with Windows 11 pre-installed.
- Battery : The XPS 15 is equipped with an 86Whr battery.
- Ports : It includes 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, 1x full-size SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack, and 1x wedge-shaped lock slot.
- Camera : The XPS 15 features a 720P Windows Hello IR webcam.
- Display : The laptop offers two display options: a 15-inch 3.5K OLED touch display with a resolution of 3456×2160, or an FHD+ non-touch display with a resolution of 1920×1200.
- Weight : The weight of the XPS 15 varies depending on the model, with the FHD+ model weighing 4.21 pounds and the OLED model weighing 4.23 pounds.
- GPU : It supports up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with 8GB GDDR6 memory.
- Dimensions : The laptop measures 13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches.
- Network : It is equipped with the Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 1675 (AX211) 2×2 wireless card and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Speakers : The XPS 15 features a quad-speaker design with 2.5W x 2 woofers and 1.5W x 2 tweeters.
- Price : The starting price for the XPS 15 is $2,249.
- Finish : The laptop is crafted with an aluminum and carbon fiber composite material, providing a stylish and durable build.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Price and release date
XPS 15 with Nvidia 40-series GPUs offers different pricing options depending on the configuration. The base model starts at $1,699 and includes a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200, a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 laptop GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
For a slightly lower price of $1,499, you can get a laptop with the same specifications but equipped with an Intel Arc 370M laptop GPU instead.
The highest-end configuration of the XPS 15 features a Core i9-13900H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 mobile GPU, 64GB of RAM, 8TB of storage, and a 15.6-inch OLED 3.5K (3,456 x 2400) touch display. This top-tier model comes with a price tag of $3,999.
In the review unit, which is valued at $2,499, you can find the aforementioned 15.6-inch OLED touchscreen, a Core i7-13700H CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 mobile GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Design
The Dell XPS 15 continues to impress with its slim and elegant design, maintaining the same aesthetic as its predecessors. It features a smooth machined aluminum chassis that exudes a premium look and feel. The laptop’s sleek profile and dimensions of 13.57 x 9.06 x 0.71 inches make it highly portable, fitting comfortably into various environments such as offices, homes, or cafes.
Weighing up to 4.23 pounds, the XPS 15 strikes a balance between sturdiness and lightweight design. Its solid build quality ensures durability, while the relatively thin and lightweight construction adds to the overall comfort when handling the laptop.
With minimalistic adornments, apart from the Dell logo on the silver lid, the laptop maintains a clean and professional appearance. The all-black interior provides a stylish contrast to the silver exterior. The front-facing speakers positioned alongside the keyboard, combined with the thin bezels, maximize the screen real estate for an immersive viewing experience.
However, one aspect that may be slightly inconvenient is the absence of a lip on the laptop’s lid, making it a bit cumbersome to open. While this has been a recurring gripe with the XPS series, the lid itself remains rigid and easy to move once opened. It maintains stability and does not wobble or creak even when subjected to movement.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Display
XPS 15 OLED’s 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED display is one of the standout features of the laptop. It accurately captures vibrant and lush colors, as demonstrated in the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer. Scenes with sepia tones from the comic books were particularly impressive, and I never encountered any difficulty in identifying what was being displayed on the screen.
Lab tests conducted on the XPS 15 OLED confirmed the positive visual experience. The display registered an average brightness of 371.2 nits, slightly lower than the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra (378 nits) but noticeably dimmer than the MacBook Pro 16-inch (446 nits).
In terms of color reproduction and accuracy, the XPS 15 OLED’s display achieved 194.7% of the sRGB color gamut and 137.9% of the more demanding DCI-P3 color space. While these numbers indicate oversaturated colors, the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra (121.6% / 86.2%) and MacBook Pro 16-inch (118.2% / 83.7%) scored lower in this aspect but exhibited better color accuracy.
In the Delta-E color accuracy test, the XPS 15 OLED obtained a score of 0.24, close to the MacBook Pro’s score of 0.21 but not as accurate as the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra’s score of 0.15.
While the XPS 15 OLED’s display may not offer the same level of color accuracy as its competitors, some individuals may appreciate the vibrant and oversaturated colors it delivers. Personally, I found the colorful display to be visually appealing and enjoyed the immersive experience it provided.
Dell XPS 15 (2023) OLED Ports
Dell XPS 15 (2023) OLED edition offers a selection of ports, although not an extensive array, it should be sufficient for most users’ needs.
Similar to its predecessor, the XPS 15 provides three USB-C ports, allowing for versatile connectivity options. Additionally, it includes a full-sized SD card slot, which is useful for photographers and content creators who frequently work with memory cards. The laptop also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio connectivity and a Kensington lock slot for added security.
To further enhance connectivity options, Dell includes a USB-A and Ethernet adapter with the XPS 15. This allows users to connect devices that use USB-A ports or to establish a wired Ethernet connection when needed.
While the number of ports may not be extensive, the included USB-A and Ethernet adapter provide additional flexibility and ensure compatibility with a wider range of peripherals and networking requirements.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Audio
The Dell XPS 15 (2023) OLED edition boasts impressive audio capabilities, making it ideal for enjoying movies and games.
Equipped with two 2.5-watt woofers and two 1.5-watt tweeters, the XPS 15 delivers loud and booming sound that remains clear even at high volumes. The speakers provide excellent separation between lows, mids, and highs, allowing even the most subtle sounds to be heard. This means that you can enjoy a rich audio experience with great fidelity.
When testing the laptop, the reviewer found that the XPS 15 performed exceptionally well in reproducing music, such as Opeth’s “Blackwater Park” album, capturing both its abrasiveness and subtlety. Additionally, podcasts, like Brandon Sanderson’s “Intentionally Blank,” were clear and enjoyable to listen to.
In terms of gaming, titles like Doom Eternal and Cyberpunk 2077 were enhanced by the XPS 15’s powerful speakers, adding to the immersive experience.
Overall, the XPS 15’s loud and punchy audio, with well-defined bass, provides an enjoyable audio experience whether you’re watching movies, listening to music, or playing games.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) General performance
The Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) delivers speedy performance that can handle heavy workloads with ease. With its 13th gen Intel Core i7-13700H CPU, Nvidia RTX 4070 laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage, this laptop offers impressive capabilities.
During testing, the reviewer found that the XPS 15 performed admirably, even with demanding tasks. With multiple applications and numerous tabs open, the laptop remained responsive without any noticeable lag. This indicates that it can handle multitasking and resource-intensive activities effectively.
In terms of benchmark scores, the XPS 15 achieved a Geekbench 5 score of 1,880 on the single-core test and 12,478 on the multi-core test. This places it slightly above the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra in terms of performance.
When compared to the MacBook Pro 16-inch, the XPS 15 falls short in performance. The entry-level MacBook Pro 16-inch with the M2 Pro chip outperforms the XPS 15 in both single-core and multi-core Geekbench 5 tests, scoring 1,962 and 15,048, respectively. However, it’s worth noting that the specific configuration of the MacBook Pro 16-inch used in the comparison had 32GB of RAM, while the XPS 15 had 16GB of RAM.
In terms of video editing, the XPS 15 performed well, taking 5 minutes and 1 second to complete a Handbrake video encoding test. While it was slightly faster than the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra, it was a minute slower than the MacBook Pro 16-inch.
Overall, the XPS 15 OLED provides speedy performance suitable for most tasks, including light video editing. However, it falls behind the MacBook Pro 16-inch in terms of raw power and performance.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) review: Gaming performance
Latest Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) proves to be a capable gaming laptop, despite not being marketed specifically for gaming. It offers stellar gaming performance that is comparable to dedicated gaming laptops.
During testing, the reviewer played games such as Doom Eternal, God of War (2018), and Cyberpunk 2077. Doom Eternal ran smoothly at medium settings, achieving frame rates between 85 and 100 frames per second (fps) even during intense battles. God of War on PC maintained a frame rate range of 30 to 40 fps, similar to its performance on the PlayStation 4 Pro but slightly lower than the desired 60 fps for PC gaming. Cyberpunk 2077 managed to run at a respectable 45 to 50 fps at medium settings.
In the lab testing, games like Borderlands 3, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm were benchmarked. The XPS 15 consistently achieved frame rates well above 60 fps at 1080p resolution in these games, outperforming the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra with its RTX 4050 Ti GPU.
While the XPS 15 may not surpass high-end gaming laptops like the MSI Cyborg 15 or the Razer Blade 18 with beefier GPUs, it holds its own against low- to mid-range competition in the gaming laptop market.
Overall, the Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) provides stellar gaming performance and can be considered a competent gaming machine, despite not being explicitly marketed as a gaming laptop. It offers a balance between work productivity and gaming capabilities, making it a versatile option for those looking for a laptop that excels in both areas.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Keyboard and touchpad
The Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) provides a comfortable typing experience with its roomy keyboard and responsive keys. The reviewer found typing on the XPS 15 to be a joy, thanks to the snappy and responsive keys that feel good to type on. The keys have satisfying travel, allowing for fast typing similar to a full PC keyboard. The palm rests are covered with a soft textured carbon fiber material, adding to the overall comfort of typing on the laptop.
In addition to the excellent keyboard, the XPS 15 also features a large and responsive touchpad. The touchpad offers plenty of space to work with, allowing for comfortable navigation and precise control. It accurately registers swipes and gestures without any issues, ensuring that the cursor goes exactly where intended. Despite its large size, the touchpad is designed in a way that accidental swipes are minimized, providing a seamless and effortless user experience.
Overall, the Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) delivers a roomy keyboard and a large, responsive touchpad, making it a pleasure to type and navigate on the laptop.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2022) Camera
The Dell XPS 15 OLED (2022) comes equipped with a 720p camera, which is the same as its predecessor. Unfortunately, the camera’s performance is described as sub-par and a major disappointment, especially for users who frequently engage in video calls. The image quality from the camera appears grainy and washed out, even in well-lit environments. As a result, the reviewer suggests considering alternative options such as using external webcams for better image quality and a more presentable appearance during video calls.
Dell XPS 15 OLED (2023) Battery life and heat
The battery life of the 2023 Dell XPS 15 OLED is described as good but not great. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing at 150 nits of screen brightness, the laptop lasted for 8 hours and 58 minutes. This is a noticeable decrease compared to the previous year’s XPS 15 OLED, which lasted for 10 hours and 5 minutes. It also falls behind competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra (10:01) and MacBook Pro 16-inch 2023 (16:37) in terms of battery life.
In terms of heat management, the laptop performs well. During a standard heat test, where a heat gun was used after streaming 15 minutes of full HD video, the hottest point was found to be on the center of the underside near the rear, peaking at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. While temperatures over 95 degrees are considered uncomfortable, the fact that the underside peaked at 91 degrees in the tests suggests that the laptop can be comfortably used on the lap for an extended period of time.
