The Dell XPS 15, with a higher price, excels in performance which makes it suitable for intensive engineering tasks, content creation, and moderate gaming, offering dedicated graphics, a more powerful processor, and better build and screen quality. It is also highly portable with longer battery life, making it a good fit for on-the-go use. In contrast, the HP 17" Laptop is more budget-friendly and has a larger screen, but its integrated graphics and processor are less powerful, suited for general use and basic tasks. It is less portable with a shorter battery life, so it's preferable for stationary use or light travel. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the HP 17" Laptop
The HP 17" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Dell XPS 15.
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
606.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the HP 17" Laptop is good.
The Dell XPS 15 stands out for general use due to its superior processor and integrated graphics that ensure smooth operation, higher-quality screen that enhances viewing experience, and longer battery life, making it very portable despite its high-resolution and bright display. On the other hand, the HP 17" Laptop, while still offering a good amount of RAM and a decent processor for everyday tasks, falls short with a lower-quality screen and reduced battery life, which compromises its use on the go despite having a larger screen size.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.2/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 and HP 17" Laptop are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell XPS 15 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
6.8/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the HP 17" Laptop is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15, equipped with a powerful Intel i7 processor and a dedicated Intel Arc GPU, is excellent for engineering and design tasks requiring intense processing and graphics performance, complemented by a high-quality IPS screen with superior brightness and color coverage. In contrast, the HP 17" Laptop offers a larger screen with AMD's integrated graphics which might be sufficient for less demanding engineering tasks, providing a balance between performance and cost, but with a lower battery capacity and screen brightness, it is less suited for graphic-intensive work.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.2/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the HP 17" Laptop is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.1/10
7.1/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the HP 17" Laptop is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
6.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the HP 17" Laptop for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell XPS 15 offers vibrant and sharp visuals due to its high resolution and brightness, making it suitable for general tasks and professional design work, where precise color representation is key. However, its lower refresh rate can detract from the smoothness needed in fast-paced gaming and 3D rendering. The HP 17" Laptop's screen provides adequate clarity and color for everyday tasks and casual design work, but its compromised color range and refresh rate may leave professionals and gamers looking for more specialized displays.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life. The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 15 and HP 17" Laptop both have good portability, though the Dell XPS 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the HP 17" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$510
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the HP 17" Laptop costs $510.
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Get a great deal on the Dell XPS 15 or the HP 17" Laptop
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.